The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-04
solution Of the Cortes-The Message
OF the Prestdent-A Crisis at Hand.

10 Spain and Spanish affairs, to the existing
| government, its present complications and the
future of the country. On Friday, according
to arrangement, the Cortes reassembled after
the recess, and President CASTELAR, read his
Message. The description of the opening is
brief, and we are left to infer much of the
character OF the opening ceremonies. We
know here, and the fact is much better known
in Madrid than it is in New York. that fresh
and serious crisis has arrived in the somewhat
protracted and fruitless Spanish revolution.
| In q special despatch some days ago we
announced that when the Cortes reassembled
on the I'd of January Serrano would be the
word which represented Spanish thought,
feeling and desire, and that his return to
power was to be regarded as certain.
While we write our anticipations are all but
confirmed Yesterday test vote was taken
in the Cortes, when twice over majorities were
given against CASTELAR,. 1t was feared that the
vote would be against him, but it was not
dreamed that the adverse vote would reach
the high figure Of one hundred and twenty.
General Pavia, friend of Castelar, has taken
charge of the Palace of the Cortes and other
public buildings with force of fourteen
thousand men. He has dissolved the
Cortes and summoned the men of
all parties, excepting only the Carlists
and the intransigentes to unite and form a
new government While refusing personally
to take Office he declares that a new govern
ment so composed is the only means of saving
the country. Great excitement, We are told
prevails in the capital the streets are crowded,
but, as yet, no blood has been shed.
The news of this morning, taken as a whole,
confirms the truth of our dispatches given
days in advance, as well as justifes the view
which we have all along taken of the Spanish
situation. The synopsis which we give OF the
Spanish Presidents Message is brief, but it is
clear, simple and ineligible. 1t does not
Notwithstanding what has followed, alter our
faith in CASTELAR,. 1t rather heightens our
opinion Of the man and intensifes our con-
viction Of his difficulties. His Message re-
veals despair; but it also reveals sound sense
and good judgment He doubts, yet he tries
to believe. Order, he says, prevails every
where throughout the country, except
in the North and at Cartagena. Why
order does not prevail in both those
places as well as in the rest of Spain
! he tries to explain. Cartagena was captured,
he tells us, by criminal instruction, and if
the city and fortresses and iron-clads have
not been recaptured it is because of the want
of troops and resources. With regard to the
continuance of trouble in the North he has
similar explanation to offer. But for the dis
organization, lack of discipline and dissension
in the republican ranks the war against the
Carlists would long since have been brought
to a satisfactory conclusion. In view Of the
troubles of the country, and while fully adj
hitting the failure of his party, he makes an
open appeal to Spain as a whole, calling upon
all the factions TO sink party differences and
to unite in defence of the Republic. 1t is
his conviction that there is a direct
connection between the Carlists and the
Cartagena insurgents. How the Carlist war
| is to be ended he does not tell
US; but he has no doubt of the early and final
overthrow of the Cartagena insurgents. While
war exists, he says, and says not unwisely, a
war policy is necessary. The war expenses
|
struggle against the Carlists on the one hand
and against the intransigentes on the other has
cost the government within the brief space over
which the recess has lasted not less thar four
hundred million reals-an amount Of money
which, if the country whole had been in
sympathy with the government, ought to have
enabled CASTELAR,, at this stage of his career to
say, 81 have made an end of your civil war
found Spain divided leave her unit"
Such is the burden of the Message as it re-
lates to home affairs. With regard to foreign
affairs the Message commends appreciation as
well as attention. CASTELAR, sees and recognizes
the weakness of his country and his people,
and he recommends the passage Of bills for
free public instruction. If Spain is to be
strong, to resume her place among the nations
and to recommend herself abroad, her
people must be raised in the scale
of education. This is Castelar's opinion, and
1t is a wise one. Spain is weak, and
is losing her place in the onward march of the
nations because, in spite of all the wealth she
has gorged and all the opportunities she has
enjoyed, her people, in the mass, are stepped
in ignorance. CASTELAR,, as a lover of liberty,
could not be Indifferent to the existence of
slavery in the Spanish colonies. He recon-
mends, therefore, the abolition of slavery-of
involuntary servitude-on both sides of
the Atlantic. SPANS latest trouble out
side of her own territory has been
with the United States. All the documents
relating to the virginius affair CASTELAR, prom
Uses to lay before the Cortes, and it is his
opinion that these documents will show that,
while war has been avoided, the principles of
international law have been upheld. 1t has
naturally enough been a drawback to the
success of the Spanish Republic that
the European governments have refused
to grant it recognition. In refer