Year: 1875




IDEAS OF ASHExATroN-HIs PROFESSION TO


ALFoNso-NAvAL THREAT AGAINST THE MAR


TIME COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES.


From the London Times, Nov. l9l


Don Carlos has heard in his mountains the
sad news OF SPANS latest difficulty The American
Republic threatens the common country Of himself and
Don Alfonso Audacious communications have been
made TO the government OF Madrid-communicatons
TO which spaniard should have but answer. How
unworlhy the present government may represent
the country. II is impossible suppose that Il will
yield TO American dictation great struggle is then
before it What is the duty Of the legitimate Kingf
An exalted patriotism inspires him TO postpone
the assertion OF his rights, however sacred and indie
feasible, 10 the good OF his country. He there
fore addresses, in the approved royal fashion,
letter 90 my Cousin Alfonso and proposes q truce
And indeed, not only truce, but an alliance OF the
most complete and Jealous cooperation OF course u
is necessary to his dignity to begin with the assertion
Of his right and point out that all these troubles arise
from the perversity which Spain to reject her
king. The revolution which you represent is respon
sble for the depth Of gnominy At which Spain has
rived But for the revolution this parricda rebellion
would have been born Had been reigning il
would never have gathered strength" Legitimate
right alone reform without constraint yield with
out weakness. repress without anger govern without
passion" IL is hardly worth while to
criticize these commonplaces seriously but
II may be remarked that ''parricida
rebellions' were born and gathered strength Span
ish colonies before the male line Of the BoCrbons
superseded and that the legitimate right Of King
Ferdinand was quite incapable Of those healing in1u-
ences which Don Carlos enumerates AS to the insur-
rection in Cuba itself Spanish journal reminds the
public that at an early period Of the outbreak Don
Carlos came to understanding with the insurgents,
and appointed Senior Aldnna Captain General OF the
island But, whatever may have been done in the



His cousin has 10 choose between war and the inde-
pendence or Cuba The integrity of the coun-
there remain ns'' ony n1'pa f %ar breaks
out s Ssr i, y9n n,t sIo,s. sruos as long as the
understood however, that foreign war is the only
motive Of the truce propose and that firmly nam
tain my rights to the Crown retain the certainty OF
one day grasping tn Thus, until the United States
shall have been thoroughly defeated and Cuba rendered
loyal and happy spaniards at home are to refrain from
shev are ~ Sec h o rne prnces ~
act with common object by land and sea Don Carlos
admits that he has at present no territory but that
teers to Cuba He does not go far as TO ask that
his Basques and Navarresse shall be transported
that they are to be duly brought back and
restored TO their old positions when the civil fight
commences But he will do all he can. When the
American enemy threatens the Carst portion of Spain
the government Of King Alfonso need be under
easness. Don Carlos will undertake the defence, and
the Aonsis army will only have to provide for the
safety of Afonsst territory The Pyrenea Provinces
and the Canabrian coast will thus be secure but Don
Carlos will cooperate stl more actively II will arm
as privateers the indomitable of those shores
which gave birth TO FL Cano Legarpi and
Churruca will pursue the maritime commerce of
enemies by going TO seek them, perhaps in their own
portan


The absurdity OF this letter Is conspicuous that
cannot in the design Of any able adviser TO place
the government OF Madrid in difficulty The Ministers
of King Alfonso will be able to reply 10 the overures
OF President Grant, undeterred by the fear that their
moderation will appear tmld and ignoble beside the
flaming patriotism OF the Pretender II even his letter
had been couched in different terms II would be dis
play of cheap heroism for the commander of few
thousand peasants perched among the mountains, to
talk OF sharing the dangers and burdens Of the nation
when It should commit itself TO transmarne with
Power formidable the United States. But as IL
the communcat is simply ridiculous, and suggests
the notion of sudden impulse of vanity and POM
posty rather than the scheme of artful politician.
1t will rather the Afonss cause and detrac from
the effect Of those successes Of tho Carst arms which
are still reported