New-York tribune., 1897-08-30
TIE CARLIST PLAN OF CAMPAI6N.


plots of the Carsts. That is current bit Oh
news 1t is probably quite true, and has been
true for more than sixty years. The Carlist
monaco is one of the most constant and i'm
mntable factors in Spanish politics. Bourbon
Oncen NAV Weld TO revolution, revolution to
Piedmont King Piedmont King to republic,
republjc to Bourbon King. and Bourbon King
10 Austrian Queen Regent. but Carlism abides
forever. The dispute is simple one 1t IS
merely whether the old Salic law of 1113 is
still in force or not. and whether. therefore.
King Ferdinand. dying in 1SS;, without a son.
should have been succeeded by his brother
Carlos or by his daughter Isabella. AS mat
ter Of fact however, few people even in that
land of tradition and precedent. care mucn
about the "Legitmsm" on which the Carlisls
nominally vaunt themselves. The divine rlght
Of kings" has become shadowy fiction. What
the people want is good government ana they
core LITTLE who gives ii To them, so long as
they get it, So Il is on this latter exceedingly
commonDlace and practical issue that Don
Carlos hopes TO win the throne. lot OF ialk
about "Lccitimism" is kept up by some OF
his followers wherever ii will have even The
least effect. But it generally rings hollow. ana
none of ii proceeds from the stately Venetian
palace where the woull-br king lives and waits
his chance.
The plan of campaign of the Carlsis i one
of education AMI of expectation. They have
club. or iunta. in almost every town i'll the
North of Spain and in many in the South
They have numerous newspaper organs sin
larly distributed Outside of Spain. especially
in England they have many auxiliary organi-
cations But these are not. contrary TO com
mon fancy. seeking TO foment an insurrect'on
They are all Opportunists The scheme is 10
organize all avowed followers of Don Carlos
and TO enroll with them as many converts aS
can be made; 10 criticise the existing govern
ment and point out its faults TO the people. and
To proclaim AT every opportunity how much
better a government King Carlos VII would
give Having done all that. wait and see
what will happen. and be prepared for II, what
ever II may be.
1t is upon Cuba that Carlist hopes are chiefly
hung The rebellion in that island will. II is
believed. result disastronsly To spain. Either
10y rebel trumphs in the field or by Alner-
can Intervention, or yet by the utter eXhaus-
ton OF Spanish resources. the ever faithful
isle will be lost TO the Spanish crown. That
loss. they reckon. will be fatal, hot only to the
Ministry Of the day. but TO the dynasty Itself.
The Spanish people are almost at the END OIL
their patience with the burdens Of the war.
When they find that after all the struggle has
been In vain they will sweep out Of existence
the whole regime responsible for II. III lis
place they will set up some sort OF republic,
and then will come the Carlist chance. The re-
public Will prove as unstable and unsatisfac-
tory as it did in the days of Prim and CASTELAR,.
The organized Carlist clubs AL over the penin-
sula will raise the cry GIVE us a man.. Don
Carlos will effect Il landing. in royal state and
with an imposing retnue. And in twinkling
The thing will be done.
That is the Carlist plan Of campaign 1t
savOrs little Of romance or chivalry. One would
call IL bOurgeOis-in the least desirable inter
probation of that word. 1t is commonplace and
plebeian. rather than royal or heroic. 1t is
not merely Opportunist. 1t seeks its oppor
tunity in the distress and woe of the father
land and in the very means which it processes
most 10 detest The ancestors OF Don Carlos
would have died in exile rather than profit by
such means But other times. other manners.
The Spanish Lcgiimist is not such n sticker
for white flags and golden lilies was the
last Legitimist Prctcnder to the throne Of
France Perhaps he will be more successful.
but that is greatly TO be doubted. "Givc us a
man" means n brave man on horseback, not a
mere wircpulcr behind the scenes.