Year: 1873




Tho Spanish Ropublio-Serrano tho
Coming Man.


We print this morning despatch, special
to the HERALD regarding the condition and
prospects OF the Spanish Republic. The Cortes
is to meet on the I'd of January, and such
arrangements have been made that Serrano is
expected to be placed at the head of the Re
public. Serranos consent, it is reasonable to
suppose, has been obtained; and it is under
stood that the Spanish Republic under him
will have similar basis to that of France
Italy, all are said to be pledged to the recog
milton Of the Republic if Serrano is placed at
its head. Minister Layard has his papers all
ready, and it is believed that his instructions
are to recognize the Republic whenever the
opportune moment arrives If the Reds should
rise and oppose recognition it is expected that
the Powers above mentioned will intervene
against them as well as against the Carlists


We have long looked for some such intelli-
gence as this from Madrid, and we have more
than once indicated that some such solution
was the only possible solution of the troubles
which are now exhausting the last energies of
the Spanish people. Again and again have we
said that the political factions were more self
ish than patriotic-more intent on the adj
vancement of their own interests than on the
advancement of the welfare of the nation.
Since the downfall of Isabella Spain has made
many experiments; but experiment after ex-
pertinent has failed, and the lesson which each
of the experiments has left behind it is that
the one thing needful in Spain is q compromise
among the factions It is our opinion that
Prim meant well by the Republic He did his
best to make it O success. and it was only
when he found that it was impossible to make
the Republic compatible with the unity of the
nation that he accepted the idea of monarchy
and began to seek out for new dynasty. All
the world knows how Prim perished and how
his monarchy failed. The monarchy which
he was the main instrument in establishing
was as little acceptable as his republic. Since
the retirement of Amadeus of Savoy the
Republic has had the field very much to itself;
but in place of revealing strength and unity



and bringing republican institutions into dis
grace and contempt in Europe. The govern
ment of Amadeus, although not universally in
favor, was strong enough to preserve the SEM
blance of national unity. Under him there
/, were no intransigentes and he found it not
difficult to put down the Carlists in the north.
The Republic has blundered on under vari-
ETY. of leaders 1t was believed that the right
man had been found when CASTELAR, accepted
the reins of power. CASTELAR,, however, has
proved as much failure as any of his prede-
cessors. Salmeron and Figueras cannot act
with him. The Republic is weak and appa-
rently impossible because republicans cannot
agree. The fault is not the fault of CASTELAR,
any more than it was the fault of Amadeus.
The Republic is failure as the constitutional
monarchy under Amadeus was a failure, be-
cause Spanish politicians hitherto have not
been able to agree to compromise.


The new departure, if carried out, points to
better things. Spain, it is to be hoped, has
learned lesson from France France is not
a monarchy I; it is not yet republic Under
a compromise government France prospers;
and in that country the conviction grows that
a nation may prosper and be contented with
out Emperor, constitutional monarchs or
kings by divine right and the grace of God,
and yet not be republic in the Communistic
sense of the word. The compromise principle
owes much to the genius and industry Of ex-
President Theirs but compromise is in
carnated in President MacMahon. CASTELAR,
has but feebly enacted the part of
Theirs. Serrano is the only man in
Spain capable of playing the part
Of MacMahon. The great defect of the
Spanish Republic has been its feeble hold on
the army. Its leaders have not been military
men. The army knows them not. As Mac
Mahon has the confidence Of the armies of
France, so Serrano has the confidence of what
soldiers still remain in Spain. We have no
desire to see another Holy Alliance debating
to and dominating Europe; but no one can
deny that the European Powers have been
patient with Spain; and if, with the approval
of these Powers and the consent of the Span
ish people, Serrano becomes to Spain what
MacMahon is to France we know no one who
will have any reasonable cause of complaint
As we have said before more than once we
| say again. II Spain cannot save herself, she
ought not to complain if salvation is brought
TO her by her friends.


The Police and the Dance House
Nuisance.


| From time to time our citizens are startled
by police revival, which generally takes the
| form of raid on some more or less notorious
place of resort 1t is somewhat of a puzzle to the
ordinary citizen why places Of illegal resort
should be allowed TO grow under the eves of