The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-02
The CarIists I'm spain.


The "dulcitudes Of indferentism," a.
Bulwer phrases il, will no longer serve the
advocates of Spanish republic to describe
the state of affairs in what may now be called
Carlist Spain However strong Marshal Ser
rano may be in the south of Spain, he is no
more popular, although far better known. in
the north than his predecessor, the eloquent
but impracticable CASTELAR,. WHO tried, in de-
fance of General Prim's warning. to make
republic without republicans
The spark of insurrection was famed into
fame scarcely three years ago in Catalonia by
fourteen intrepid. devoted adherents of Don
Carlos. Twenty-Five thousand men-hardy,
brave Biscayans and Navarreso-are now
ranged under the royal banner, led by Dorre-
garay, Marquis Of Eraul, trained and tried
soldier, who won his spurs among the Moors.
An important element of weakness is the dis
cord which rules among the Carlist chiefs on
the questions of rank and precedence.
the fortunes of Don Carlos family in the same
shadowy quest from earliest boyhood, refuses
to serve under Dorregaray, who, although
originally promoted from the ranks, happens
somehow to win oil the great Carlist victories.
Saballs, the famous Catalonian, and Cabacilla,
an ex-Papal Zouave obey Don Carlos and the
Pope. Don Alfonso, the brother Of 'the
King" as the pretender is loyalty termed,
although nominally Commander-in-Chief over
all the bands, is permitted only to ride in the
advance in silence, like the dead Cid, to awe
the foe by his princely presence. We have
had ample experience in our civil war to know
the evil result Of these demoralzing dissen-
sions.
1t must be delicate and distracting pu zzle
for Don Carlos to preserve even the semblance
Of harmony among his discordant Chiefs
and he will be ll-advised if he at
tempts to cross the Ebro until supported
by a. properly equipped, differed and
disciplined army. The Basques proper
made the Carlist cause their own, purely be-
cause they feared to be brought under a gov
ernmental yoke on the same footing with the
other provinces of Spain-a reform which has
been demanded by the Peninsular Federation
for many years. The Basque is no more a
Spaniard than Welshman is an Englishman.
His language is peculiarly his own. The
Basques have their own laws, pay only such
taxes as they themselves elect, furnish the
State no soldiers except in case of invasion,
select their own alcaldes, and what is even
rarer in priest-ridden Spain, they are free
from ecclesiastical control by having the right
to nominate their own parish priests. It is
natural, there FORE that they should object to
surrender these privileges Of self-government,
as they will have to do should the federal
principle prevail Don Carlos is solemnly
and publicly sworn to maintain the ancient
'the King" is safely placed on the south
bank of the Ebro, the mountaineers of Alava,
Logrono, Guipuzcoa and Disappointing
the Basque provinces-wiu likely return to
their native hillsides, to which they cling with
the affection of the chamois, leaving Arragon,
Catalonia and Navarro to complete the march
ts Msdgia With such help as they can get from
the Southern Spaniards. These are the flaws
in Don Carlos corselet His strong points
are the friendship Of powerful and clannish
faction of the old nobility-who see in the
success of the Carlist Bourbons protection for
their titles, revenues and the support of the
minor clergy, especially the village cures,
whose control over their parishioners is as
unquestioned as decree of despotic royalty.
Strongest of all is the friendship Of Cath
Ole France-a genuine friendship. which
finds substantial expression in gifts of
money, arms and horses. What seems to
be most needed, though, is a seaport
through which may be passed with
celebrity and economy supplies and munitions
of war, and from whose harbor might be
borne out on the high seas the royal standard,
demanding recognition from the Old World
monarchies. - "----- -. ,.
The investiture of Bilbao by Dorregaray IS
undoubtedly made with this intent; and, from
the fact that the Madrid General Moriones
has been defeated in his attempt to relieve the
besieged town, although supported by a large
force of regular troops, it may be inferred that
Bilbao will soon fall into the hands of the
Carlists. They will no doubt attempt to hold
it or demand a swinging ransom to replenish
the army chest. In either or any event Mar
shall Serrano has thus far proved himself I'M
able to suppress the Carlist rising, which is
assuming the proportions of q revolution.
What is next in store for this land of riot and
ruin is problem for the study of the worlds
best statesmen.
CHRISTIAN CHARITY-We select the follow
ing sentences from an article in the Liberal
Christian: =
Nobody who thinks honesty or decency OF much
importance cares much what the NEW YORK
HERALD says about anything. We do not know
that this enterprisng but sensational and unreli-
ha4l