The sun., 1897-06-06

majority. During the eleven years Of this
regency the Carlists and others have con.
stantly threatened the throne, and within
the past two and a half years Spain has
had on her hands the revolution in Cuba
and the insurrection in the Philippines.
It Is a story Of ruin and madness. Not
another country of Europe has had such a
record Of domestic and foreign broils In this
generation. Nearly quarter of a million
Of Spanish troops are now on a war footing
in Cuba and the Philippines, and the Span.
ish Government Is staggering under diff.
culties at home. 1t looks as though the
old kingdom, which gained power as a
buccaneer, were In its last throes.
We have spoken only of Spain's expert
ences in this generation. Her record for
the previous generations of the nineteenth
century, during which she fought disas-
trous wars in Spanish.Ainerica and in
Europe, besides civil wars, was not less
boisterous and bloody. She has hardly
ever had any rest from war. She has
come out OF every war in worse condition
than she was in at the beginning Of it.
She has lost more by her wars within our
century than any other European power
ever lost. In every war, including the one
which now exists in Cuba, her arms have
suffered disgrace by the abominable mis-
conduct Of her troops. She has been az
cruel as the worst of the old.time bucca.
neers Of the Spanish main.
Her record In the last century was hardly
less bloody and shameful than it has been
In this, or than it was In the two centuries
before the last, during her career of con.
quest. Other powers Of Europe have FIRE.
quently enjoyed advantageous periods of
peace. For Spain, there has hardly ever
been an end to war.
At this time the unhappy kingdom is in
spasms. Don CARLOS and his heir are
watching the tumult, and though the royal
pretender promised last year that he would
not break out till the opportune hour
struck, that hour may strike without
his assistance. The intrunstgentes, too,
have traditions that are yet influential.
The Cubans, likewise, have n purpose
that they will never surrender. The insur-
gents of the Philippinesaren not yet crushed.
Senior Pr Y MARGALL, who was the first
President Of the executive power in the re-
public Of 1873, still lives, and is the editor
Of Ell Nuero Regimen.
Perhaps the very best thing for Spain,
under existing circumstances, would be the
coming to the front of Marshal MARTINEZ
CAAPos as dictator during the adjournment
OF the Cortes. He has had experience in
dictatorship; it was he who, at the head
of his army, issued the pronunciamento of
1875, which brought the Bourbon dynasty
back to Spain; it was he who received the
credit for Spanish success in the last Cuban
war; 1t was he who held command for Spain
during the first year Of the present war in
Cuba; it was to him that the Queen Regent
Of Spain sent for counsel last week.
Possibly Marshal MARTINEZ CAMPos may
have come to the conclusion that the Bour-
bons whom he helped to restore have proved
failure; and possibly he may have formed
the opinion that Cuba cannot be conquered
by Spain. Were he again in possession
of such dictatorial power as he has
exercised at times in the past, there
would be hope for more liberal Govern
ment in Spain; and perhaps there might be
hope for the withdrawal of the Spanish
army from Cuba. We have no doubt that
the American Government would find it
far more agreeable, il not profitable, to
enter into negotiations with the veteran
Marshal than with such obstructionists
and ounces as CANovAs or SAGAsTA.