The New York Herald Newspaper, March 24, 1873, Page 3

. THB SPANISH REPUBLIC. A History of the Republican Revolution. HOW AMADEUS CAME T0 THE THRONE The. Adventure "f a Crown and What Came to the Sfuch-Aspiring Prim. POLITICAL SPECULATIONS IN SPAIN, Aanadeus, His Queen and the Italian Dragonetti. THE MEMORY OF PHILIP Il. How. the Brave and Honorable Prince of Savoy Refused To Be a Partisan Leader. HIS REASONS FOR ABDICATION. How the Spanish Capital Received the News. The Abdication a Surprise to the Monarchists. . LEGITIMACY, CARLISM, MONARCHY ALL AT SEA ——— How the Republicans Forced the Fighting, While Monarchists Wanted Time to Intrigue. VIOLENT COUNCILS IN THE PALACE. The Republic Proclaimed—The Result of Miding a Minister’s Hat—The Last Despairing Struggles of Reaction. AMADEUS TAKES FLIGHT. Europe Frowns on the New Republic— Monarchical Diplomacy Plotting and Hoping for a False Move, RUMORS ABOUT THE AMERICAN MINISTER, Have the Americans Made the Republic !—The Third Day the Day of Despair—A Struggle by the People Successful— Only Republicans in Power. LIGHT AND LAND AT LAST. MADRID, Feb. 26, 1873, ‘To those who, when this year began, looked upon Spain with the eye of friendliness, the nation seemed to be at peace, and the young King Ama- fleus had at last found an established throne! There were occasional troubles in the North, in the Basque provinces, among the adherents of Don Carlos; but, like the Indian troubles in the United States, they were an eruption on the skin of the body politic, and indicated no hiaden, dangerous disease. There have been two reasons for these in- ternal commotions in Spain. Bandits whose desire ‘was robbery called themselves ‘Carlists,” and generals of this many-generalled army who eraved promotion were always seeking for Carlists to “suppress.” It was known that whenever the government made a resolute effort the party would disappear. It would disap- pear for a generation at least, only to return; and 90 the government simply kept it in check as the House of Hanover had kept the Jacobites in check, trusting to time and friendship and national pros- perity to wear the party away and leave it in poems and romances asa memory. Spain was at peace, There was the clond in the West Indies, ut wiser counsels were pressing emancipation in Porto Rico as the first step toward peace. A liberal Ministry was in power, and it had maintained Peace for over eight months—something unknown to the new dynasty. At the head of the Ministry ‘was one of the advanced statesmen in Spain— Sefior Zorrilla. Behind the Ministry was a Congress and Senate, in which its adherents had a large majority. The prayers of the Church had been heard and a prince had been born to the sover- eign, and it seemed, after so many days of gloom and anxiety and dark, stormy weather, Spain bad found prosperous seas, and her young pilot every prospect'of a long and gierious career. HOW DID THE MONARCHY PALL ? How did it come to pass, therefore, that ina might this monarchy fell to the ground, and the King became a fugitive from Spanish soil ? Those who have studied Spain closely need not aak this question. Those who saw it from atar felt that nothing was more improbable than the down- fall of the dynasty. But, in truth, nothing was ‘More inevitable. The merciless telegraph has told you from day to day the cold details of the revolu- tion. Be it now the duty of your correspondent ‘to go over the same ground and show the readers of the HERALD how the dynasty came to fall, how Spain came to accept a republic and how this re- pubic has come into being—her fair, white banner 28 spotiess ag the snowy summits of the far-sbining Guadarramas, and thus far unstained by a single crime, unspotted by a drop of human blood. PRIM AND SERRANO. When the monarchy of Queen Isabella fell in what was called the Revolution of 1868, Spain Passed into the hands of Serrane and Prim. ser- ano was made the Regent and executive head of the government, while Prim was the Prime Minis- ter, or executive arm. Serrano was one of the famous men of Spain. He had risen to fame by easy methods. A soldier of fair experience, a poli- ‘tician.of limited capacity, of address and tact and swinning ways, with graces of person and no over- mastering political opinions, it was not dificult for ‘him to rise in a court like that of Isabella. Whether true or false, Spain believes that this court was one Oteasy virtue, and that Her