The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-28
The Situation In Spatn.

and would be cruelty tomorrow. How fieeting
is the breath of popular favor most princes
have to learn betimes. The reign of Alfonso
XII. Is not three months old, and he is already
well nigh broken hearted The unreasoning
enthusiasm which hailed his accession has
vanished, and his government is now as much
discredited as was that of Marshal Serrano.
1t was fondly expected that lad of seventeen,
who was queens son, must necessarily dis
play the political sagacity of Ferdinand of
Aragon, combined with the military talents of
the Great Captain The boy meant we'll, led
his army into a trap with the best Of inten-
lions, and discovered how democratic an in
shtution is warfare, which respects nothing
but skill and numbers. So he returned to his
palace to weep, to talk of abdication and to
send for his sister-perhaps the wlsest thing
he could do under the Circumstance Moan
while the wave Of the Carlist advance threat
ems to roll far southwark, and it is
thought that the decisive battle of the contest
will be fought under the walls Of Madrid.
Considering, however, the hostility of the
Southern provinces toward reactionaYy and
absolutist doctrines, it may be doubted
whether the possession Of the capital would
confer the crown of Spain on Charles VII.
The Spaniards are unlike any other people.
When their country has been conquered, in
military sense, the real strife generally begins.
So Charles of Austria, and after him Joseph
Bonaparte, discovered, the causes of those I'M
fortunate claimants beginning in each case to
dow hot hair
Madrid in triumph.
For the next few weeks there is likely to be
a lull in military operations, the energies Of
the generals on both sides being concentrated
on the problem, not Of moving their troops,
but of keeping them alive-a problem daily
growing more difficult through the exhaus-
ton of the country. At the same time one
regrets to see King Alfonso is listening to
counsellors who recommend him to try the
foolish and dishonest policy Of outbidding
Don Carlos in concessions to the bigoted
and ultra-conservative party. Moriones,
the ablest of Spanish generals and
the most liberal of Spanish states
his command, according to custom which
has long obtained in the land of Ximenes and
Alberoni A consummate tactician seems to
professors of Castilian statecraft the last per-
son in the world to put at the head Of an
army. Then, somebody is anxious to get
Moriones' place, which would of itself be an
excellent reason for removing him. The
young monarch is surrounded by intriguers
who consider it the first duty of the new gov
eminent to reward every disturber of the
peace for the last six years. The liberalism Of
these men is sham; it is merely the ticket
which they show to obtain admission TO Office.
1t is painful for lovers of freedom to have
to confess that nearly all the valor, and GER
tainly all the DEVOTION which this unhappy
struggle has evoked are to be found on the
side OF Don Carlos. That prince, by the adj
mission of his enemies, is served with 10y
atty and zeal worthy of better cause. The
peasant soldier endures hunger, thirst,
wounds and death without any reward but
the consciousness that he is fighting for what
he believes to be the sacred rights of his King,
while the officers fulfil the still more difficult
task of keeping their allegiance mistaken,
even when disgraced or sighted by their royal
master. Elio, Dorregaray, Ceballos, though
deprived of their posts, and doubtless,
tempted by the most splendid brides from
Madrid, show no resentment against Don
Carlos, and are still ready to serve
him with their minds best thoughts
Even our own war of independence hardly
offers such instances of a self-denying public
spirit, except in the unique figure of Washing
ton. The secret of the Pretender's influence
over his followers appears to lie in that charm
Of manner which was the most precious heri-
tage of the exiled Stuarts. But he is also
genuinely kind-hearted aud considerate and
knows, like his ancestor, Louis XIV. how, by
few gracious words, to take away the sting
of a refusal and to double the value Of favor.
According to the German Consul at Bay
onne-probably the most anti Carlist person.
age in Spain-there is no hope of terminating
the war except by q convention, as the old
civil war was terminated. But the fortunes
of the elder Don Carlos were desperate when
he consented thus to abdicate his right and
there is not the smallest chance that the victor
of Lacar will be induced to waive his claims
in the very hour of success. 1t is said that
Don Alfonso has requested the Pope to use his
good Offices with his cousin, and that the
Pope has suggested that Don Carlos should
accept the viceroyalty Of the Philippine Islands
in lieu of the crown-an arrangement regard
ing which the people of the Philippine Islands
might entertain views of their own. Another
announcement is that Don Alfonso is strongly
disposed TO abdicate in favor of the Duke of
Montpensier and his friends anticipate no
little difficulty in inducing him to change his
mind. This is, at best but On Alfonsist
rumor.
| EDWIN FORREST We print this morning
letter from Philadelphia that will be read with