New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-26
SERRANO md Don CARLOS.

Although the dispatches from Spain for the
last few days are more concerned with the
doipgs of the Carists than with those of the
National troops. it will not be prudent to con-
clude that Marshal Serrano is wasting his
time. 1t is true that, like most of the leading
Generals of the Spanish army, he has owed
his promotions to his talents for social In
trigue rather than to any purely military
achievements. The bOudOir has been to him
as to many others a more fortunate arena
than the battlefield But he has at least suf-
ficient political sense to see how indispensable
it is for the success of his cause to beat
the Carlist force away from Bilbao without
unnecessary delay. 1t is not too much to say
that his entire future Is involved in the event
of the contest which is now impending In
the suburbs of the Biscayan city. We
naturally hesitate to use any more tragic ex-
preston In regard to the chances of civil conflicts
in Spain. The generals rarely lose their lives
now "A days. The Marquis of NOvaliches, who
lost his Jaw at the battle of Alcolea, where he
commanded the Queens troops, never gained
much credit by it among his comrades. 1t was
thought useless QuixOtsm for him to rush
upon the bridge shouting Vira la Reina! when
the instruction was already successful and the
control of promotions had passed into the hands
of Serrano and Prim 1t is hardly likely that
any such indiscretion will be committed by
one whose pulse so temperately keeps time as
that of the Duke do la Tore. He does not
lack courage he has enough and to spare of
both kinds of it, But he would be violating
all the traditions of his eminently successful
life if defeat should even now be suffered to
ruin him entirely. But for the moment, his
prestige and position are both bound up with
the government he calls the Republic, and the
fate of this government depends directly upon
the issue of the next few days.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. has been unusually
favored during the last month by the appar-
ent truce of faction which followed his as
sumption of power and the defeat of Gen.
MOriODes in the north. This disaster to the
National arms was 80 serious that for the time
being it brought about something like har-
mony and unity of purpose in Madrid and
throughout the country, everywhere outside of
the Carlist camps. No matter how the differ
ent political parties hate each other, the
common ground on which they can meet
is opposition to Carlism, and after
so important success of the Pretender's army
q common lear eHeCteu IL DtdTty UNION dInOnR
them. The Alfonsists are devoted mon
archists, but they want no king except their
own upon the throne, and they offered their
best services willingly to Marshal Serrano to
enable him to retain possession of the Gov
eminent until they could seize it for them
selves. Gen. Moriones only asked for six
battalions and two batteries to repair his de-
feat and force the positions Of the enemy, aud
these reGnforcements were at once made ready
amid demonstrations of what really resembed
popular enthusiasm. The new soldiers were
little moro than boys. but the material for
troops is almost exhausted by the ceaseess drafts
in Spain and Cuba, and it is not likely that
the young peasants who follow the standard
of Don Carlos are any better. The recruiting
in Madrid was especially spirited. The press
was for once virtually unanimous; private
committees were formed to assist the Gov
ornment; several citizens raised companies at
,l2jr oTp eIp9pse tLe ayultamioato passed