Catholic Majesty had her own way of observing dcfinite and necessary com- mandmeats. Spain believes that many men found especial favor with the Queen, and that none was more favored than Serrano. Certain itis he became the confident of Isabella at a time when her young |, centred upon the Prince Don Alphenso. He isa mind needed counsel. And 80 be arose! But even Jove does not make monarchs grateful, and he fell and was banished to the Camary Isiands. This banishment was the beginning of the end of Isa- bella, Aman like Serrano was needed to the con- spiracy then vrooding. At the head of it was the foremost soldier and statesman of Spain—a man of | at that pair of knaves, Serrano and Sagasta. They NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAKUH 24, 1873—TRIPLE SHERBT. ehamber. This was Joan Prim. Prim was the braif and nerve; Serrano was a name. Between them they destroyed the monarchy. Serrano sat in the palace as Regent, Prim in the War Office as master, PRIM AND BIS ADVENTUBB WITH A CROWN. If Spain had any voice at all in this revolution it was for a republic, Tre facility with which the Queen had been expelled showed that the mon- archy had no reot—that the great revolutionary movement which swept over Europe in the last century had destroyed loyalty in the breasts of the most leyal people in Europe. What Prim saw was precisely What M. Thiers sees in France—a throne and three pretenders for a throne. There was Don Carlos, the male successor of the old dynasty; Isa- bella, the female successor, and the Duke de Mont- Ppensier, son of Louis Philippe and a member of the family of royal pawnbrokers, whose business seems to be to take in pledge all the crowns and crown Jewels of Europe. Prim saw that these three were imposaible to Spain, But be would not found the Republic. He was a Marquis and a Captain General. He would be a Duke. Serrano was a Duke and a Captain General, and craved to be a Prince. Around them were generals, to the number of 600 in all, and noble family. Among other customs it is Spanish etiquette to admire any especial article of Gress or ornamentation that may strike your fancy. This lady wore an antique cameo set fm pearls, “What a fine cameo,” said another of the group. “Yes,” she said; “that is an antique. 1 value it above money. It is a cameo of the sixteenth century, and is the head of Philip 11.” “Philip IL!” said my friend, involuntarily, a8 hia mind no doubt recalled that dark, sombre, imperial tyrant, with his Inquisition and burning of Protestants and Jews, and the Escurial; his cruelty, superstition and bigotry. “Yes,” said the Countess; ‘I wear it in memory of that dear and sacred King. He wasa King of Spain when Spain was splendid and proud and mistress of the world. I know what passes in your mind, You are an American, and a republican, of coufse; and 1n America, I hear, there are republi- cans who are gentlemen. But here—Heaven help us! And of course you have your unjust views of Philip I. But we of Spain, who know what he did and what be tried to do and what a true King he was, annointed of God and worthy to be of the Lord’s anointed; we who.know what Spain was in those days and see what she is now, then so mighty and newso forlorn and unhappy, we can appre- noblemen and aspirants without number, who craved promotion, money, rank, the honors that could only come with a menarchy. Above them ‘wag the Church, which wanted Don Carlos, but did not want & republic. ‘On the other side was Spain— poor, discredited, bankrupt; her fields untilled, her mines undeveloped; her boundless advantages Of soil, sea and climate ungarnered; misery at the peasant home and extravagance in the palaces of the great; tne nation paralyzed—all but that sen- timent of public virtue and hope for the future which one trusts cannet be dead in the deseend- ante of the men who civilized America and warred upon Napoleon in the xenith’ of his tame. Spain wanted arepublic; but a republic meant economy, fewer generals, industry and no promotion. It meant uncertain things, perhaps, which no one could foresee, So, as no available dynasty could be found, a8 Orleans and Bour- bon were alike impossible, as Spain would never consent to Prim playing the Napoleon and making himeelf Emperor, the crown was carried from court to court and offered to any foreign prince who could be found willing to sitona Spanish throne and not tremble at the ghost of Maximilian, First came an