Year: 1869


tuition to the effect that all powers emanate from the
nation, and all persons to whom they are intrusted
must be elected by and held responsible to the people
was introduced by the Republicans. Gen. Prim ap-
proves Of the proposition for Regency under Mar
shall Serrano.


PRIM AND sERRANo AT YARIANCE-sERRANO


THREATENING TO REsIGN-sCRNE IN THE


CORTEs-THE DIVISIONS OF THE COALITION


MAJORITY-sENoR FIGUERoLA's BUDGET


THE DEBATES ON THE CONSTITUTION


IPROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


MADRID. April 24.-Another week of excitement,
vet no actual result Daily the division Of parties
widens; daily the open inevitable rupture is looked
for, and does not come. We nearly had it to-day
Serrano-usually calm, decOrous, and cautious-lost
his presence Of mind in the Cortes, which led to
quite scene. He had been terribly badgered all the
week. Another violent alteration with Prim, on
the question of Free Trade, had not contributed to
his equanimity On Wednesday yet hotter discus
sion on the subject of proposition by member OF
the majority to bring in law for the exclusion of
the Bourbons root and branch from the throne, had
further unsettled him; so that he was already in
frame Of mind unfayOrabe to the calm consideration
of even an ordinary question. The incident when
led to the referred to requires preliminary ex
planation. There is an individual in Office
who is known as the Patriarch of the





Palace, and ranks as Bishop He is the head Of the
chaplains of the army The position of this Patri-
arch is peculiar Philip H. induced Pope Plus v to
constitute the Chapel Royal and its dependencies
special diocese the Bishop to be entirely indepen-
dent of the hierarchy of the Kingdom His office was
to celebrate mass to christen the royal Children to
marry them. TO perform the same function for the
monarch to distribute aims, and in fact, to ohciate
at all ceremonials in which the Church figured. AS
chief of the military chaplains he came under the
orders of the Minister of War; but only in so far as
the governing of these Christians militant was con-
cerned. Hence, although there is no monarch now,
the Patriarch of the Indies retained his office nomi
nally under the War Office AS matter of course,


this functioDary is upheld by the Liberal Unonists,
who are clerical to the backbone. This afternoon
Senior ROo Arias, member of the PTogressist party,
and one of ueocoalitOn majority, put question to
the Government the subject of the alleged refusal
of the Patriarch to recognize the Ministry, and to
give an account of his administration. Coming from
one of the majority the Interpolation was awkward.
and the Minister of Grace and Justice en-
deavored to eyade it by stating that the functlonary
alluded to had not shown any disrespect to the
orders of the Government, that his financial acts
came within the department of the Finance Minister
Romeo Ortiz who is one of the Liberal party, IN CIV
ing this reply sought to throw out the Progresssts
but the question, involving gross censure OF the
Government for allowing the Patriarch to retain of
fee was taken up by Garrido on behalf Of the Re-
publieans and presently by Romeron Giron on be-
half OF the Democrats that the Liberal Union sec
ton suddenly found itself involved in scandalous
position and was attacked by It's colleagues Of the ma
jorty as well as by it's foes of the minority sub
stantive notion censuring the conduct of the patr
arch was theimmediate result. Prim declared that
the Government would not admit the proposition,
because it WAS inconvenient, ll-timed but at the
proper time he should show that the Patriarch had
not failed in obedience TO the Minister Of War. 1t
will be understood that pressing the question
home though II came mp incidentally the purpose Of
the Republicans and Democrats was TO determine IN
open rupture with the faction Of the Liberal Union
iSts and thus break up the coalition majority; in
other words to bring about the lOnganticipated
crisis which will precede the establishment of the
public. At this inncture SerranO rose, and in
q highly excited manner attacked the proposer
and seconder of the motion, declaring If 1T
were not withdrawn, he would ut once resign Office.
This threat caused immense cOmmOtiOn. The depu-
ties who had quilted their seats to confer with
others returned preciptatey, and loud cries OF re-
sign then resign" came from the Left. 1t was de-
fance the House could not submit to. Prim now
begged that the proposition should be withdrawn,



terminated badly for the Government had not Mar
tos one of the vice-Presidents of the Chamber OBJ
tained special leave to suggest an accommodation.
He proposed to give the Government fourteen days
TO collate the documentary evidence alleged to be
needed TO enable it TO defend the Patriarch and it
self a compromise which the Government accepted.
The Government is accused of having maintained
this functonary in Office contrary to the instructions
of the Madrid Jantd RerOluciORair. The defense OF
the Government is that this Junta represented
Madrid only, not the nation but the leaders OF
the revolution accepted office at the hands OF this
sef-same Junta and upon conditions agreed TO- 1t is
difficult to see how Ministers can throw off respon-
sibility incurred under these circumstances.
The incident is trivial in itself, but is
grave with issues. History is made
up of such, and, where they occur, should not
be lightly passed over. The coldness between Prim
and Serrano for instance, is fact of no Importance
in itself, but immensely grave in its results. Had
they been Of common mind the political situation
might have been solved long since perhaps probably
even in sense fatal to the revolution. Their per-
sonal diflerences-merged at first in common OBJ
iect-keep them mutually on the watch, and one
neutrazes the other. Their latest quarrel on the
proposed bill TO exclude forever all branches of the
Bourbons from the throne of Spain has settled the
question of the monarchy, The proposition came
from friendly quarter Strange to say, 1t was
signed by Monarchi- Democrats well as by kepuD-
hcans sho wing that these two sections are drawing
nearer The test is crucial. The PrOgresslsts ln-
Guiding Prim and Serrano, met TO consider what
course to take. Great difference of OPINION mani
tested itself. 0lozaga, Serrano and others opposed
the proposition Prim was challenged TO give MS
opinion-to declare himself" He refused Prob
ably his recent compromises with the Republicans
intensified his habitual reserve. His view was that
4 teal Tharo xxaa no