The New York herald., 1877-11-04
Serious Efforts to Reform
the Administration.
THE KING HEARS THE TRUTH.
Campaign Of the Censor Against
the Press.
SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES


the cool breezes that come down from the Quad
arrama Mountains The King and his court have
not failed TO seize the opportunity to present them
selves as much us possible, In public and hence all
official Madrid has been kept on the q ctuc and forced
to take more active exercise than is Alfonso
XII. is certainly young man OF active habits life
and promises TO rival his cousin, the Emperor OF
Brazil, In his untirng industry. good part OF each
day is devoted BY the young king to conferrng with
his Ministers, receiving ambassadors generals. dukes
grandees and knights OF the nnumerablo Spanish
orders, who swarm the pavement OF this
capital, and on gala days thick as
flies In As these receptions are
more frequent In Spain to-day than they be
Paris In the days Of the charlatan empire
ond Napoleon, some idea may be formed OF the
OF work imposed on Alfonso by court ceremonias.
They by no MEANS however, exhaust the royal ener-
ges, for the King s to be mot with almost daily riding
in tho Paseo do los Resoeto In the splendid Retire.
which Is the pride OF Madrid and great boon
Madrilehos IS the Central Park to the dcnzon OF
Gotham. HIS Majesty is also fond OF looking in on
tho public departments, which is innovation that
Will probably lead to the sweeping away Of very
antiquated cobwebs which have long been tho prido
and consolation OF Ibcrian oflcaldom.
INTRODUCING REFORMS
Although decidedly reactionary from political
point OF view the present government is making really
serious efforts to Introduce needed reforms into
the spanish administration, u work OF small
difficulty in country where every one hopes
to live directly or indirectly at tho expense of the
State What Is fondly sought here cdrrerd. which,
being freely translated, means snug berth, where
the happy occupant can bask his life away Nearly
all the schools and colleges of this capital pro-
fessedy devoted to preparing young men 10 live
the country aud in this branch Of learning they
certainly very apt scholars. 1t does take much
study to III young u sword to as
clerk IN ono OF the government bureaus and then tho
examiners are not over strict when the applicant
backed by powerful friends And Madrid closely re-
sembes Washington Ia this that II only tho govern
mental capital Of tho country. Tho population made
up wholly OF the officials who live on the country and
tho shopkeepers who live on the officials There Is
Industry. no manufactures, and tho only workingmcn
those engaged IN building houses for tho
increasing swarm Of drones. that weighs like
lead the Industrial provinces. Under these
conditions tho government which seriously at
tempts to Introduce economy Ia likely to ind itself
face 10 face with serious difficulties The whole OH
cai class Ia bound together by common interest," and
tho members Of this class really ruo the govern
mont anything like al attack on their privileges raises
immediate storm of discomfort Ministers arc,
therefore, obliged to tread cautiously in the path OF
reform. lest thoy should wake sleeping lion
which might devour them. II Is small merit in
KING Alionso's government that the Ministry
itself seriously TO grappIe with thus great evil and 10
reduce permanently The charge on the country by
gradually abolishing tho places and dispen
sing with the Of clerks whose chief business
TO draw their salary. BY q decree lately issued
places the departments becoming vacant ny death
only TO be filled when the cxigcnces Of the
vice require 1t, which Is antamount to the confession
that good many places arc just now filled up that
could be made vacant with advantage. In addition TO
this measure number Of the young fry VINO had
ceedcd in making their nests In the departmental bu
TO be scnt about their business. From the
duction the number OF employees the government
poets to effect annual saving Of 100 100000 reals or
about S., Oo00 00o The increased income IRON the
tarln Is expected 10 reach 100, 600 900 reals, or
81 800 0OO yet even this considerable addition 10 the
revenue Will not balance the budget IL will however,
be considerable step In tho direction oil putting the
Spanish finances on a sound footing and should tho
Spain with lew years OF this economical regime,
would find herself placed on good financial basis.
THE NATIONAL PURSE EMPTY
Al the present moment the Treasury IS In q lamenia
bic condition, and the government may be said TO DO
iiving IRON hand To mouth. For the last six months
the public employees have received pay, and the
CONDITION OF the poorer members OF this
class Is sad indeed. On late occasion
TINS matter was brought rather tcdly undcr the
notice Of King Alfonso duriIg one OF his visits to tho
departments. While the higher officials were oowing
and scraping bdd'ng his Majesty welcome aud de-
caring devotion and attachment 10 the throne,
OF the under clerks approached, and Win that
mxture OF bluutncss and inmiInrty which the lower
aud middle classes ID SPAN frequently adopt In ad-
ny persons o hgner station III lie, said to tho
kug, "Hombre, pledo dscir te una pddtrdS Conan,
eau speak a word with youy') The King gracously
rcpi cd that he could speak, wnen the man clustered
the Madr leuO diaIect:-"S0Dtos piuerto de h0n
elect OF this lite incident was pnraiytc The upper
ofolols looked scanaanzed ana the crowd Of courers
by whom the KING goes accompanied put on an
ar of discontent that HIS Majesty should
bo troubled the grievances OF scribblng
clerks. The King himself was rather takcn
aback and turned to of the Ministers who hap
pened TO accompany him, and receiving confirmation
Of tho mans complaint, promised that something
.ne"'e .he employees. How the poor King is to
remedy the evil rs however diihcut to SEQ.
There 10, OF course, way out OF tho difficulty,
but any who should be bold enough 10 propose
would probably DO immediately tried tor high treason.
Span maintains an army out OF all proportion to her
needs IN timo oil peace and the number OF officers 10
stll more disproportonate than the number OF men.
BY putting about hall the generals, coiouels, &c,
haIf pay and sending hall the soldiers TO their
homes, the government could save millions without
innictng any wrong on the officers great numDer
OF whom have acquired rank to which thor
services give them not a shadow OF claim.
But the government does not dare TO
meddo with the army because without its support
King Alfonso could not MAINTAIN himself Ia spain Tor
u month. TIE army made him KING, and on the sup
port Of the army rests The security Of his throne. 1t
s the courage OF the Ministry that under
these circumstances 1t has refused to grant
dinary promotion TO ali The officers Of the army, Tor
which some uniformed patriots have been some tine
that the Minlstry could not exceed the voted by
the Cortes Tor the support OF the army aud tnat -
would DO necessary 10 do so. n the promotion de-
maDded we're accorded. ln order however, TO CON-
pensate In somo way tho disappointed WARRIORS
crosses, orders and medals have been showercd on
tnem. To such an extent has this decorating been
carried that on gala days the plaza IN front OF tho
palace must appear TO celestial observers converted
into terrestrial milky way, SO numerous are the stars
strung out on warrior breasts
THE VANITY
But while these necessary economies are being put
see the prodieality with which money Is wastcd N
another direction on useless and senselcss dispay.
Rcceptions IN the palace are all very well; tncy At
least nave the merit OF contentng attering
VINO take part IN them; they allow the gallant military
and the pompous Rrandce to show OIL their hno
feathers anu strut about IN the sun OF royal avor ke
their Kindred poacocks, but wDeD 1t comes TO wasting
money on Illuminating the public buildings, because
II happens tv be tho SAINTS OF the Kings mother
or HIS Majesty's grandmother, or his SISTER or his
cousin, or some other Of tho endless royal tail, thcn
the people grumbc. The employees, VINO have not
been paid Tor six months ask themselves, naturally
enough. If the money spent on gas jets would not 10