offer froma prince of Nohenzollern, and with it the French and German war. This prince declined the crown, under the pressure of France. Then it was offerca to the son of Victor Emmanuel, Amadeus of Savoy, Duke of Aosta, who accepted with great reluctance, Having found a king for Spain, Prim rejoiced in the doing of a great work, and saw before him a trans- cendant career. Ifhe could not be king like Napo- leon he would be the maker and master of kings. The day before his monarch came that astonish- ing and appalling fate that so often builds up the humbiest and tears down the highest brought it to pass that the mighty and aspiring Prim should die atthe hand of an assassin, While Amadeus was making a triumphal progress to the palace oi Charles V., the body of the warrior who had given him a crown was being carried to sleep in the Vaults of St. Atocha, AMADEUS. As kings go in these capricious times Amadeus was worthy of &erown. No better monarch ruled in Europe—no better prince had sat on the throne of Spain since Charles V. Let this be said to his honor, for he is worthy of it. Tall, rather ungainly, perhaps, in his motions, with a thin, dapper figure, keen, searching eyes, @ resolute mouth and jaw, a nose like his father’s, which had more of a fighting than any other quality, a skilled horseman, rather silent in his manners, more anxious to listen than to speak, entering heartily into all Spanish cus- | toms and amusements, among the first to go to the rescue of the Escurial when in flames, sitting patiently at the bull fights, with his soul revolting at the sight; personally of undoubted and admit- ted valor, going everywhere in Madrid, strolling alone in the morning, and no weapon but a cane, riding alone in public places in the afternoon and no weapon but his riding whip, possessed of a vast fortune by his marriage, lavish in entertainment and princely in charity, his queet:rith every grace of body and mind and universally respected, of almost austere personal habits, rising at daybreak for business and never drinking wine, his personal character morally unscathed in acommunity where scandal fills the air like a miasma, kind to men of all parties and having favorites in nome—nunques- tionably a prince of honor, courage and capacity— what more could a loyal people want! As I have said, considering how kings go in these times, there was no better monarch in Europe than Amadeus, And, what is more, Ihave not heard a Spaniard who questions the fact. THE QUEEN AND DRAGONETTI. Of course, Madrid had its gossip about the King and the Queen and the Court. There was the unuer-current of rgmor from those who claimed to | know. “It was all the Queen’s fault,” said one Spaniard, whose life brought him near the Court. “How the Queen's?” I asked. ‘Well,’ he said, “you see she was very clever, could talk German, French, Spanish, English, and so on. But the King, he waz not very clever. Brave man and stubbern, but not clever. Did not like to study, was fond of horses and soon. The Queen had the King in con- trol. In addition there was Dragonetti. He is an Italian Marquis, and came here as the King’s | Private Secretary. But he was really a kind of guardian over the King, kept his accounts, loeked after the rents, and, with the Queen, formed an in- side Cabinet. Neither the Queen nor the Marquis liked Madrid. They did not like the Spanish cha- racter. Dragonetti was always thinking about white hairs, the guillotine and soon. Then the Queen was religious, and, as far as the Church could r@ach her, her fears’ were excited. The dream of the Roman Power is to have Don Catios back on this throne. Before Don Carlos coula come Amadeus must leave. And she was in a nervous, morbid condition of body, baby not yet born, and | nerves undone, and so the King had no peace. He was constantly implored to resign. He was a | prince and rich, and could sit at peace on the steps of the Italian tnrone. Why have an uneasy life on the throne of Spain? No appeal could be made to the fear of Amadeus, for he had no fear, So appeais were made to his pride, and not im vain as things happened. But for the Queen and Dragonetti I am sure the King would have continued on the throne.” WHAT THE FOLLOWERS OF ISABELLA DID, “We did not conspire against the King,” said a follower of Don Alphenso; “we had no motive for it. We simply let him alone. We did not bring him here, nor vote the crown to him, nor send him away. We sat in