The New York herald., 1875-12-24
Alicns6S Eingly Position on the Day Of A.
tanning His Majority.
The People Indifferent and the War Op-
eratons Cooling Down
National Relations to Cuba and
the United States.

day, ''itts truth about Spainn And ne right
The rgid from the Pyrenees have chilled the
air OF old CASTLE 20 degree not cqualed for years
past and the frost that has brought down tho
oranges has put up the price OF substitutes for drafted
PATRIOTS The prospects OF q winter among the sicet
and OF the Basque Province the patriotic
pulse Of many young hidalgo TO beat much slower
than OF duly would dictate But there arc
many other things 'fn tho art that is dincult TO
choose ones subject
rHE KINGS MAJORITY.
The breeze which played about the palace this after
noon, during the august eongratu tulation OF the
young King upon reaching his eighteenth year, was
savorcd much with diplomacy ami bogus homage as
garlic and bad tobacco The whole proceeding was in
tercsng showing the grand total OF spans mobility
and the amount OF gold lace and number Of decorations
which 10 10 possible for single worthy breast
20 carry Tall men, short men, gross and petite,
pat,cred along the halls, up the staircascs,
and then slipped down and away again.
But In ai the vast not Indifferent, crowd which
rounded the palace. thero many curious thoughts
visible on fnces hero and thero In my hearing ono
faithful subject asked, without shadow OF treason
desire for change in his voice. bat IN matter OF course
way:-"How long will this state OF things last ?"
This brings the consideration OF several important
considerations which iess Affect tho
tenure Of tho young King and the relations between
America and Spain.
srArEcRAFT.
II has been asserted denied and again rearmed that
Don Alfonso will early the field in person at the
head the loyal forces crush Don Carlos in
North The announcement only the offspring OF the
wish with the people, and for the they forgot
burdensomc taxes their conscriptions their exiled
friends and or ALL their deferred elections In
The hope that peace would be restored and that tho
greater evils from which they suffered would right
themselves. But IL seems almost certain that,
however the King may be forced act the
promise OF the royal presence only ministerial
settle very troublesome and grave political
question Tho anxiety Of Martinez Campos and
aucsada 10 have the question decided as
10 whose should be the honor OF restor-
ing peace and OF bringing end the disastrous
in the North forced upon the Ministry the
sty OF deciding which OF the two should be Captain
General OF the Spanish troops This decision the
King could afford make this juncturc OF affairs
The time most inopportune; the Ministry might
have split upon this issue and small the question
seems It was dangerous The differences OF opinion
might have been greater might have been less than
actually believed, but IL counted that division
would certainly AT ths time the Alfonso govern
cannot risk a small division OF its vitality
So statccraft that misuscd word which is synony-
with anything from courtly boot-licking down
ASSASSINATION,
that the young King hnc young lad ever carried
cigar in the OF his mouth, would take the field
In November. Then the pressure OF official duties com
peled postponcmcn of His Maicstys departure until
December, and already that nc likely to get
OF before January. Meanwhile
THE WAR LAGs
and the generals who are nghiing in the North
engthen the campaign out until somebody will got
tired The result, however is indspuiable the qucs-
ton TO who shall be Captain General is settled for
the present and accident tho diphthcra may com
plec the good work Of wise statesmen. | believe IL
Schiller who promulgated this scheme when he
wrotc-'Therc can be no jealousy between the King
and US, for he is US ALL" Tho general impression
among the Spanards, as gather the cafes seems
to DO that the King viii merely take the neId to eco
the end. This will give him all the prestige of vic
torous sovereign II only twenty hours by rail from
here 10 the seat OF war and HERALD special news
paper train could do IL In eight hours without any dim
Guilty. So may special bearing the King. The sud
den and serious illness Of Don Carlos OF which there
is 20 longer ground for doubt may end the even
sooner than mortal prophecy guess.
ff there is any role In which dislike appear II is
that OF political prophet. Experience teaches that il
10 very uncertain and prccarous way OF earning
either reputation money, In America where
in Spain doubly certain that II would be the most
sbsurd employment a man could engage In To.mor
may Madrid in a state Of revolution a week
may either republic the present King
despite the doubts expressed every hand-6rmly
seated the throne Therefore do not desire 10 be
regarded as speaking in the light OF prophecy, but
one who, having mixed with the elements OF all par
ties, knowing distinction writes what nc has seen
and heard. Although am that tho American
question is Of more immediate your readers
han the present confused OF polsica affairs here
beg 70 be allowed to speak nrst OF Spain indicating
what events AZ home may produce csran results in the
relations OF the peninsula with the outside world.
a GRAND NATIONAL DIFFICULTY
However soon the war shall end tho government or
Spain viii ind itself confronted by great ISSUE which
viii require immediate and decisive notion refer 10
the elections which, having been from time 90 rmo
postponed without any satisfactory the poo
pie, camored for in every club and coG and
every street The masses, overburdcncd with
taxes liable 10 be conscrptcd hours notice. are
thoroughly tired OF this temporzine. and hate
rously begun think that they before them the
germs OF monarchy more absolute than lsabcla's.
Alarmed though rcbellous they sigh for the loss
or spanish liberty they possessed. From
month another the pcopo have awaited tho procla-
rnstion for general election; but bulletin has ap-
pcared. The Ministers Of State who should be able
feel ,he Spanish pulse appear ignorant OF the gather
ing storm indeed indifferent Tho Of three cit.
Of Madrid for failing 20 remove their bats the
prescnea cf the King at tho National opera HOUSE only
few nigT ago has greatly strengthened tho feeling OF
insecurity,l is now asserted that there other
vessons sher arrest; yet this does make the
affair whit less unfortunate saw
HARsTr RIDE THROUGH THE PUERTO pKL sol,
the grea, central plaza or Madrid last evening
panied by the Princess and surprised 10 sec that
very fcw persons among the throng that iinod the
route seemed to take any interest in the passing
tere. Not out OF nfty raised hts hat, and
there WIS no, symptom OF the homage which $ man
iicstcd IN London whenever any member of the royal
family appears IN the streets This Indifference ndi-
something, and the advisers OF the King ought TO
be able 10 observe H. "Coniound the harper always
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