Year: 1874

Against tho Republic.


1t will be seen by the dispatches from Ma
drid, published in another part of the paper,
that the revolution in Spain. which COM
menced by the deposition of CASTELAR, and the
dissolution of the Cortes on Saturday, has
resulted so far in the formation of a new Min
istry, with Serrano as President


The two separate votes in the Cortes on
Saturday against the CASTELAR, government
as published yesterday in our dispatches
from Madrid, show the fixed purpose OF the


opposition to set aside the brilliant victor and


to effect q revolution. The majority on the
final vote against CASTELAR, was twenty
that is, one hundred and twenty to
hundred This was decisive enough


Seldom in that land of revolutions


has one been carried out more promptly and


thoroughly. Immediately the vote was an


nounced military dictator, General Pavia,


sent an officer to the Chamber with letter


demanding the immediate dissolution of the
Cortes. Certain Deputies. and principally
Salmeron, urged the continuance Of Castelars
power, but this was imprachcable and in
effectuaL The revolution was foregone
conclusion General Pavia, in true Crom-
wellian style, caused the municipal guards to
enter the palace of the Cortes and to expel
the members. He with his staff at the same
time held position outside, and had cannon
pointed at the building OF course there was
no constitutional authority for such action.
II was simply military Dictatorship 1t
has been said that General Pavia
have thought that he would uphold CASTELAR,
by such military coup d<tat But CASTELAR,
is not made of the stuff to defy the Cortes and
to become dictator Indeed, looking at the
difficulties of his position and the hostile feel
ing he entertained, in common with Serrano
and others, to the intranagentes, he
may have welcomed the change. Liberal
as his views are he is an intense Spaniard and
patriot and would, no doubt rather see q
moderate reaction than the success of either
the intransigentes or Carlists. If republican
ism, according to his theory, be not possible
he would sprobably rather have the monarchy
under Alfonso than Don Carlos or the extreme
federal republicans.


In any other country the dissolution of the
supreme elective body by general Of the
army and the organization of new Ministry
at the point of the sword, or the assumption
of power by eight or nine men calling them
selves the government, would be considered
an extraordinary revolution; but in Spain all
that is regarded simply as game of politics
and as matter of course. This improvised
or self-constituted Ministry of Serrano-
for he is the President and controlling
man-has some liberal elements in it as lib
eralism is understood in Spain. Some Of the
members have been even called radicals.
Spanish radicalism is different however, from
that of some other countries. 1t is not even
anti-monarchical. A radical in Spain is not
necessarily republican, and generally is not
one. We must not suppose, therefore that
any assurance is given of the perpetuaton of
the Republic or that any efforts will
be made to perpetuate it. Serrano
is an astute politician, and has
been prudent enough in the composition of
Ministry not to shock the public by too great
and too sudden a change. He begins the
reaction against republicanism and for the
monarchy in a temporizing and moderate way.
Should this Ministry not be subservient to his
purpose he can remodel or change it alto
gether. He, in fact, is the real power, and
has both ability and courage to accomplish his
object.


1t may be said that we are anticipating
events, and that Serrano possibly may en-
deavor to establish the Republic There is
nothing in the antecedents and well-known
views Of thus chief to justify such an opinion.
Though he has been revolutionist in over
turning government in which he had no part
and to which he was inimical, he was not
republican and has been at heart always
monarchist. He has ambition enough
to aspire to supreme power himself, and might
prefer holding on to that to placing Alfonso
on the throne; but he may not venture SO far.
The chances are that Serrano will be another
Warwick-~in be the Engmaker and the
power behind the throne 1t is generally un-
derstood that be favors the ascendancy of
Alfonso, the son of Isabella. In view of the
formidable rebellion Of the intransigentes, Car
Lists and Cubans, the terrible disorganization
Of Spain and the necessity of vigorous
military power, the establishment of the
monarchy may be deemed necessary. Some
evidence of this is given in the kilograms
from Madrid, if anything from that place can
be relied upon just now, for it is said the
chief civil and military authorities of most of
the provinces in communication with
the capital have telegraphed their
approval Of the coup detaa of Gen
eral Pavia. True, the transmission of
private kilograms has been suspended and
the government reports only what it pleases
and every point in Madrid is occupied by the
military. The revolution, though complete
SO far, has only commenced as regards the
future Of Spain Undoubtedly the restoration
of monarchy is contemplated, but that may be