The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-08
THE LESSON OF CARTAGENA.



From the Spectator. Jan. A
1t is pity that in the rapid current OF events all
over europe the defence OF Cartagena should DO
30 rapidly forgotten, for 1t presents points OF NEST
substantial interest So far as we know no cause
ior tnat rebellion has ever been distinctly stated
by Its authors, no defined grievance no particular
idea AT nrst the citizens were supposed to DO
gwen to Communism that is to be mere plumber
ers, or men niied with the idea that the principle
OF equality involves equality OF property, which, Of
course can only be reached, and then
only for the moment. by confiscation. But
apart from few wandering Communism
who were promptly suppressed, we do not
find that the leaders issued any programme OF this
sort, while we do find that the citizens carefully
abstained from plumbers that the junta levied roy
ular but very moderate taxes, and only used the
government stores when actually attacked The
rich houses were not pundered and all but the rich
seem to have been quite unanimous in the defence.
The men obeyed their real leaders. Gutierrez Rogue
and to the last supported them in putting down
the few soldiers OF socialism who wished to burn
sSw SS city T9e Ss
eigners, and though the improvised sailors
were not very brave. they were as brave
be; while the landsmen stood out the
siege with the utmost herosm, never abandoning
their houses even when riddled with shells, acting
as soldiers when ordered and making fierce sorties
upon the besieging army. At the very last they
on the being
met the Centralist troops cheerfully and returned
as far as possible to their ordinary occupations
They have not carried their object, whatever It
was; they have not had pleasant time of 1t dur
ing the siege and they have lost hundreds Of
querers on a perfectly amicable footing. APP
parently they regard the rebellion as an incident
s ' aa aoco ss and rather Equitable
incident That also seems to be their con-
auerors opinion they 90 .I not nate them me 1 for
cause, whatever 1t was but simply regard the
whole affair as all incident which is over and In
which they have won. Even the sight OF the houses
ruined does not produce bitterness, and the for
eigners who have returned seem as sale as If they
were at home. so IS the foreign hotel. 1t is true
British Consul to look alter II, and the British Con-
sui was extremely respected because ne oDlected
but what sort OF authority was It which was 80
readily and completely ObeyedY Even the con-
querors who made no stipulation about them, are
not going to inhict any punishment for rebellion,
but merely to relegate them to their tasks.
All this is very unlike anything that ever takes
place in France or Italy, Or indeed, in Spain itself,
where the cities have
a sentence uttered by some boatmen to
SIEGE that they would rather be beaten by the
foreigners the Car!lsts than by those execrasle
people at Madrid. 1t Is conceivaby possible tnat
the Cartagenans are not Communists at ALL but
lust COmmunaists-th Is, people with genuine
patriotism extending only 20 their own cantons,
not all DESTROYS to injure that, but wanting to
keep that isolated, ana resentng bitterly any
attack upon us sce us I'D
life, such an idea Is almost inconcelva0e;
but 1t penetrated the ancient wOrld-wltness
the histories OF Rome and OF Jerusalem-lt was
almost the basis Of society IN the Middle Ages es-
pecially in Italy, ana 1t may flourish still in spain.
Revolution was to crush this sentiment out, thar
the charge OF federalism was the one which sent
arations OF opinion according to geography and NOS
according to class still perpex military reformers
in France, and that nearly every revolt in Spain
has been the revolt OF city acting for ITSELF or Of
many cities all acting as separate entities. the
people are not bad people or plundering
H1 10 whom their city is their country, awak-
ening all OF pride or patriotism that they
England to have behaved badly in the Peninsular
war; but the grand eat-the suppression OF Du-
points army at Baylen-was accomplished she by
heroic resistance on either side. 1t would almost
seem as if an inconvenient virtue, spirit OF over
than even her highly developed vices. Modern
nations require centralism, because they require
Completely safe; and Castelar,, alter four months
OF power. has perceived that as fully as any
king; but is it quite fair to wonder that
as all spaniards are more or less shut
out, should fail TO appreciate what to them must
PEELED to see them. We are not quarreing for q
moment with bOmbardment indispensable to
protect national lie but only trying to under
stand the dominant idea which made 1t necessary.
And not believing in men rushing into wckedness
for it's own sake, perceiving that these Cartha-
genians sought mere plumber, we are compelled to
believe that some strong feeling lay at the bottom
of this revolt. II that Is q correct theory, Spain
may yet have future. for an idea inconsistent
with the acts Of the age always dies away, and
the railway, the telegraph, and the newspaper, Will
ultimately do their cvilizing work. 1t Is not yet
fifty years since Italians Of city called Italians
of another Forestiere, and now Italy wo1ld
fight for its unity to the death, would surrender
| freedom rather than nationality. The same change
may occur in Spain, and, II 1t does, from one OF
the weakest of States she will become, as 1t were
! In a day, one Of the most powerful. However de-
/ graded her politicians may be-there are sound
/ men among them yet-her people evidently can
| fight and endure, and be temperate in victory or
! defeat We detest the cause for which Galve1
fought holding national life essential to the steady
! progress OF national prosperity; but II Spain has
| many men, like that particular rebel, who cannot
! write, but can organise men as well as ever DOlh
the baker of Florence, could, we cannot believe
that all hope Is lost for Spain. Just now she needs
a Dictatorship; but Serrano, Carlism, bankruptcy
and most other evils are, alter all, but lncidenta
| in the life of an enduring people.