New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-04
festly dangerous to the country. What will
such Democrats do then1
SPAIN IND France.

King Alfonso has reason to be grateful! to the
Paris mob. He returns to Madrid to ma MN
self a popular sovereign. The affront when
he has received in the French capital has slim
ulated loyalty and endeared him to the hearts
of his subjects The petty spite and coarse
insults of a foreign rahble may prove more
useful in strengthening his position on the
throne than years of wise administration anu
constitutional rule have been. The Spah6h
population is an inert mass that Is seldom
swayed by political convictions. The army
and tho Church are the dominant forces III
politics, and the civil Offices are ordinarily hlIed
10y unscrupulous partIsans and needy advent
ureTs The middle class is both Ignorant ana
frivolous, and persstently refuses to take
serious interest in political affairs. There Is no
other country in Europe where ii is so easy Tor
q Ministry to secure the return of its legislative
candidates as it is in Spain. Merchants anu
LAWYERS are alike Indifferent to the chances ana
rewards of public life. Elections are looked
upon as matter OF administrative routine, and
tbe business of State is ordinarily transacted
by corrupt class of public functionaries OF
inferior social rank 1t is this lstessneSs Of
the middle class that renders the political out
look in Spain disheartening at all times. Al
fonso has been conscientious constitutional
sovereign disposed to respect the rights OF leg
islators and constituencies. But he has not
been heartily supported, and has made little
imprsssion upon the mass Of the population
If the enthusiastic demonstrations which have
followed his return from France prove that the
slagCsh blood of his subjects has been stirred,
and that he reIgns not only with tho consent
but with the loyal respect and affection OF the
people, he has the boulevard brawlcrs to thank
for it. The King may suddenly ind himself
strong enough to have Ministers and foreign
policy dstnctively his own.
The influence of the French Ministry has
been impaired Ivy the disgracefu' conduct OF
the ill.maunrred and scnsccss mob. Already
there ale rumors of designations and an i'm
pending crisis, and while 1t IS probable that
these are premature, and that the Cabinet will
not be Immediately reOrgarizcd, there are I'M
erring indications of partisan strife and pOlit-
ical instability The disappearance Of one
Premier after another and the general decad-
ence of political regulations have tended To
strengthen President Gr6yy's authority rs the
most sagacious leader OF the Republican cause.
The tact which lac displayed in making amends
for the insults Of the rabble and giving express
sion to the modification of the French people |
has been heartily commended by the press OF
all shades of opinion. a curious attempt, how |
ever, has been made TO prove that he was not |
supported BY the members of his household. |
lis son-in- law, VI. Wilson, is openly charged |
by the Ministry with secretly ahctting the ngi- |
tatiOn against Alfonso; and "a serious preach is |
said to have occurred in tic relations between |