New-York tribune., 1874-02-23


truth 1t seemed to me he realized what Nature
had intended him for,-authorship and oratory. IL
seemed to me his highest ambition was to help
establish republcanism in his own country. ana
rather than have the experiment fail. took com
mand. i recognized the lovable man, the author
and orator. but could not the born statesman.
His jaw lacked such force as a physiognomlst would
declare necessary TO drag Spain ont or mTe anu
bankruptcy. A leader should have profound kho"l-
edge of men. j could not feel CASTELAR, to be IN any
sense man of the world. IL am always inclined
TO believe good than evil of human nature ne
writes in "Old Rome aud New Italy," and Thought
that too much faith in the promises OF Others an
mpossiblity TO treachery, would sooner or
later cause his downfall. Unlike his people, he I'M
pressed me not only as above suspicion but 80 con-
stituted as to be incapable of it. Seeing everything
cOue de rose is charming in society, but not safe IN
governing, where the worst should be anticipated
All the while Thought, "What a good fellow you
are, and what lamb you will be among those Span
sh foxes quietly plotting against you. May frovi-
dence interpose and save you from your own unsus-
pecting self"
Much that CASTELAR, said was confidential. What
repeat therefore is of comparatively little inter
est. At the time tSeptember 23) the Spanish army
of the North did not equal the Carlists in numbers.
ments. Then CASTELAR, hoped for favorable results
Months have SINCE gone by and Don Carlos still
holds his own. The Intransieente were almost
crushed ont They are not dead vet. With three
wars going on at once-Cuban, Carlist, and Intran-
sigente-I might Judge whether he CASTELAR,, had not
enough 10 do. Mark you, CASTELAR, acknowledged
there was a war in Cuba, although the Spanish
Government does not. He worked from in the
morning until midnight, taking very little exercise
This is bad policy for bilious temperament subject
to fearful headaches Men with self-assertng livers
are not the best TO handle intricate reins Vertigo
may come at any moment, and then where are the
passengers For the sake of the Republic CASTELAR,
is impairng bis health. When would Slavery be
abolished 7" Soon" "And what means soon ~
when the Cortes meets" Yet Captain-General
goes to Cuba who by marriage is a STAKEHOLDER, and
who declares that Slavery shall not be interfered
with Consistency is not jewel TO be found IN
Spain.
but how is it. Senor CASTELAR," asked, that
you, who throughout your public career have as
serted the right to self government should persist
in holding Cuba in spite of having buried $4,000
soldiers and a vast amount Of treasure y All, see
that you do not sympathize with Spain in this mat
ter" Most decidedly not. i believe IN Cuba
Libre." CASTELAR, looked at me. He would not
argue because he could not. No man cares to eat
his own words. No diet is more indigeshble. My
two great ideas whose worship shall never re-
pounce are liberty and country" wrote CASTELAR, in
"Old Rome and New italy" Sand be to me, quietly
al am first a Spaniard, and then Republican" In
these days of power country comes first; liberty
must look ont for itself Very differently did Cas-
telar talk to Charles Bradlaueh; but times had
changed In the Spring, CASTELAR, was out Of Office
in the Autumn, he was dictator / know in what a
difficult position he is placed; know that justice to
Cuba means signing his own political death war
rant but for all that CASTELAR, stultifes himself
saw that he would sacrifice republic to found
another: that he could not resist the temptation OF
resortng to Jesutical dogma - the end justified
the means. And saw that Cuba had no more to
gain from Spain, so-called republican, than from
Spain mOnarchical.
You may paint, you may fater free" Spain as you
But the scent Of the bloodhound will hang round still
In betraying the dream of his youth CASTELAR,
makes fearful mistake which in exile he will rue.
The Spanish Republic is not worth founding If it
can only exist at the expense of colonial despotism.
Spain cannot be a republic as long she clutches
Cuba by the throat, will she be a republic In
name any longer than suits the convenience OF
moparchica factions. Better far for Castears fame
were his watchword that of the past" Liberty and
Country True TO it, he would be loved by all re-
publicans Now he is doubted by many and hated
by Cuba Is anything in the world worth the re-
nunciaton of sworn principlesi Had Senor Caste
lar faith in the permanency of the repnbhc1 Yes.
Spainjwas republican, much more so than France.
The bourgeosie and people were republican, aud
with the reorganization Of the army there would be
changes for the better.
had remained longer than ceremony permitted.
It behove me to CO. and rose to say farewell, when
CASTELAR, changed it TO GU reroir, adding that he
would call upon He named the hour and day,
and / took my leave, feeling that had known
CASTELAR, almost long as had liked him. But i
felt more uncertain about the Republic than before
making delightful acquaintance. On leaving the
house was importuned by beggars. I asked them
what their politics were. They replied with grin
that they had none What they wanted was enough
to eat and drink. Why should they care for any
thing else "St. Christopher take everybody that
keeps strangers away and makes money scarce !"
Paving the beggars for their valuable remarks,
sauntered into shop for the purpose Of chatting
with one of the bourgeoisie. There were photo
graphs for SALE and the young man behind the coun-
ter addressed me in English saying that although he
had lived in Spain all his Life his mother was Scotch
and his father French The civil war had made for
einers so rare that the clerk seemed TO look upon
me as blessing Pin disguise, and we Immediately
launched into conversation. There is nothing like
photography to let loose the flow of talk. What
were the specialties of Madrid Why, there were
photographs of the Spanish masters, but those might
be bought in Paris What thrived only on home soil
were bull-fghts and bull-fghters Out came nu-
merous bull-fghters in every possible attitude. all
of whom bought and studied They are not bad
looking lot Their figures areslithe. their heads are
not brutally built there is nothing of the prize
fighter about their necks. Mouths alone tell the
storr ~ +beir lives Without execution they are