Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-08
Crisis in Spain.

Crisis i'm Spain.
Friday last the Spanish Cortes met after
their four months adjournment CASTELAR,
and his ministry had during that period
been carrying on the war against the Car
lists in the north with good success, and
had come to see the near downfall of the
rebellious city of Cartagena in the South.
They had also by Il wise course saved their
country from war with the United States
that threatened both countries from the
Eirginius complications.
In the matter of dealing with the rebels
that infest Spain, Castelar, and Salmeron,
the president of the Cortes, have been at
variance. The former believed in severe
measures, and in the use of the death pen
atty in aggravated cases. Salmeron was
opposed to its infiction, and the near APP
proach of the surrender of Cartagena
made the question one that would soon be-
come of practical Importance. In the
COrtes, rs elsewhere in Spain, men who
are republicans foolishly opposed the gov
eminent, because in all details it was not
in agreement with their particular notions.
CASTELAR, in his message urged all to
cease party contentious. and to unite in
the preservation of order and the estab-
lishment Of the republic on so firm basis
that the countries of Europe could no
longer hesitate to give it recognition. He
closed by appealing to them to do their
duty, and to so act as to receive in history
the name of the conservative founders OF
the Spanish Republic.
Saturday two votes were taken in the
Cortes. and in each the policy of the min
istry was defeated by 12O to 100. Finding
himself in a minority, and that the ma
iority, determined to give no heed to his
advice, would not unite. for the common
good, CASTELAR, resigned. The vote and
resignation were followed by military
revolution on the same day. General
Pavia, who has been friend of CASTELAR,,
had several thousand troops concentrated
in Madrid and ut once sent an officer to
the Chamber demanding the dissolution
of the Cortes, Salmeron and others who
had been in opposition, now urged Caste
lar to continue in power but he steadily
refused The Assembly ordered Pavia
cOurt-martialed, but rs he soon expelled
the deputies, the order does not seem likely
to amount to much He had them put out
of their chamber by Il company of the
municipal guard, and outside had cannon
trained upon the building. Pavia at once
summoned leading men of all parties to
form government; none but Carlsts and
intransigentes being excluded. Marshal
Serrano is evidently the leading spirit OF
those called into this counsel. CASTELAR,
was asked to take office under the new
government, but refused.
Sunday a new ministry was formed con-
sisting very generally of the conservatives
who held Office after Isabella left Spain in
1863 and before the reign of Amadeus
Its members are as follows:
President, Marshal Serrano: Minister O
W btIltIdl L@tNdlt, 1lH1SItE Oh Justice
Senior FiguerOla; Minister of Agriculture
Senior Becerra; Minister of Finance. Senol
Echegarray; Minister of the Interior
Senior Garcia Ruiz Minister of the Ma
rine, Admiral Topete.
The new president Francisco Serrano. {
Marshal and a Duke, is sixty-three vear>
old. and has been prominent i'm Spanisl
politics for thirty years. He is Il conserva
tive, but has generally managed to con
serve his own interests mainly; and though
he may take the course which is rumOred
that of calling the son of Isabella. the
Prince of Asturias, to the throne, we lOol
TO see him do that only in case lie sees
chance for himself to occupy as high an,
As safe position under the monarchy Il.
he can have under the republic.
The Spanish republic has by the insan,
opposition of some of its adherents in til,
Cortes, walked up to find itself very mucl
in the condition of its companion in tribu
lation, France. Serrano like MacAIahon
though at the head of republic is not ;
republican, and there is great danger tina
he may make smooth the way for Il return
of the BourbOns.
Things have, however. gone so mucl
better for the last year than there was an,
reasonable hope of, that it will be tim
enough to lament the death of this new
experiment at self-govcrnmcnt when it
last breath * dro,.,,
The Public DEBr.-During the yea
1873 the Public Debt of the United State
has been diminished S2,9}7,012. The
increase of the debt in December wa
SS,4j3,273. In November the increase
was S9,O23,577, making an increase o
Sl7, $50 in two months.
During the year the outstanding lega
tender and fractional currency has beer
increased twenty-cight million dollars
after deducting in each case the currenc
balances in the Treasury. The funded
debt bearing interest payable in gold ha
been decreased thirty-four millions. I
other words a year has converted thirt
million dollars of funded debt, bearing in
terest in gold, into thirty millions of IRE
deemable paper bearing no interest.
CASTELAR'S PROTEST Senior Castela
in LETTER ad6rpSCad to tbn couptr,- co,