, 1874-08-26

WI - w.
effected with great rapidity. Although it
has been most remarkable since the death
of Marshal CoNcHA and the retreat Of the
National Army before Estella, its exciting
cause, is to be found in a prior event-the
formal announcement by the Carlist COM
mander of a truculent and sanguinary
method OF warfare, which has been Justly
regarded as a crime against humanity, and
an affront to the public sentiment of
Europe. That Carlism, embroidered by a
few successes, should drop the pretence
of conformity to the usages of civilization,
and appear once more in all its old
f~erocity, was not in itself astonishing but
in relation to the opinion and feeling Of
mankind it gave ground for surprise. The
rash proclamation of General DoRREGA-
A has given a new aspect to the war,
and exalted to importance many of its
features which before were regarded by
neutral parties with Indifference. Espe-
cially has it attracted attention to the
very imperfect manner in which the
French Government has long been fulfill
ing the duties of neutrality towards Spain,
a course of conduct which was almost as
we'll known a year ago as it is now, but
which has only within these few weeks
been regarded as calling for formal notice
and energetic protest. During the Presi
dency of M. THEIRS the French authori-
ties VIGOROUSLY connived at Irregularities
which a French Government bent on main
tanning its neutrality with energy would
have suppressed; but already the clerical
party in France had recognised the Carlist
cause as its own, and M. THEIRS was not
strong enough to do all that he must be
supposed to have wished. The execution
of Captain SCHMIDT was another blunder
to the commission of which the Carlists
were betrayed by the surrender of them
selves to the same f~anatical feeling which
In Navarro is the strength of their cause,
but which throughout Europe excites only
adherence. That mad act has provoked
the German Government to place on re-
cord q public pledge that the Carlist cause
shall feel the weight of it's hand. Thus,
both directly and Indirectly, the avowed
adoption and ostentatious practice ofcruel
methods of warfare by the Carlists have
drawn upon them a kind and degree of
notice which is at this moment a cause of
solicitude to every Court Of Europe.
When, however, it is said that a Joint
armed intervention in the affairs of Spain
is one of the dangers of the hour, and that
our W Government may possibly take
part in it, we cannot but ask for the evil
dence OF announcements so alarming.
The habituaIIy mysterious procedure and
the complicated interests of European
Courts will supply US with enigma8
enough without our gratultously tempting
the unknown future by dark surmises.
What is actually known to have been
said or done by European Powers during
the last fortnight cannot be considered
to warrant the apprehensions and alarms
which are now finding expression. The
Spanish Government has made formal re-
presentation to that of France respecting
the facilities given to the Carlists on the
frontier, and has also taken the somewhat
strong measure of sending a copy of its
note to every European Court. The
French Government, however, cannot, and
will not, resent this very natural step on
the part of neighbour, but will give it the
satisfaction it requires. Within a few
days at most we shall hear that French
citizens have been forbidden to supply
munitions of war to- the Carlists agents