The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-05
The Situation In Spain and Our Rcla-
lions with tho Govern ment.

young monarch impressed our representative
favorably, and announced that tomorrow he
will leave for Spain. Among other things he
promises to help us in our Cuban troubles,
which is possible, and to endeavor to return
Gibraltar to Spain, which does not seem to be
SO feasible. He will strive to form consti-
tuition like that of England, and intimates
that he will pay the Spanish bondholders.
Altogether, the young monarch has captivat-
ing platform. There is story that the father
Of Don Carlos, who abdicated in favor OF his
son, has given his adhesion; but this is one of
the stories that will require confirmation be-
fore We can believe it.
It is interesting to note the strong influence
which is brought to bear on public opinion in
the United States for the purpose Of securing
prompt recognition by the administration of
the Afonsist usurpation. The journals are
suddenly flooded with rosy dispatches from
Europe and Washington, telling us about the
enthusiasm" with which the new King is
received that the Carlists have suddenly
resolved to disarm; that the great Powers
are impatient to recognize Alfonso that the
Emperor of Germany has protested his will
ingness to do so at once that the United
States government will receive from the
Spanish King consideration that the Re-
public never bestowed that we are to have
s.great reforms in Cuba:'' that Jovellar,
who was brute when he commanded in
Havana at the time of the Virginius massacre,
has suddenly become an angel of mercy and
reform, and that, after all, the Republic of
Spain was despised, contemptuous thing
and that we Americans should rejoice in its
downfall
Of course the policy of the United States
is plain, so far as our relations with foreign
governments are concerned. Spain's prefer
ences are none of our business. But there is
no country in Europe with whom our rela-
tons are in some respects as close as with
Spain none, certainly, upon whose govern
ment the diplomacy of the United States could
have o more direct effect. When the Republic
of Figueras was founded-and not only
founded by the act of sovereign Cortes but
approved by the votes of the sovereign Span
sh people-the great Powers of Europe de-
clined to recognize it, on the pretext that it
had not suppressed the Carlist insurrection
and therefore could not be considered as
established Just as soon. however, as Ser
| rano drove out the Cortes by military power
the European nations, with the exception
of Russia, gave his crime that in
slant recognition which they refused to
the will of the Spanish people; and now,
when by another series of intrigues and mill
tary usurpations Alfonso comes back to Spain,
all the machinery Of the government, all the
resources of diplomacy, the telegraph, the
press, every avenue leading to public opinion
and power are taken possession Of for the
purpose of forcing his recognition, not only
by the European Powers but by the United
States, as "the beginning of new era of
happiness, honor and peace"
This whole Alfonsist movement is nothing
but the elimination of an intrigue. The
party this Prince represents was driven out
of Spain BECAUSE for thirty years under the
reign OF his mother, it led that country from
one degradation to another. Is the party
any purer now than when it ruled
Spain under the influence of Narvaez
and O'Donnell and SerranoP And if
not if it is the same corrupt, wretched, dis
honest monarchy which for so many Years
was the disgrace and pain Of Europe, what
is there in this young King, this half-formed
boy, not yet in the early years of manhood,
fresh from his books and ponies, his tops and
velocipedes, that he should suddenly renovate
the monarchy and make it at once SO fair and
beautiful that republicans in America should
hasten to give it recognition and strength?
Our policy should be governed by this rule:-
That when the monarchy is accepted by the
voice of the people we will accord it recogni-
ton. Until Spain by its popular vote accepts
Prince Alfonso as the King any act Of recog-
milton on the part of our administration would
be in indecent haste, an approval of usurpa-
ton and reflection upon our own republican
! institutions.