New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-09
LIE SkRRAHO GOYERNMENI.

THE SERRAHO GOVERNMEN1.
Il ia not at all surprising that the impartial
observers who few months ago said that the
accession of Don Carlos was the only thing
that decent people ought to desire for Spain,
should now heartily approve tho trick by which
Marshal Serrano has possessed himself OF
power. To have no knowledge OF the matter
in question, and to have no preference for ono
form of government over another, are advan-
tages which certainly smooth the path of dis
cussion. There could not be more radical
difference than that between the theocratc
government which would have come in with
Don Carlos, and that cynical contempt OF
anything resembling principle which Is
tho most marked characteristic of the
SerranO conspiracy. Yet our calm LaOdiceans
accept the one event as cordially as they de-
sired and prophcsied the other, content that
the Republic is fatally hurt, and not caring
especially what hand dealt the blow. We
make no claim to any such impartiality. We
think the usurpatiOn Of SerranO is disaster
for Spain He is no more capable OF insuring
public order than CASTELAR, was. He can no
more close the era of revolutions and pro-
nunciamientos than the Republicans could do
it. He has often before been at the head OF
affairs, and always through intrigue and blood
shed. He is at this moment the object OF as
many cOnspiracics as there are villages and
hamlets in Spain. To say that the country Is
pacified now that CASTELAR, ia out and Serrano
in, is the mere utterance of COmplacent ignor-
ance and prejudice.
If SerranO cannot pacifcate the country,
fnr ofula fi
his successi He is certainly not a better man
than his predecessor. He came to Madrid not
long ago and made OstentatiOus professions OF
allegiance, and assured the Preslder that he
might rely upon him in any emergency. AL
tho same time there is no doubt that he was
plotting this treason with his friends in the
army. His life has been one long intrigue.
His first successes were due to his adulterOus
intimacy with the Queen. He has committed
as many perjures ~ he can count years OF
service. In every important act OF bis public
life he has shown the true buccaneering con-
tempt for law and for civic authority. The
favor of the Queen was his strongest reliance
until he quarreled with her and drove her out of
Spain. He first courted Amadeus and deserted
him as soon a. his popularity waned. He
gained the confidence of the tOo-generous
CASTELAR, and used it to destroy the Govern
ment which had been freely adopted by the
Cortes and the people of the country. There
is nothing in his intentions or policy which
commends itself to the approval OF civilized
people out of Spain. He is the embodiment
of that miserable system of military treason
which makes Spain the reproach OF the age.
He il opposed, by all his traditions and assO-
Citations, to any purpose of reform at home or
in the colonies. He is destitute of that moral
courage which enabled his predecessor to CON
front popular disapproval in the interest of
Justice and final expediency. If he had made
his coup before the Virginius was captured,
the United States and Spain would have Oeen
at war to-day
He is not even honest in his present atti-
tude. He begins his administration with the
gratutous hypocrisy of pretending that his
purpose is to maintain the Republic. He en-
phasizes this expression of intentions by sup
pressing Republican papers, by arresting those
Generals upon whom he cannot rely, by de-
caring various Provinces, when he is not sure
of a majority, in a state of siege, and gener-
ally by acting as he would have done In the
good old times when there was gracious
sovereign in the palace Of Philip ", who
would not consider harshly the means he took
to keep himself in power. There is no fanati-
cism in thinking that this sort of thing is
no improvement upon the Republic. CASTELAR,,
Fgueras, Pi Margall are better men, of
more honest lives and more benefcent pur-
poses than Sagasta and Serrano Their
theories and their practice are more moral
and more honorable. The principles which
they and their followers profess are better for
Spain or any other country than those pro-
fessed by their opponents. The vices of the
military and civil administration bequeathed
by the monarchy make it too easy for fraud and
violence to succeed in times of public excite
ment. But that is no reason for giving up
the effort to eradicate these vices. 1t is dis
creditable to any people to be satisfied with
Government of men like Marshal Serrano.
The prospect of one day living under Gov
eminent such az CASTELAR, would give them
is worth several years of revolution. if it can
he gained BY that