Year: 1874

nevertheless it cannot be denied that there IS
no such cause for complaint as there was last


Spring, at time when the circumstances OF


SPAN were much less vehement than they now


seem to be. -,.i.-.


The inference which will be most readily
drawn is that Spain feels strong enough to
force an issue to-day which she was glad to
shun short time ago, and there is no COM
prehensible reason for such feeling except


that she has received assurances OF assistance


from Germany. Foreign Intervention is no
new thing in the Peninsula. The device has


been tried before against the same enemy


which now disturbs the peace Of Spain.


Mendizabal called in the help of England and


France in 1885 against the Carlists. But En-


gland is Reformed interviewer now, ana


France under MacMahOn is neither able nor


willing to assist a republican neighbOr against


an ultramontane monarchical invasion and


rebellion. Germany is the only Power to


which Marshal SerranO could possibly look for
efficient aid, and there are many reasons why


Prince Bismarck might listen favOrably to
proposition of active alliance with Spain.


Germany has never adopted those principles
of quetism which the sO-called Birmingham


school has made so popular in England, and
which the great authority of Lord Palmerston
in his old age imposed upon his countrymen.
If anything is to be made by diplomacy or by


war, the German Imperial Cbancery has no
objection to either. From the point of view
of expediency there is much to be said in


favor of the rumored alliance. Spain, though
weak in her own quarrels, would be an
invaluable ally to Germany In case
of a great European war. with
German Prince on the thrOne-and THIS


would be only question of time IL Bismarck


obtained control of the agencies of govern
mentr-and German troops enough to give


consistency to the Spanish levies, the southern
half of France would be virtually paralyzed


as far as its ability to do anything against an
enemy on the North is concerned. On the


ground of right and duty, also, there would be


no lack of arguments to support such course,
if we consider the subject from the historicai
point Of view OF the Chancellor. Spain needs


rest, quiet, and good government-he might
say. Germany can give her all these. Ihe


rest of Europe is either too timid or too selfish
to unite in this salutary action. Ii the glory


and the profit of it go to Germany alone,


there will be no one to blame but those who


stood aloof. This may seem brutal and


ferocious in France, and little less so in En-


gland. But France can do nothing to prevent


it and England has retired from the knight


errant business.


If the good offices Of Germany were to have


no other immediate effect, their influence in
! discouraSing the Carlists is not to be lightly
estimated. An insurrection will endure q
| great deal of hard luck, but take away hope
| from it and it is damaged more than by any


defeat. The impression that the gigantic
Northern Empire is actively on the side OF


the Madrid Government has already had its
effect. The news of Dorregaray's detection is


again repeated, and this time with the signifi-
| cant addition that considerable portion OF


his command have also laid down their arms.
| 1t is always a symptom Of something like de-
! spair in the Carlist councils when Cabrera Is


sent for. This has recently been done with


the usual result; the aged partisan declines to


leave the comforts of his English home to go


soldering with a lost cause. Altogether,
Germany may be said to have made an ex-
| cellent investment. BY merely assuming
friendly attitude toward Spain she has COM
PEELED France and England to recognize the
Serrano Government, and by the discourage
| ment which this action has occasiOned among
| the insurgents has given Marshal Serrano a
| better chance of emerging from his embar-
| rassments than score of regiments could


have afforded There is scarcely possibility


that Germany can have any reason in future
to regret this sagaciOus and economical de-
mOnstratiOn.