New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
RUIZ GORILLA.
THE CASTELAR, REvoLUTIoNIST DISCUSSES
THE SITUATION IN SPAIN.

VRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or rng 1rfBoyv
Paris January II.
have been to see the most popular Republican,
among Spaniards, Ruiz Gorilla, for CASTELAR, ranks
more as a historian, literary and oratohcal artist
than as a statesman, and his Republicanism Is
entirely platonic. Gorilla has the unfinching
obstinacy which characterized the Spaniards IN
their struggles against every foreign invasion
lie will never stir from any position which he has
taken up. With his intensity, he is not narrow
minded-indeed, the reverse. He is fairly well
of. but not wealthy and what he has ne must
share with agitators who have reasons for keep
ing on this side of the Pyrenees. Gorilla never
Goes into society, and does not waste energy In
talk But he is clear, strong speaker, and feels
as SIRE as he is of his own existence that time
is working for the advent OF republic In Spain
and that he will live TO see 1t. lie respects the
Regent. but says that her regency Is absurd and
humiliating.
Gorilla does not conspire here, because he does
not want to be source OF trouble 70 Inc ffencn
Government in its relations with SPAIN "ben
he wants to see conspiTators ana 10 Iauhch mani
festoes he goes to London. he Always n'es AZ
furnished lodgings, and one sees rom tne look %
his rooms that in them he has no aoioins-Pia'e
There is no accretion Ct objects which we ony
elegant and useful articles of FURNITURE oron|e''
pictures, knicknacks, and so on.
Gorilla could not say whether the death OF
Alnbopso XIII would have a decisive influence
on the politics of his country. Mercedes would
step into his place Size might even remain some
years on the throne, though it was hardly prop
able What enabled Christina to hold on 50
long was, first, her good behavior. People
respected young lone woman who showed GOOD
sense and good feeling all occasions, ana
who held in horror bloodshed for dynastic objects
But what most helped ner was that the Carlist
and Republicans mutually neutrolized each other.
The latter far more numerous than the
former. But they were split up into groups and
sub-groups. CleTicalism was extinct The Span
ish woman, no doubt, is still superstitious, and
church on Sundays is the great place for lads and
lasses to Oge one another. But there 10 hardly
a man who believes in sacerdotalism outside the
ranks of the old-fashioned Carlists. The Spanish
nation is withstanding Papal pretensions with
great firmness. The spirit Of the country as
whole is liberal. Provincial cities are strongly
attached to provincial autonomy and to their
antique fueros. This does not prevent them from
being Spanish to the core. On the whole, they
are better prepared than contemporaneous France
for decentralized republic, which is the only
rational means OF raising une provinces ifoni One
langor into which they have fallen TO lusty
life. But federal republic? No. Gorilla did
not see any parity between actual Spain and tho
United States at the end of the
last century. He was for provincial
fueros or administrative juntas, and
central government handspring. There
should be a national parliament TO keep the
provinces welded together, and to give prac-
tical primacy To what was national over what was
provincial. If Spain chooses TO go on with
monarchy, well and good. He will do nothing
against its wish If it do not choose, he is ready
as q Republican TO serve his country: He has
been fifteen years exile, often illuminated,
often prosecuted, often misunderstood, but never
shaken in his faith in his resolution. He can
fight a passive as we'll an active fight. As
long as tie monarch rules Spain he is determined 70
live abroad The Republican form of govern
ment is the one in his opinion most suitable TO
human dignity and TO a proud people, which the
Spanards certainly are. The day, perhaps Is nou
far distant when Carlos and Alphonso will be
fraternizing together at some hotel where the
:" Rois en- Exile" congregate. When this comes to
pass royalty will be down never to Use again.
Gorilla made and smoked cigarettes all the
time he talked. lie then showed me a mag
nifcent Photographic album presented HIN on
New Years Day by Spanish Republicans There
were l. 800 signatures TO the letter with which 10
was accompanied The album was quite work
of art and executed at cost of $4,000 francs
' +. G.