, 1875-01-23

confidence to the nation by establishing
q firm and durable Government. Little
progress has been made in accomplishing
these things. There have been barren
victories over the Carlists, alternating
with defeats which the nation feels to be
disgraceful. The suspicion that the Cen
erals and Armies employed in the North
have not had q fair chance is fostered by
Castlllan vanity, which cannot conceive
how the despised peasantry of the Pyre-
nees should be victorious over troops
bearing the national name, and fighting
IN the national cause. In politics and
finance there has been little improvement
during the year. The Governments of
Europe might recognize SERRANo, and
the Well-dlsposed to the Liberal cause in
every country might wish him success in
the struggle with the Pretender i; but all
this good will would not ill the Golfers
OF o State which is insolvent and reckless
OF insolvency. The difficulty of SERRANo,
as OF those who preceded him, has been
that the suppression of CarIism is necessa-
ry to restore the credit of the State, while
to achieve that very suppression some
credit is required. The owners of proper-
ty and the industrious part of the commu-
nifty have seen before them onlv the
prospect OF indefinitely increased taxation,
a consumption oppressive and capricious,
an interruption Of business and traffic
throughout whole Provinces, and a wide
spread insecurity for life and property.
AS month after month has passed without
any improvement, the murmur of discon-
tent has deepened, and the factions Of
Madrid have been encouraged by the voice
OF the country. 1t is difficult for any one
not a Spaniard to understand exactly the
temper OF the political world in the capi-
tai, but there can be no doubt that during
the last few months the aspirants to w
and the eXpectants of political advantages
have been excited by the presentiment
OF some coming change. The actual and
undenlabie successes Of Marshal SERRANO
have not sut1iced to maintain the influence
of his names lie has been less secure
since his Minister of Foreign Affairs
lectured the French and obtained the
recognition OF Europe than before. The
form which discomfort from the existing
Government has taken is adhesion to the
Alfonsist Party. All the other Parties
have been ono by one discredited or dis
solved. The QUEEN has abdicated the
M~oNTPENSIE2s, having no chance for them
selves, have given in their adhesion to the
Alfonsist cause the Federal Republic,
which was the ideal Of the Democrats for
years, is now thought of with terror, as
involving the destruction of the nation
and the anarchy of each of its component
Provinces the Unitary Republic still has
the allegiance of o certain number Of
Liberals answering to the Left Centre
and the Moderate Left in France but even
these admit that the system has not such
a hold on the national sympathies as is
likely to maintain it against the hostility
Of the most powerful classes in the State.
There has consequently been a continual
gravltati0n towards Alfonsism during the
latter part Of S~ERRANo's Dictatorship. In
Spain and her scarcely less perpIexed
neighbour, France, success would seem
to belong to the person or institution
that is least Objectionable. Either nation
is too much di~Senchanted to be enthusiastic
about anybody or anything, but some
kln OF Government there must be, and
the candidate who can keep his ground
when all else has been rejected has a
chance of power. Prince ALFONSO cannot
have made any personal enemies, he cannot
have Incurred any political discredit. He