Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-15
anain Under AIfon,o VII.

spain Under Alfonso MI,
Col. John Hay, of the New York Tribune,
one of the few journalists In the country
competent to discuss European politics in
diligently, writes as follows Of the pros
pective government Of Spain under the
new King Alfonso: "Iiis government has
as good chance Of lasting as any govern
ment can have in Spain. II has this de-
cidcd advant igc over a Republican sys-
tenn, and over serious monarchy such as
Amadeus orStvoy hoped 10 found. that ii
rests on nothing but name, and gives
free play 10 revolutions. All parties, for
the present, ale interested in putting the
young Prince ON the throne, and then heht-
ing for his possession. lie says, in the
priagish llIle phrases which princes are
taught 10 speak to deputatiuns, that he Is
not TO he King Of a party but Of all Spain.
This is true, in the sense that lie proposes
to remain King, and to all"w all parties 10
amuso themselves 10y cutting each Others
thr0at- as mcrrily as they please, 80 long
as they do not interfere with tim. The
recent traditions of his family all FAVOR this
view Of tho monarchial function. His
mother was never injured by the success
i've rebeliuns, mutinies, aud conspiracies
which made and destroyed her cabinets,
and might possibly have been to-day upon
the throne, had she not been So infatuated
with Marfori and Gonzalez Bravo ~ to ex-
lie her Old paranour SerranO and her own
sister, the Duchess Of Montppusie~. When
that had been done there was no resource
In 1. 4. 70 NJ
tack the dynasty. II her son avoids such
gazing error, Il. the.c ne may remain for
Il good wti = King of : .,ain, aud >cr tweh-
~ ievu ullors ii-e and fili Wilton, losing
his throne. His danger will be in taking
sides. If Go restricts himself TO tIe part of
constitutional monarch, and allows all
parties 20 GGhl cut their own quarie,s aud
rob the treasury in equitable rotation, be
will be reasonably sale until another great
upbeaval comes.
II is reported that many OF tho leading
libplai politicians have offered their sup
port 10 the new monarchy. There Is no
reason why they should not. II they do
not choose to be eXiles or outlaws the y
have 10 other chui q. Ii is true that the
King comes in by a conspiracy, but there
is no other way by whicu monarchy can
II Nv be established. lis authority is 10
more irregular or Illegal than that OF Sci
rano has been for The last year, and with
out considering its Origiu, ii Is the only
authority naw existing in Spain. Those
who do not rccu-niz. it recognize 10 law
wha.cvcr. Besides, tic events Of the last
SIX years must have shown that in the
| present state of IN rails amnnS the Spanish
ARMY and Spanish Politicians, there is n"
| Immediate prospect OF a1Y government eX-
crpt uut fuuudel upon the ambition aud
.nc avar.cc of utuce-- ockurs. 1t j. some
| times fuol>hiy SAID that the SpaniardS re-
| quire n strong government. The truth is
| that q strong government seems at present
| impossible in the peninsula. No govern
ment can be strong which is liable any
| day 10 be overturned by conspiracy OF
| jealous soldiers and selfish politicians. The
restoration OF King Alfonso gives TO Spain
| just such rule as this. lie serves Us a
| symbol of authority under which the steal
| ing and the lighting may he done without
| Interruption. When the 9rlndees the 9th
err day made their address 10 him, which
heraIded the coup cf the army, they pray
ed that he "migbt become Prince worthy
of the name lie bore, the century in which
he lived, and the country in which he was
born" The pious aspiration is in a fail
way 10 lie answered. Iftraining is good
for anything. he will be as accomplished
a reprobate as any oi his race. lie will LC
a worthy associate Of the frauds who have
made this century il!ustriOus, and il he i:
once allowed 10 seat himseiI firmly on the
throne, he will give Spain one of The mos
| thoroughly Spanish reigns in history"