The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-01
A sp.ntsh N7evolution.

Queen of the Spaniards, sun IS up tersely the
errors, the blunders and the crimes that have
robbed Spain of the glorious destiny
that seemed opening before> her. If
eloquent words and gand> aspira-
prosperity and glory then Spain would have
enjoyed all the blessings that flow from peace
and liberty. Only few years have passed
since Isabella, the mother of the new King
fed in dismay from the vengeance OF the
people whom her reign dshonored. The
army and the navy of Spain, from defend
ers OF the throne, suddenly rose up
to be defenders OF the people, the champions
of freedom. Abandoning the old time preju-
dices of the military caste the generals and ad-
mirals set themselves in front of a movement
to give freer and more liberal institutions to
their country. Such, at least, was the pretext
upon which they called their soldiers to arms
against the throne. The outcome of their
work is known. Frightened by the power
they had called into life the military caste
sought refuge from popular power under
foreign Prince. That experiment cost its
chief advocate his life, and the bullets which
killed Prim tore away the corner
stone which was to have supported
the throne Of Amadeus. The pride of
the Spanish people revolted at the sight Of
foreign master, and at length Amadeus,
taking counsel with prudence, fed to Por-
tugal to escape the fate of Macmillan,
which he felt was impending over HIM. If
fbio oh - -, kbo
chivalry which we associate with adventurer
kings it at least had the merit of wisdom.
Not alone was Spain relieved from the dan
ger of q civil war, but the road to liberty was
left open with the gates wide ajar.
Never did people have grander opportu-
nifty to secure the benefits of popular govern
ment without being called upon to make the
sacrifices which are the price commonly paid
to escape from the inherited evils of mis-
government. Then came the opportunity
of the republican party, for which they
had so long labored, prayed and fought. 1t
was the moment to test the soundness of their
theories and the fitness of their leaders for
government 1t is with regret We must
declare that the band Of brilliant men
who had made the Republic possible
in Spain proved unequal to the oppor-
tunity. By o most unlooked-for acct
dent the government of the country was
thrown into their hands. Had they acted
firmly and logically the success of their
cause would have been assured. But neither
Pi Margall nor CASTELAR, showed that
adaptability to government which had
been hoped from them. Pi Margall
proved more dangerous enemy to the Re-
public than any of the reactionary leaders
could have been. He clogged the wheels of
government from foolish vanity to play the
part of dictator, and first prepared the down.
fall Of the Republic by making it ridicu-
lous. 1t is painful to think that even
the brilliant CASTELAR,, whose splendid oratory
more than aught else nursed the seed of re-
publicanism in Spain, handed over the nurse
ling Republic to the care of it's bitterest enc
mics. From the moment when Isabella fed
from Madrid the sympathies of the
army have been divided between Alfonso
and Don Carlos Some few republican Off
GERS are scattered through the regiments, but
the immense majority have always been in
favor of Queen Isabela's son. 1t was notori-
Gus that these men were busy Matching con-
spiracies in favor of the exiled Prince. He
represented the supremacy of the military
caste and in being true to him
the military felt they were true
to themselves. In conspiring to overthrow
the ideal republic OF Pi y Margall, with its
impossible ideas of government the army did
not consider 1t was guilty of crime. The
officers and soldiers who supported
them sought to serve Spain their
Spain, themselves-for in their own
estimation they are "good Spaniards'' par er-
cellence While communstic dreamers talked
of dividing Spain into independent COM
munes and disbanding the army, the soldiers
were conspiring to save the nation and the
army That was all. And in view of the incom-
petence shown by the republican leaders in all
matters pertaining to government, much JUS
tifcation can be found. Had CASTELAR, had
the courage of his convictions and acted
logically on the principles he taught the Re-
public might have been established perma-
nently. But he was O ''Spanlard before o
republican" and when he saw the threatening
progress of Carlism in the North he
endeavored to weld men of all shades of lib
eral opinion into one party to combat the re-
dictionary element in the North. With this
end the military power of the country was
intrusted to the hands of men whose affection
for the cause of Alfonso was notorious. These
men and their friends had famed the fame of
Carlism IN the hope of making the Republic
impossible. Sent against the enemy, they be-
trayed their trust and rendered all the efforts
Of the government to suppress the Carlist in
surrectlon abortive. Under the pretence OF
lending all their energy to the work of pacify-
ing the North they were admitted to power,
intrusted with high command. Their gratitude