Year: 1872

SPAIN And CUBI.


A fortnight has passed since ,he retirement
of the Scrrano Ministry and tlc accession to
power of Ruiz Zorrilla and his associates.
There is every indication that the high ex-
pectations which were INDUCED in regard to
them are to be fulfilled so far at least as the
efforts Of the ministers can extend The Pre-
mier must have received definite assurances Of
support from the King to have entered so
fully as he has upon programme OF political
regeneration for Spain. The Circular OF SenOr
Zorrilla, issued few days ago to the Govern
ors of the Provinces, indicates not only
settled purpose to begin a serious work OF re-
form but exhibits also an unusual degree OF
confidence in the duration of the present
Ministry. An outline of work is sketchGd in
this document, which will occupy much more
time than the month or two which constitute
the natural life of a Spanish Cabinet. The
President of the Council promises to establish
definitely throughout the kingdom the regular
and legal rule Of the Constitution; to put In
operation the existing provisions OF law Tor
trial by jury; to abolish prescription, and to
make the militia a truly national institution;
to give life and efficacy to the principles OF
religious tOlcratiOn which have existed Tor
three years in the Constitution; to reduce the
expenditures, increase the revenue, and guard
the rights Of the creditors of the State. These
latter promises have familiar, not TO say
hackneyed, sound They form an inevitable
portion Of the salutatoIy of all Castlllan Cab
inets. But the greater portion of the Circular
indicates an intention to proceed Loyalty IN
The path marked out by the democratic feel
ing Of the country in the days which immeC-
ately followed the battle of Alcolea, before
scrambles for power and dynastic intrigues
had come up to distort the course of the rev.
olutOn.


For the first time since the death of Prim
there is frankly Liberal Cabinet. 1t is COM
posed almost entirely of notable men, all of
whom belong to the more advanced school OF
Radicals. Unfortunately it could not at pres
ent command a working majority of the CoTtes
on account of the fraud and violence which
were employed by the Sagasta Ministry in the
recent elections. 1t was the exposure OF these
scandals which caused the fall of the pseudo
Progresista Government, but the result OF
these illegal proceedings still remains in the
Chamber. which is full of adherents of the
fallen Government, elected by fraud and Off
cial corruption. Nothing has so clearly shown
the purpose of the King to stand by the new
Ministry in their work of reform as his assent to
their proposition for the dissolution of ihe
Cortes and new election. Unless in ;he
elections which are ordered by Royal Dec'ee
to take place on the Gath of August the Rail-
Gals obtain a majority of the Legislative BODY,
it is of course impossible that a Liberal Gov
ernment can be carried on. The fact that the
election has been ordered proves that the
King is in harmony with the Minister'S and
that the Cabinet are reasonably sure of he
result.


There is one portion of SenOr Ruiz ZOrrill5s
Circular which has created a disagreeable in
pression in the United States, and has excited
some comment in the press. This is lis
expression of the determination of the Gov
ernment to crush the Cuban iusurectiOn and
"make no concessions Tepugnant to Spanish
"honOrD There is no probability that any
Spanish Minister in our time will use any
language but this IN any public utteran,e.
There are half-dOzen men in the COrte-
men of emnence in ability and merit-who
are in favor of prompt and equitable reforms
in the Antilles; there are one or two 0th,rs
who have sufficient courage to avOw them
selves plainly in favor of the cessiOn of Cuba
TO the Cubans or some transatlantic power.
But the last are denounced as traitors and
the former are regarded as impracticable
fanatics, with whom sensible men can hive
nothing to do No Spanish Government
could live day which should announce
itself in favor of dealing with the
Cuban question in the way required by justice
and common sense. They could not carry my
such policy through the Chambers at home, and
even if they could accomplish this, they would
find it impossible to execute it in Havana.
WheE Prim was mtocrat in Madrid and Clba-
Hero de Rodas governed the island with some
pretcnse of authority, the Government was un-
able to keep its own promises or TO carry out
its own wishes. Still less could any libeml or
humane policy be adopted now when the
slightest hint of such thing would overturn
the Ministry in Spain, and when the Captain