Year: 1869

speech. They call him the patriarch of tho Republic
This speech a sharp crtique OH the policy OF the
Government. Taking the declaration which Prim
and his associates put forth when they landed at
Cadz he contrasted its promises with the perform.
ance of the Provisional Government; its reckless ex-
penditure in place of the promised economy It's pro-
motion of corrupt men to hundreds of civil offices.
and of incapable men or known enemies OF liberty
to high commands in the army the financial confu-
sion it did nothing to relieve; the distress OF the
artisan and the laborer, which grew worse
from day to day. Like all the military
governments which had sprung up in Spain, this last
neglected oppressed the country to serve ls own
interests. There was no remedy but in Republic
which should give free expression to the will Of the
people and solve the problem OF government by put
ting it into the hands of the government. 1t was
strange enough to hear the doctrines of Faneuil Hall
in Boston thus asserted in Madrid and welcomed by
the cheers of men who three months ago were the
slaves of Isabella ii.


OF the other speeches one by Senior Garrdo was re-
markable for very Spanish and effective episode.
Senior Garrido is the leading Republican OF Valencia,
and had been was told, i'll Cadiz during the recent
insurrectiOn He recounted the history OF that ne
roic struggle and warned his hearers that the effort
to disarm the people was likely to be renewed. =" II
it succeed" exclaimed the fiery orator. it is fatal to
every hope of Spanish freedom. Let us protest
against it; but if they will not hear your protest
swear that you will resist to the death the attempt
to rob you of the means of defending your liberty.
Swear it, And the audience answered with each a
great shout, I'VE swear"


Last of all spoke Castelar, Twill not do him the inus-
tice of summarizing his address. The Madrid news
papers seem to have shorthand reporters but
times print speeches written out afterward by the
orators and some day will send you translation OF
one of Castelar's. When he concluded, the meeting
had been in session nearly six hoursan evidence OF
political enthusiasm which goes rather beyond that
of Americans at this day.


The resolutions adopted were in substance pro-
test against the process of disarmament, and Com
mittee was appointed to confer once more with the
Council. CASTELAR, and number of his colleagues
saw Serrano and other members OF the Government,
on Monday night. the interview was of non-oiii-
cal sort CASTELAR, read the resolutions and made his
statement Serrano listening in respectful way
saying, in reply, that the decree for disarmament
was as old as the 10Th of November; that the Gov
ernment felt bound to enforce it, but that no IN
vasion of the popular rights was intended.
The events in Andalusa he explained on tho theory
which have given above as the Government apo
ogy Finally he said that as the interview was In
formal he could give no positive answer to the
reouest of the Committee but would call meeting
of the Council, and the Committee should be In
formed of their conclusion on the following day.


insert here a translation of decree published in
this mornings official Gazette de Madrid, establishing
certain regulations for the elections Whoever
cares to understand the machinery of what is called
universal suffrage in Spain will do well to read this
extraordinary document:


The great importance Of the election OF deputies for the
composition of :he future Congress oblges tho Pro
vsiOna Government to adopt those precautions whcn
eeefoTa truth from being fased The nation has Just
gone through its first trial Of the method OF elecng by
which SO many places have displayed in their of so
precious conquest the Government n mas iGand o mo
OF the principles on which modern Tight leans most
Sh bonS anepate s all Ss devices that may be- or have
already employed against the night OF those electors
to defend it with decision and courage To this end,
therefore, member Of the Provisional Government and


ART l. New ndentured certificates shall be distributed
to all those who inscribed in the Register Of Electors
during the whole of the year 1869. .,,
ART O. The certificates distributed for the municipal
elections which have just taken place can ony oe EN-
ployed in such second municipal elections as snal De
held account OF some nuty or interruption that may
have occurred IN the former. . 49,
ART. 5. The Municipalities shall appoint 1Or me usttl-
button Of these certificates as many committees as
there electoral districts In each uncpaity lhese
committees shall consist OF the Aonlde Councillor or
Alcalde do barrie whom the Municipal Council shall
desgnate and four resident electors in zach district
chosen by lot public session OF the Council which 10





ART A. The Committee shall distribute, at the houses
othe electors, the ndentured certificates belonging TO


ART These certificates shall be distributed mp 10 ION or
before) midnight Of jan a. Those which shall not have
been delivered any electors account OF change OF
residence any legitimate cause shall be returned 10
the Municipal Council which sha distribute r theT 70 an
certificates OF residence or by the testimony oil TWO


AR. 6. Tho criminal proceedings specified In tho
ninth article OF the decree IN respect to
certificates, shall lAVO refused 10
deliver them without Just cause. -, =. |
cOrdng to Art s. do not present themselves the Acade
shall appoint other Electors in their places.
the decree of Nov. and considering that the distr
province Of the Canares by the specified daic the Gov
of these islands is authorized to fix the dates for
their elections within the month Of January.


PRGxEDEs MATEo sAGAsrA.


Madrid, Goth Dec. 1853.


The certificates mentioned in the decree are the |
only evidence which the elector has OF can have of
his right to vote. 1t is in the power of the officers Of
each municipality, all of whom more or less di-
rectly under the influence of the central govern
ment to grant or withhold these certificates as they
choose They may send them to all their own ad-
herents and TO small minority of their opponents as
has Just been done in Madrid. 1t is, in fact, a ma
chnery admirably adapted to retain in the hands Of
the Government an almost complete control OF the
elections and this decree Is pretty good evidence
that they mean to use their power. am of no
necessity for requiring reissue of certificates and
canceling the old, except the necessity the Govern
ment invents in order to embarrass its opponents
and throw new obstacles in the way of their voting
1t is to me likely enough that anybody who has
taken the trouble to read this letter through may
find the impression left on his mind one of con-
siderable confusion. Let me assure him that any
settled notion Of Spanish affairs would 10 premature
and that clear views positive statements would