Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-04
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MONDAY MORNING, January a, 1875.
TIE SPANISH .sITUAT1ON.

The commencement OF the year VIII
uesses another revolution In the govern,
mental affairs of Spain. The republic has
collapsed like the bursting CT bubble,
and royalty again exercises sway over the
Spanards. In 1868 Queen Isabella abdi-
Gated the throne in favor of her son Al
phonso, then a child of only eleven years
of age. Leaving the country she took up
her residence in France. During that year
General Prm returned from exile, and by
a revolutionary movement was placed at
The head OF the army and exercised SUI
preme control in the government. Soon
after popular reaction took place against
Prim, and Marshal Serrano came forward
as the champion of a monarchal govern
ment and was created Regent OF the
Kingdom. For sometime after that the
crown went begging, being offered 10
several persons and declined, among
them being prince of the Hohenzollern
family, and that offer leading TO the war
between France and Germany. After this
Prince Amadeus of Savoy was invited to
assume the government. and was elected
king. Prim supported the new king, but
was assassinated before the latter entered
upon the government. In 1871 Amadeus
formally opened the Spanish parliament,
but he was opposed by the Carlsts and
intriguers for power, so that becoming
weary with his place he resigned his king
II robes in 1873. A day before the date
of his abdication republic was pro-
claimed in the streets of Madrid. The
Cortes at the same sitting accepted the
resignation of the king and voted the re-
public.
The United States government was the
first to recognize in an official manner the
existence Of the new Republic. Then came
Don Carlos as pretender to the throne,
and few days after the abdcation of
King Amadeus we find the redoubtable
Don Carlos in the field with grand pro.
nunciamento, declaring himself King of
Spain, and on that day he left France with
a suite of thirteen carriages. The war
which has devastated the north OF Spain
until the present day continued. The
leading spirit of the new republican gov
ernment-Senor Castelar-at once an
nounced to foreign Powers the great
change which had taken place in Spain.
Our government was the first to recognize
the change. Then came host of politi-
cal intrigues that left in doubt the actual
state of affairs in Spain. Switzerland fol-
lowed the example of the United States in
recognizing the Spanish Republic. Mean
while the followers of Don Carlos swelled
up to a degree of Importance and peril to
the Republic that threatened its very exis-
tence The Carlist war assumed fol mida-
bic proportions. and victories and defeats
on the part of the republican troops were
so equally divided that there was little
confidence among foreign Powers in the
continuance of the Republic. Afterward
Senior Castelar, became President of the
Republic, and during his administration
many exciting events took place. First,
there was serious revolt against the con-
lstiiuted authorities at Cartagcna, in which
large proportion Of the navy took part.
The ..intransigentes," as they are now
known, cost the Spanish government
deal of blood and money. They success
fully resisted all efforts to subjugate them
until regular military and naval force,
after months of resistance, compelled
them to succumb. Just at this time &C.
Cured the terrible affair of the Vir-
ginias. in which SO many American
citizens were butchered in cold
blood in Cuba under Spanish law.
Spain at that time was fighting the sin
transigentes" at Cartagena. the Carlists.
and the Cuban patriots. CASTELAR, soon
lost his seat and Marshal Serrano became
lctafor. Since that time Spanish history
has been Of Kaleidoscope nature, vary
Ing between republicanism, Carlism and
u score of other political isms The out
como of all this seems to be monarchy, with
Alphonso at the head, a triumph for the old
Queen that was so ANONYMOUSLY elected
fromthe Escurial few wears o..
We have the authority of the New York
Herald for the statement that the
present city debt of New York, including