The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-21
SPAIN IS STILL SPAIN
Just as Irving Knew Her Fifty
Years Ago.
ALWAYS A HOUSE DIVIDED
There Was a Cuban Question
in That Day, Too,

Nv York, April 2o.-The Herald says
We now know what Washington Irving
that most careful observe Of men anC
events, thought of the Spanish nation and
its government, for we are told by hi:
personally written official letters, az
dressed to his home government while h
was United States Minister to Spain
Irving made copies Of all his official cor
respondence, which have been preserved
by his descendants, and now for the frs
time copious extracts from letters intend
ed for the. private information of the ther
secretaries Of state are published, show
ing the condition of the Spanish govern
ment as he viewed it.
Spain half a century ago was very much
like Spain of today. This is conclusion
emphasized by reading Washington Irv'
ing's official correspondence while minis
ter at Madrid. written more than fifty
years ago, copies of which. preserved-in
secret until this time-in his official rec
ords. are now on my desk for the pur-
pose NJ laying their most interesting fea-
lures before the Herald readers.
When Mr.. Irving went to the Spanish
court at Madrid, as a duly accredited min
lister. in 1912, peaceful and most harmon
ious relations existed between the two
governments; but Spain at home was far
from peaceful. for, as often before and
since. she was between two revolutions.
Espartero was regent, the Infanta Isa-
bella being only twelve years old; but
events were shaping themselves for his
overthrow.
HAS A BREATHING SPELL.
Mr.. Irving in his second letter to Sec
rotary Webster under the side head OF
Domestic Politics." writes:
have but little news 10 offer you Of a
political nature. The government, relieved
from the immediate fears OF foreign ma
chinations and internal conspira cies,
seems to have a breathing spell. Still, it
is obliged TO keep Up a powerful army,
which is at at once its strength an weak
ness for that army must he punctually
paid to keep it in good faith and good
humor; so while it rallies around the gov
ernment it exhausts the treasury.
1.-The finances are indeed in a Iamenta-
bic condition. Efforts also have
been making TO trampIe out the smould-
ertng sparks of sedition which exist in
various parts of the country in the form
OF proving bands Of what they term
Notwithstanding IS to say, robber fac
tionlstS who have been partisans during
the rebellion and are now marauders, rob
bing Villages and laying travellers under
contribution Il has been found impoSsi-
bic TO eNtirpate them, having so many
friends among the people, and being able
10 evsds or corrupt the slow process of
the law"
Trouble Is forecast in the letter Of No
vember 5 IN which Mr.. Irving writes:
Political affairs here are rising to fever
heat as the time for opening of the Cortes
approaches. and powerful preparations
are making to displace the present cabi-
net
IAN these disconnected elements have
recently been formed into a formidable
coalition against the present administra-
ton, but threatening the very basis of
the public tranquility.
The minority of the queen is made a
fruitful source of political agitation. The
Absolutists are anxious to abridbe it as
much as possible. The Exaltados would
fain prolong It until her mind should be
matured. her education advanced, her
habits and opinions fromed in consonance
with the existing institutions Of the coun-
try. and until these institutions should
have time to take root and be completed
These attempts are DANGEROUSLY de-
nounced by the Absolutists, who make no
scruple of attrihuting them to the under
hand management of Espartero himself,
in the design of possessing himself of the
sovereign power.
Il have thus ventured to give a rough
sketch Of the political affairs of this coun-
try, so far as can make them out. being
as yet but new to the ground and sur
rounded by mystery and legerdemain- If
have not treated them with the gravity
they may be thought to deserve. it is be-
cause it is impossible always to look on
with solemnity where so much Of the
petty is mixed up with the grand. where
princes are playing such a paltry game
and where the patriotism that has sprung
up with the constitution Is overlaid with
the old-fashioned trickery of the DAYS OF
Gil Bias
RAPID CABINET CHANGES.
The administration is now bearing it
self up continues Mr.. Irving. and pre-
pairing with dubious hearts for the tenn
est that awaits it in the coming Cortes.
There is a mere alternative be-
tween financial and social revolution.
Before concluding cannot but advert
TO statement recently published in the
daily papers giving the statistics eff the
cabinet and the unparalleled number Of
changes that have taken place within the
last few years. II gives a startling idea
Of the interruptions 10 which an extended
negotiation with this government must be
subjected II appears thar within the last
eight years there have been forty-eight
changes IN the department OF war; twen-
ty-ive in the that of marine. and so with
the rest. This consumption OF ministers
is appalling. Ii is true, the lowest num-