, 1874-01-24

the Government some members of the Progress
sist Party; but in a few days a threatened
riot in the capital compelled the resignation of
the late supporters of the Monarchy. Zorrilla
had retired from Madrid on the first establish
ment Of the Republic and now Serrano thought
it prudent to escape in disguise. The Repub-
licans, when they we're in opposition, had ex-
ert-d themselves to demoralize the Army, and
when they were in power tie soldiers naturally
expected a relaxation Of the bonds of d~icipline,
while the people refused to allow the enforce
ment of the conscription. The immediate pre-
text Of the Kings abdication had been the pro-
motion to a high command of o mutinouS Artil-
lery General, and the consequent retirement
of the officers Of that arm Of the service. In
medlately after the proclamation Of the Repub-
lie the CarIlst rising spread and became more
formidable, and 10 several towns the ~Intransi-
genie, or unc~Ompromising faction, correspond
ing TO the French Communists, loudly demand
ed the Institution of the Federal Republic, to
which the Ministers had long been pledged.
After a futile attempt of the majority Of the
Cortcs to resist the dictation of the mob, a
Dissolution was followed by a General Election,
in which, according to a common Spanish prac-
tlce, only the dominant faction took part. The
new Constituent Cortes met in June, and sub
stituted ri y Margall as Chief Minister for
Figueras, who, like his predecessors, at once
retired into o~bscurity and exile. Disturbances
and savage massacres ensued, not without a
suspicion Of completely on the part Of the Prime
Minister or of some of bis colleagues. Alcoy,
Malaga, and Seville were in Instruction, and
a bold party of adventurers, including Contre-
ras, a General of the regular army, commenced
in the strong fortress of Cartagena one of the
nOut nytraorliDorv ralalliopo 1anOr1o1 ~, his
tory Even Spanish patience was exhausted
by the incapacity Or treason of ri MargalI,
and SalmerOn, who represented a more Con-
s~ervative shade of Republicanism, was elected
in his place. Seville and other rebelIious
towns were reduced to obedience with little
show of resistance, but the insurgents Of Carta-
gena, having secured possession of the fleet as
we'll as of the fortress, still maintained their
independence. Two of the rebel irOnclad YES
sells were seized by the Commodore Of the
German squadron, who, on the disapproval Of
his interference Ivy his Government, transferred
them to the custody Of the English Admiral
After SOL hesitation the English Government
restored the captured ships to the authorities
of Madrid; but the Spanish Admiral has not
succeeded in asserting clearly his superiority
over the Insurc hts at sea. After a brief
tenure of Office SalmerOn was succeeded by the
eloquent Castelar,. His first and wi5est mea-
sure was the Propagation of the Cortes and the
assumption of dictatorial power, The contest
with the Carlists has been continued with
evenly Unbalanced fortune and a besieging army
began some weeks ago a commandment of Car
tagena, of which the results arc still uncertain.
An untoWard occurrence in Cuba has lately
caused the Spanish Government fresh embar.
rQssment and modification. The Yirginius, a
vessel using the American flag, and laden
with military stores and reinforcements, for the
Insurgents in Cuba, was captured between
Cuba and Jamaica by the Spanish cruiser
Tornado. OF the crew and passengers no
fewer than fifty-seven were Immediately put to
death by the Government of Santiago de Cuba,
with scarcely the form of a regular trial. The
American Government Immediately demanded
the surrender of the vessel and Of the survi-
vors, and the Spanish B~iinistry had 10 choice
but TO comply. It has since been admitted
that the use of the American flag by the Yir-
ginius was unauthorized, and the Presidents
demand fer a formal salute to the American
flag has consequently been withdrawn. But
the unauthorized use of the American flag can
not excuse the savage massacre of sailors and
stewards and engine-men. A dramatic close to
this curious international episode has been fur
nished by the Jews which arrived yesterday
of the Virginius having foundered at sea. In
the difficult business of p~acifying and govern
$50 U~oS. - 81 L. -sl~I 4laA - --