The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-28
CARLIST ACTIVITY IN TIE FIELD
Generals MOriOneS, Primo dc Rivera, EliO
and Others Retire.
How the Pretender Manages His
Army Commanders.
AN AMUSING CORRESPONDENCE.

ing ground. His government is by no means justi-
lying the high hopes and bright anticipations with
which Its advent was greeted. Discoura cement,
dependency and discontent are gradually taking
the place Of the rose.coIored views OF the future
In which everybody had been rejoicing since the
new order of things, anu people are beginning to
understand at last that Carlisrn is not yet
crushed Far from It, indeed. The battle OF
Lacar opened the eyes OF the optmists to the fact
that the Carllsts were not mucn aITected by the
change OF government, and that verifying was
not just as good as 1t could be In the best OF
worlds. Since then things have been gong on
from bad TO worse, until the government OF Don
Alfonso is now scarcely in better repute than
was Marshal Serrano's Moriones-probably the
best general In the liberal army and the one
best liked, the only one perhaps In whom the
soldiers have any laith-has resigned his CON-
mand and retired rom the scene OF operations.
GENERAL MoRToNEs' LIFE AND SERVICES.
Mortones Is native OF Navarro. He knows
| every road and mountain path in the Carlss
! country other officer in the army knows
them and because he has many old friends aud
acquaintance among the Navarese and the Carl
/ isis themselves he possesses means OF obtaining
Information within the reach OF nobody else.
This, together with his long service against the
Carlists, fitted him especially for taking the
communicated OF the Army OF the North. He
/
derstand that he had better retire from the army
altogether. Don Alonsos government would not
be truly Spanish did 1t not proceed In this ay,
and the retirement Of Morlones is one OF the
surest signs that the government Is Just the one
required Tor spain. The motives which caused
the change are peculiarly Spanish. The new gov
eminent has adopted the policy OF trying to take
the wind out OF Don Carlos sails, OF beating him
at his own game, OF playing his part OF champion
OF the Cnurcn better than he plays 1t himself; or.
in other words, OF carrying out very strong
reacti0nary, clerical. anti coral policy Now
Morlones Is very advanced liberal, even
q republican, and II he had remained in
command OF an army and achieved any
brilliant success, which was very PROBABLE, he
would undoubtedly gain too much influence with
the young King, and thus perhaps lead TO the in.
auguratlon OF liberal policy. Noriones was,
therefore, given to understand, in q delicate way,
that his health was suffering, and that he ought
to go and look after 1t. Besides, there were
great many people who mad helped to bring about
the pronunciamento, and who had to be provided
for. Commands had to be given to those who had
none, and those who had must be promoted.
There was there ore, not the slightest nook or
corner for Moriones.
PARTY DIVISIONS IN CANT.
There are two partiesi the Alfonsist camp-the
liberals and the 1eactonists, clerlcas conserva-
tves. l DO not know which name they have
CHOSEN. At present it is the latter who have the
OF the young King, and it is their policy he
seems inclined to follow, in spite OF MS English
education. 1t would be difficult to say which Will
win in the end, and still more difficult TO predict
which would offer the best defence against Carsm.
In my opinion Don Alfonso win find 1t diflcult TO
play the game OF Don Carlos better than Dom
Carlos himself. He viii only ALLEVIATE the liberal
party without at the same time gaming the sup
port OF that part OF the clergy which has espoused
the cause OF Don Carlos or winning from their
allegiance any OF his partsans. They will never
have any confidence in him, because he can give
guarantee for the future; and the truth Is that
If clerical reactionary policy is to be
adopted al all, it is eviuent That Don Carlos
is the best man to carry it out Be
that 1t may, 1t is very certain that
the two parties are already engaged In a bitter
strife, and that, as Don Carlos predicted, the
game OF intrigue OF plot and counterpart, has
already commenced at Madrid with renewed
vigor ana unexanped bitterness Who knows
whether Don Carlos predict;ons-to the effect
that the same men who set Don Alfonso up win
pull him down-may not be fulfilled to the letter
LACK OF PATRIOTISM.
There Is no patriotism among these men. They
have no CONVICTIONS, no principles, either good or
bad, and political policy is for them merely q
them are liberal and some reactionary, 1t Is only
because there is difference OF opinion as to
which is the best and most eifectual means or
combating Carlism-tbe common enemy. Prnci-
pies are matter OF the slightest consequence.
Although protesting to be advocates OF a consttu-
tiona government tneys take good care to not
convoxe the Cortes to not hold elections, to not
give the country chance OF being heard. The
press is gagged and there Is less liberty under
INF tntipn ufp upho In
rule OF the Car. Nor were the seifstyled liberals
when in power more consistent with the prin-
ciples they profess. Under the liberal rule OF Ser
rano Spain was eighteen months without any
legislative body, while at the same time pretend
ing to war upon the absolutlsm OF Don Carlos. II
O choice must be made between the absoutism OF
Serrano and Don Alfonso and that OF Don Carlos
there can be little doubt as to which is the besr.
And indeed the men who surround Don Alfonso
with their intr2ues, their se1shness. their utter
absence OF principle, OF patriotism, OF honor or
honesty, bear but poor comparison with the
handful OF devoted men VINO nave rallied to the
standard OF Don Carlos, united In purpose and
action, hghting In principle for a desperate cause,
without pay ana without reward. Many OF them,
ike Don Carlos Caderon, have allowed their prop
erty TO be seized ana conHscated rather than
abandon what might then have been termed alOst
cause.
People, therefore, who had hoped 80 much from
the advent OF Don Alfonso are growing discon-
tented, discouraged and Respondent
The Csrl!sts, ia the meantime, are more active,
daring, enterprlslng and insoient than ever.
BLACKMAIL
Their flying columns are everywhere, levyiDg
contributions, stopping railroad tralns capturing
small garrsoned towns and surpris ing small de-
tachments OF troops In places where Carlist was
never seen before. The other day two p1rtidas
atn mad a
at Carrasca, IN the rear or the liberal army, and
drove IL or into the mountains, Win driver, pas
Bcngers and all.
Twenty Csrlists went into Iruu few nights
since, a little after dark and actually captured
dozen soldiers, wnom they happened TO md in a
house without their arms and carried them or
prisoners to Toosa. l have often had occasion 10
remark on the negligence OF spanish Officers In
pacing outposts. THIS Is another case In point.
| i.he Hnnder Is thai The CaIilsli do