Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-27
SPAIN.

The death OF King Alfonso gives rise to
speculations regarding the future of the
Spanish people in their establishment
of new government. There is
now no Serrano at the front,
who in 1874 so mastery conquered the
Carlist pretender. The quality that should
distinguish a Republican leader in the
crisis of action, and which was so sadly
wanting in the brilliant CASTELAR,, exists in
no known Republican in Spain now. That
occasions and great crises develop men for
them is true, but not always so. 1t proved
false hope in the decade of the seventies
and there is nothing in the lives of the
leading men of Republican convictions
now in Spain TO indicate that the right
man coul1 be raised up at once to seize
upon the occasion that now presents for an
other trial of republicanism. For for
eigner has been named as Regent, and that
fact VIII give rise to trouble The aim of
CASTELAR, was right and lofty one; but
he failed in that quality of courage and
firmness that should have stood him in
service when Salmeron in January, 1874,
procured vote of the Cortes of lack of
confidence in the CASTELAR, administration,
upon the declaration of which that states
man and scholar resigned, to be succeeded
by the dictatorship of Serrano. That
event saved the country from the tyranny
and cruelty of Carlist rule. 1t is possible
that the Jesuits of Rome and the Carlist
sympathisers in Europe will now attempt
to advance the standard of that house. If
so, there is sore trouble in store for
Spain. The son Of Isabella came to the
throne under the declaration of General
Campos, before which the Sagasta Ministry
gave way, and Marshal Serrano laid down
the baton of the Presidency. In 1875
Alfonso was crowned, being then scarcely
10 years of age. The Pope was his god
father, and his relation to the Vatican
was therefore one of great danger to the
country. The Carlists were still in the
held; the nation was without money or
credit; Rome was demanding the conces-
sion of all the old powers which gave it
the right to drive out all forms of worship
except that of its church, and the right to
exercise the most absolute power over
conscience; the Kings mother, who had
scandalized the name of royalty, was plot
ting to be reseated upon the Spanish
throne; the counselors of the King were
divided in opinions and ambitions. were
jealous of each other and none too LOVING
of the new ruler. The whole country was
In confusion and hung upon the verge of
anarchy. At such time, and in such a
condition of affairs, the boy King assumed
the reins of government. Early in 1876
he was so fortunate as to drive the Carl
lists to their last post, and to etfectually
suppress that uprising. His admiDistra-
ton from this on was marked by an unex-
pected breadth, tolerance and progressive
ness. Rome was conciliated, though still
clinging to the concordat of 1851, that
prohibited utterly all religious rites in
Spain except those of the Roman Church,
by the recognition of the Catholic as the
State religion, coupled with the constitu-
tlonal declaration that no one should be
eoerced because of his religious beliefs or
practices, but that no church ceremonies
OF public character should be tolerated.
except those approved at the Vatican. 1t
was a very narrow grant of liberty to
Protestants, and of even this they
were most frequently deprived bv
oficious royalists. Five years later.
with Sagasta restored to power
and who Is now to form a new Cabinet
Alfonso's Government declared in favor of
much greater liberty of conscience, and
pronounced for liberal reforms in the edu-
caticnal system. Slavery was abolished in
the Antilles in 1881, the censorship of the
press was removed. Cuba, by liberality to
its people, and the extension to them of
the full rights and privileges of Spanish
subjects in Spain, was saved to the Crown;
the finances of the state were in part
education received new i'm