the minority and said nothing. We never crossed his palace doorway. But the men who destroyed him are the men who brought him | here. They are all adventurers, whose game were power and money. So long as this King gave them power and gold they served him. When he took others into his Cabinet they abandoned him. Loek | brought the King here. They aided Prim in the work. They were bound to stand by him. The King sustained them as long as he could—until Spain rose as one man and protested against the scandal, They became angry. Serrano wanted to ‘*be made Prince of Alcolea. He was already @ duke, but that would not do. Sagasta wanted to have an easy way in and out of the Treasury, Amadeus took a new Cabinet, with that moody monk Zorrilia at the head—a liberal Cabinet. Well, we said nothing. We waited our time. But instead of quarrelling with the country, which had repudiated them, what did this brace of scoundrels do? They quarreiled with the King because he would not unite with them in a coup d'état, and they have never ceased te conspire against ‘him since. We have nothing against Amadeus. As Duke of Aosta we honor him. But he is not King, and never could be King. As for Spain, her hopes are ‘| for the festivities of the merry time. | breath for fear of assassination. | that he insisted upon riding alone through the Maximilian—the Queen about Marie Antoinette, | ciate Philip Tl. Yes, I honor his sacred memory. I pray for his soul’s peace, and I pray that God may send us anotner king with his spirit. . Then will Spain be Spain!” “Probably you pray for Don Carlos?” said ig ire smiling, “And for whom, else should a nish lady pray?’ was the re- sponse. A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE, As the carnival drew near Madrid was stagnant. The Cortes were quietly stumbling through a bill about the colonies, The people were getting ready The epposi- tion journais had reverted to that topic, which here always comes when newsis dead—abuse of the American Minister, All the town was laughing ever @ caricature, which was sold everywhere,represent- ing the Minister with his crutcn and one leg, flying in haste from a couple of lions whe were hotly on his trall. The legend said that the Minister had been making an offer for Cuba, and the lions were driv- ing him away. There wasa little disturbance in the Basque country, but that was too old a story even to write about. There was a good deal of opera. Fine days tempted people to the Prado. . The casés were crowded every evening, and it seemed as if into power the conservati Serrano @nd the King had been warm personal | sovereign to reign with respect or authority. friends. The wife of Serrano had the first place in | Again the Prime Minister arose, He saw the tide the palace. The King endeavored to conciliate | receding from him. He was losing his temper. He him. He pointed out that because he had ministers | would have no permanent session. ‘who were of different politics that was no reason | have the Cortes sitting as a guardian over him. the carnival would come and go with untisual glee, Madrid doing her full share towards it. The wo-, men were ina flutter about Her Majesty’s new- born baby, and the priests had hada solemn time christening it. Madrid was speculating over the baptismal names, and was happy to learn every morning that mother and child were well. Foreign Ministers were packing theif trunks fora run to Paris. All of a sudden, like the Java that over- whelmed Pompeii, there came upon Madrid the an- nouncement, “THE KING WILL ABDICATE!’? No one could trace the rumor, but it was in every mouth, One had heard it at the opera, another at a cay’, a third on the sidewalk. There had been rumors of this nature at intervals since the King came to the throne, Now, it was a plot; again, a mutiny in the palace; later, a command frem King Victor Emmanuel. There had been times when abdication was more probable—when it would have been an intelligible and not a sur- prising act. But why now? Madrid was unusually quiet. The troubles in Spain were only symptoms of an old trouble, and, if anything, Amadeus was having clearer weather than usual. To be sure, there was the artillery question, in which the King had a grievance with his Ministry, but even that was said to be settled. But the rumor cou!d not be cried down. No one could trace it to a trusty source, but it was in the air. The Duke of Aosta was weary of the crown, and