The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-02

pected event II IN spain anything coulu De
regarded as unexpected. 1t is just a year
since Sernno and his friends took possession
OF the government The republic Of Figueras
and CASTELAR, fell before the cannon of Pavia.
Serrano has retained power without making
any serious effort toward pacifcation of the
country Power has simply been a pretext
for the monarchy After the coup dktat there
could be no solution to the problem but the
monarchy or new revolution. A new rev.
olution died away with the tall of Cartagena-
Many OF the republican experiments alarmed
and did not assure the people. From the
time that Figueras and CASTELAR, failed to con-
solidate the republic upon the basis of a re-
cognition of all republican interests there has
been no hope for republic. However beau
tiful the dreams of Pi y Margall and the
transcendentalists, they were impracticable.
The Spanish republican leaders proved to be
dreamers and not statesmen. AS Cas-
telar said, "they knew all about the
theory and nothing about the prac-
tice of reput ,icanism; they saw only
the wide-spreading heavens above them and
stumbled over the first stone in their path. "
One illusion succeeded another until in time
all interests became alarmed, and those who
yearned most earnestly for republic aban-
doned it. CASTELAR, himself surrendered when
he avowed himself Spaniard before he was
republican; when he confessed that there
We're higher interests in Spain than those
which . republic could serve. CASTELAR,
fancied that it was possible to unite all classes
in immediate support of republic that the
men who had sustained the monarchy who
owed to royalty that which they most cher
ished-money and rank-would really support
system which would give them no money
they did not earn. and no rank higher than
citizens of Spain.
Serrano came into power as an expedient.
He did not proclaim the monarchy because it
was necessary to make terms with the mon
arch. He has held power until the compile
ton of these negotiations. Don Carlos has
been found impossible His claim of legiti-
macy is untenable, as Ferdinand VII had as
much right to change the law of succession
back to the custom which prevailed when Isa-
bella was Queen with Ferdinand, as Philip V.
had to annul that ancient law. Personally,
Don Carlos would not have pleased party
who want king they can rule, and not king
who will insist upon ruling. ''Divine right
is holy legend, and looks we'll on coins and
proclamations but Don Carlos would be too
much Of king for soldier who has too
often held the substance of power. Serrano
ruled Spain through the affections of the
foolish woman who WAS recently its Queen,
and he may rule it again through the help
lessness of the lad who now stumbles up
the steps of the throne. Don Carlos is a
real soldier and real king, and not q half
formed lad. Furthermore, the system which
Don Carlos represents would be almost as i'm
possible as the system Of the 'irreconcila-
bles" who held Cartagena. He is a religious
monarch at the head Of religious party,
| ultramontanist, legitimist, regarding the Pope
as the infallible ruler of the political and re-
ligious affairs of the earth. In some happy
future state-in heaven, let us suppose
where religious influences will have their
proper value, and we shall all know precisely
what religion does represent, q government
like that of Don Carlos would be feasible.
But in this vulgar, questioning, thinking
world, where human beings have opinions,
government must recognize liberty and indie
pendence Of thought. This is the bar IN the
way of Don Carlos even in Spain. The diff
ference between Alfonso and Don Carlos is
the difference between expediency and a
principle. Alfonso's supporters will not re-
store the Inquisition they will not give
the influence of the Church, 30 far as poiti-
cal affairs are concerned they will respect
the Pope without obeying him, and deal with
him as bishop and not as prince.
The new King who comes to the throne of
Spain is only name, in spite Of the high
archy which the cable attributes to him.
1t would be a waste of time to con-
slider him as in any real sense a ruler.
To our minds there is nothing SO much
burlesque upon the whole monarchical
system as the fact that it is necessary
for the welfare Of Spain" that lad Of seven
teen, without sense or experience enough to
manage bell-punch on street railway car,
should be called upon to guide the destinies
of q great country. The question arises, who
will be the favorite. We do not see how i,
can be any other than Serrano. 1t is his
trade. This conspiracy is as much his work
as though he had summoned Alfonso to the
throne by an order of the day. But the Prince
he now calls to Madrid is the same Prince
whose family he only few years since
drove from the throne. We presume His
Majesty has pardoned that act of treachery,
which, after all, gave him o crown; bat as
treason is never really pardoned, at least by
kings We may have our own opinion as to the
sincerity of the reconciliation. In the nature
of things Serrano must be for little time the
master Of Spain He controls the army,