Year: 1867

THE INSURRECIION IN SPAIN


Some years ago it was commonly reported
that Louis Napoleon had proposed the recogni-
ton of Spain as one of the Great Powers of
Europe. and her admission to the Conferences
which undertake the peaceable solution OF
great international complications. Spain, at
that time. had an area by far exceeding that
of Prussia her population was only about
two millions less than that of Prussia, but OK
ceeded it il all her colonies were counted In.
| There is no reason why, under an able ad-
,njnistration. Spain should not have exceeded
Prussia. and have asserted, without any formal
recognition, her right to BIO respected as one OF
the most powerful nations of the Old World.
But Spain has been declining for centuries
from want of good administration. Her nat
ural resources have not been made use of, and
the people have grown in ignorance and in
dolence. Thus the Government has come to be
despised abroad as well as at home, and the
idea of admitting Spain among the leading
nations of Europe-if the proposition has ever
been really made-cOuld only be laughed at.
There have been few lucid intervals in the
general gloom of modern Spanish history. Such
an interval was the brilliant administration Of
Espartero from 1887 to 1856. Since then Spain
has been alternately ruled by Narvaez and
ODonnell, who, if not equally despOtic, were at
least equally opposed to truly constitutional
form of government fand to all thOrOughgOng
reforms. Spain, as every other country OF Eu-
rope, has its Progressive party, (which demands
freedom of the press, freedom of religion, ex-
tension of suffrage, 'and in general the carry
ing through in legislation of the popular will.
This party has worked with great energy, and
not without success. AS long as it was
allowed to publish liberal papers, the
party was strongly represented in the
daily press. They were a power in all the
large cities, and in particular in those OF the
eastern provinces, Barcelona, Saragossa, Va
lencia, Tarragona, and others. Their efforts
for the regeneration of their country are worthy
Of the highest praise, and though they were
not successful, inspired largo portion OF the
people with confidence in better future. IL
the Government had given them fair chance
at the general elections, they would have fought
with peaceable weapons but as despOtism de-
prived them of all possibility to show their
strength at the polls, nothing remained for
them but to show it in insurrcctOn. And In
this as the recent history of Spain shows, they
have not been remiss.


Twice during the year 1866 an attempt was
made to rid the country of its despotic Govern
ment Both attempts failed but they showed
that discomfort with the Government prevailed
throughout the kingdom. In December OF that
year stirring proclamation to the Spanish
people was issued by tho revolutionary Junta
of Madrid, and widely circulated in all the
Provinces. Ever since the utmost efforts have
been made in the preparation OF tho lnsurrec-
ton which broke out about month ago. We
gave a few days ago full statement of all
the intelligence that has thus far been received.
As usual. it largely consists of rumors and
contrary reports; but the declaration OF siege
throughout Spain, and the proclamations OF the
generals and the governors OF provinces
leave no doubt that this time it was not
military revolution exclusively, but that in
many places the people took an active part III
il. The insurrection has now been in progress
for more than three weeks, and according to
the latest Cable dispatches, it was meeting with
success in the Eastern provinces, and even held
control of the city of Saragossa, the capital of
Aragon. We shall probably have to wait only
a few more days to learn the final result. The
Government has concentrated, all its military
power to crush the movement; if it fails in
this, the insurrection will probably march TO an
easy victory


The head of this "a of former instructions,
is Gen. Prim, the acknowledged leader of the
Progressive party of Spain. Prim is on init
mate terms with Garibaldi, and it is stated
that number of Garibaldan volunteers are
already fighting in the ranks of tho insurgents
Ii is certain that in of success, the insur-
gents will not be satisfied with a change of
Ministry, but will expcl the Bourbon dynasty
from Spain and call National Convention to
decide the future government of the country
A year ago the Liberals were mostly in favor
of union of Spain with Portugal; but since
then the Portuguese Chambers, as well AZ the
King have declared against this plan, which,
therefore, is said to have been abandoned
Probably the leaders of the Liberals are at
present not fully agreed on this point, and
will leave its decision to the majority of a