meant to give it back to the Cortes next morning. Madrid took the news very calmly. There was an extra flutter in the cajés, an added sense of good humor in the faces of the people. But I have seen the capital more excited over the exploits of a famous bull, which would not be killed until it had tossed and gored one or two Of the picadors in the bull ring. THE REASONS FOR THE ABDICATION, But the King had resolved to abdicate. This was | certain. Why the resolution’ This question has been asked a thousand times, and has received a thousand different answers. Can any one tell but the King? At last let your correspondent take the innumerable solutions that have been given him | and write what seems to be the best answer to the question. WHY THE KING PARTED WITH SERRANO. When the King came to Spain he was invited by a Cortes which really did-not want him. When young Amadeus came to Madrid he rode intoa sullen city. On the day of his accession to the crown, as he passed from the Palace of the Depu- tiesto the Palave of the Kings, men held their It 18 remembered Puerta del Sol, and would not allow the Captains-General to surround him as had been proposed, Madrid was surprised and Pleased at the courage, precisely as it would have shouted over the prowess of a favorite bull-Aghter. So Amadeus found his palace. It wascold. His wife, the queen, was ill on her way. This wasabad omen, as the death of Prim had also been a bad omen. As few craved him few came to him. The grandees remained aloof. The old legitimtsts neglected the palace as in France they neglected Napoleon II. But Napeleon had a party, while Amadeus was without one, and ifthe dukes of the gid reigns did not visit the Tuileries, | dukes of a new reign, and one even more splendid, took their place. Prim was dead and no one remained who could make a dynasty. Serrano and Topete and some of the conspirators against | Isabelia surrounded him. They were men of violent counsels, They prepared to use the King, to make him an instrument of ambi- | tion, But they found in him _ resolution | and = integrity. He tried one after the | other of the conservatives, beginning with Serrano and running down to Sagasta. But they could not | found a permanent Ministry. They had the Cortes, but the country was not behind them. Finally, aiter several Ministries had fallen, Serrano proposed | to the King a daring measure. He pointed eut to His Majesty that firmness was necessary to stamp | out the spirit of revolution. He would suspend the | constitution, dissolve the Cortes and make a coup @état, a3 Napoleon did. This measure was agreed | upon by the Ministry; everything was ready to overthrow the work of the revolution and make | Amadeus an absolute King; but when mentioned | to the King he declined. Serrano urged that this | alone would save the crown. “I have sworn,’’ said Amadeus, ‘‘to be true to the constitution. If I cannot save my crown without being false to that oath I will abdicate.” Serrano and nis friends were overwhelmed. They left his presence and resigned, | Liberal Spain rejoiced at the coarage aud honor of | the King. | AMADEUS APPEALS TO THE COUNTRY AS A LIBERAL MONARCH. Then the King took a bold, wise step, He had | heretofore been advised by Serrano and the con- wervatives. They had the Cortes, and he was bound to believe they were the representatives of the country. He sent for P. Ruiz Zorrilla, the leader of the radical party, or the moderate and liberal monarchical party. Zorrilla was in retire- ment and obeyed the summons reluctantly. He is | man of ascetic, almost monkish temper, like Philip LL, aud, whenever trouble came, it was his whim to find a sullen retreat among the olives and vines ofhis country seat. But he was a liberal, and, when he came to power, he dissolved the Cortes, About this time was the cowardly assault on the King and Queen, A sudden burst of sunshine came upon Amadeus, inspired by the resentment against assassination. All Madrid flocked around his car- riage and hailed him as one whose life had been mercifully and happily spared. For a day Amadeus felt he was a King beloved ofhis people. The re- sult was that the country answered the appeal of Spaniard, and only a Spanish prince can reign over a Spanish people. Maximilian showed that in Mexico. Amadeus shows it again in Madrid,” THE MEMORY OF PHILIP 11, ‘This clinging, affectionate feeling, so character. istic of the Spaniarasin the olden times, when