Year: 1874

Spain and Germany.


The stupid barbarity of the Carlsts in
shooting German newspaper correspondent
is likely to have very serious results. As we
foresaw, the German government has ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with the way in which
the French government performs police duty on
its southern frontier. Strongly worded protests
have been sent from Madrid to Paris on the
same subject Serrano is no doubt encouraged
to assume bolder tone in addressing his
brother Marshal by the knowledge that he
has at least the moral influence of Germany
at his back That Bismarck means seriously
to aid the struggling Republic in Spain
against its reactionary enemies is proved by
his sending the German fleet to act as coast
guard to suppress the smuggling OF arms
from England into Spain. France, In
adopting an attitude Of hostility to Spain,
shows that she has learned nothing from the
severe lessons of the past. If French states
men were truly wise they would seek to in
spire confidence and good feeling in their
southern neighbors, but instead the aim of
the French government to-day seems to be the
humiliation, if not the dismemberment, Of
Spain. The wisdom of this course is as
doubtful to-day as at any former period. 1t
ought not to be impossible to make of Spain
firm and useful ally. Had the French gov
ernment at its head far-seeing statesman he
would seek to assure Southern Europe Of the
absence of aggressive or ambitious views on
the part of France The stupid faction that
persists in aiding covertly the invasion of
friendly country by an unscrupulous pre-
tender have already robbed France Of the
fruits of the regeneration of Italy. From
being faithful ally they have made of Victor
Emmanuel q reluctant enemy and now by
their open sympathy with the reactionary
fanatics who curse Spain with civil war
they bid fair to place on their southern
frontier a new enemy. If they were obey
ing the orders Of Bismarck they could
not work with better effect to deprive
their country of its few remaining friends
Germany, on the contrary, sees the advantage
of cultivating the government of Madrid, and
we should not be much astonished il an un-
derstanding should be arrived at with Spain
similar to that arranged with Italy. France
would then be completely isolated. The folly
of her statesmen and the fanaticism Of the
monarchical parties render this result almost
inevitable. If the rumor brought by cable
that France intends at last to recognize the
Spanish Republic be well founded it would go
to prove that the government recognize the
serious error of their former course. 1t would
have been wiser, however, to have given this
proof of good feeling somewhat earlier.


We do not place much faith in the rumored
proposals for an armed Intervention in the
affairs of Spain. Such action would be
abhorrent to Spanish pride, and might lead to
complications which European statesmen will
not lightly risk. But the action of Germany
in using her influence with the French govern
ment to stop the supply of arms and war
munitions across the frontier, combined with
the blockading Of the coast so as to
shut off supplies from England, will prob
ably exert very unfavorable influence
on the Carlist cause. That cause owes its
present strength as much to the indifference
of the Spanish people as to any inherent
strength which it possesses. At most it can
but harass Spain. Once it descends from it's
mountain Businesses it becomes powerless. Its
suppression is but question of time, and did
the government at Madrid possess the con-
fdence of the people the cause Of the Pre-
tender would have ere now received crush
ing blow. The usurpation Of Serrano and his
military friends checked the national spirit
evoked by CASTELAR,; but if there were danger
that the adherents Of Don Carlos might obtain
an ascendancy the republican masses would
rise as one man to overwhelm the men who
seek to impose on Spain government repre-
senting the ideas Of the Middle Ages