they were the most loyal and religious of nations, valor, experience and daring—who had risen to fame from the ranks by the stony paths of duty, ap4.nos she Sancohijed curtidors ofa wueen’a eds | Mp DALLa is not dead. It happened some evenings since that your correspondent was one of a group at an even- ; announced it could not be considered; so Zorrilla | lead of Figueras, opened the campaign. He arose, avoided him. for their persona) dissension; that he was a King above parties, bound to honor men of all opinions; quite willing to have Serrano or any one else in his Cabinet when the country so indicated. But no! Serrano and his friends did not want a King on the throne—only an instrument or a partisan. Serrano never visited the palace. Although nead of the army, he left town to avoid a New Year's call, When the infant Prince was born, and it was necessary to hold him in baptism, the auty devolved on Serrano’s wife, who was principal lady of the Court, She declined this simple, delicate, necessary omice. She was not well, she answered, although she took pains to appear on the Praao and in the opera. Al) the grandees and reactionaries applauded, but the King was sorely wounded. He called on the Duch- ess of Prim, the widow of the great Prim, who gladly stood at the baptismal foni. Then came the artillery question, The Cabinet proposed to ap- point a general to command whose conduct had been harsh at onetime. ‘he artillery ofticere of the whole army of Spain resigned. The King agreed with the officers, but the Cabinet insistea upon promoting the non-commissioned oMcers. to’ take their place, Although the King Wag... tis yor of the measure his bes yy an indirect Manwavre, induced the Cortes to enaet it. This manwuvre or intrigue the King saw as an act of disingenuousness to bimeelf from men who were his trusted advisers, When the decree was brought before him at Councli he simply signed it and adjSurned the Council. As the Ministers were leaving the room he asked Zorrilla to attend him in his private cloget. Zorrilla obeyed, and the King said simply and dryly that he meant to abdicate the crownof Spain. At the same time he handed his Prime ‘Minister a draft ot the letter in which he announced his resolution 10 the Spanish Congress, Zorrilla, overwhelmed and unhappy, summoned the Cabinet, disclosed the King’s intention, and it was agreed to ask His Majesty to give them forty-eight hours for refiec- tion. It was also solemnly agreed that the matter should be a sacred secret; and, as happens when secrets are sacrediy bequeathed to eight or ten Spaniards, it was allover Madrid in an hour. It was further noted that upon that evening the King did not ride on the Prado, “THE LAST STRAWS.” As to which incident or event formed the last Particular straw that broke the camel’s back this correspondent cannot say. Certes, the crown of Spain had under no circumstances been an easy one for poor Amadeus, He had been contemplating ab- dication, He threatened Serrano with it last June, as [have told you. He had been go patient all the time. “By heavens,” said one who knew to this writer, “if 1 had been the King I would have dis- missed Serrano from the army and sent twenty others who took his money and conspired against him out of the country. But no; he was a King, and no King should act from revenge or in anger, and so the poor man was rebbed and betrayed by the very men he covered with honor and weaith.”” Nothwithstanding the King was a brave, persist- ent man, not apt to do anything from fear—above all things fing away a diadem—it is believed, however, that when he found his own Prime Minis- ter and the President of his Council intriguing in the Cortes to thwart his purpose and break the spirit and discipline of his army, and when he saw the first lady of his Court decline to hold his infant child in baptism, because her husband did not agree with the Cabinet in politics, he took the supreme resolution. In @ country where the Prime Minister Was not a gentleman and a Duchess was not a lady he would not sit on the throne. ABDICATION A SURPRISE TO THE MONARCHISTS. The abdication of the King was precisely what none of the parties opposed to him desired but the Tepublican party. ‘The Carlists wished Don Carlos; the followers of Isabella wished the Prince Alfonso; Serrano would have been content with the King had he sus- pended the ongsitation end given him supreme power. The opposition factions wished to drive the King out by a successful conspiracy. The con- spiracy would then take the crown, crush the republieans with a strong hand, “establish order’? as tke Third Napoleon did and rule Spain. The abdication found them all unprepared. Serrano was in the South, Don Carlos was saying his Prayers over the frontier, Sagasta was droning about the cafés, No one knew what to do but the republicans. As they had only one object, and that simple, direct and decisive, they were always pre- pared. They meant no intrigue, and accordingly did not require time to intrigue. If tae King’s abdication could be postponed forty-eight hours there would be time to rally the reactionary forces. The republicans, to use @ phrase familiar in our war, resolved to “force the fighting.” THE REPUBLICANS “FORCB THE FIGHTING.” The Certes assembled. The palace was sur- rounded by thousands of people. Troops were placed at different positions to preserve order. ‘The galleries were crammed. The diplematic corps were nearly all present. Every republican was in his seat. Figueras, with his muld, resolute, kind face, just tinged by age, and an eye clear and shin- ing; Castelar, the first orator of Europe, nervous, anxious, and his young face full of eagerness and inspiration; and their followers all compact, ready and disciplined. The other benches were filled with anxious men. The ministerial bench was vacant. What the Ministry wanted was time—time to think and plot and unite their forces, Zorrilla fancied that by remainimg away he could gain time. Nothing was known officially of the King’s abdication. It was only srumor. Until thought. He would suspend the sittings one or two days, and, in the meantime, arrange his plans. This was the very thing to be avoided, and as soon as the Cortes opened the republicans, under the regretted the absence of the Ministry and asked that they be summened to the Cortes, as he had a question to ask concerning the safety of Spain and the peace of Madrid. The President answered that he had sent for the Ministers, but they had not come. He would now summon them for the last time. In a moment they entered, the Prime Minis- ter at their head. Rising, he said he understood a question had been propounded in his absence, and he now asked the speaker to repeat it. The repub- lican leader did not need this challenge. He asked the Prime Minister whether it was true that the King proposed to abdicate the | crown of Spain, and, if so, what measures | had been taken to preserve the peace. The Prime Minister evaded the question in an elaborate speech; said His Majesty had, it is true, thrown out such an intimation, but they were in hopes he | conld be induced to reconsider tt, and he trusted, therefore, the Cortes would adjourn @ day or two to enable His Majesty to reflect. This was the first point of the battle. Figueras, with admirable tact, answered that to consider abdication was abdica- tion; that there was really no sovereign power that could be respected, and that it became the Certes, as the sovereign power in Spain, to see to it that no harm came to the liberties of the people. He proposed, therefere, that the Cortes should de- clare its sittings permanent, that the members might watch over the welfare of Spain. THE REPUBLICANS CARRY THE FIRST POSITION, All this time the crowd around the palace be- came greater and greater aud more and more even to threaten it was to make it Impossible for & He would not He was a gentleman and a man of honor. He had Jost his wife and four boys. To call them again to life he would not soil his honor, As for himself he meant to retire to an “obscure corner.” But he was still Minister, and it was disrespectful to him to think of apermanent session. After he sat down there was noted a warm discussion on the ministerial bench. Martos and Zorrilla were seen in high words, It was known at once that there was a difference—Martos leaning towards the republi- cans. Tae Prime Minister resolved to adjourn the Cortes and save some Kind of a throne. Martos arose to retire, when one Of the Deputies took his hat and hid it under iis seat, Others surrounded him and tmplored him to remain. Another dis- ‘cussion arose between the two Ministers, in which ail joined, and for a minute or two the Cortes sat in silence looking at seven or cight gentlemen ges- ticulating eagerly on the ministerial bench, In a moment the Prime Minister, lis face pale and angry, Was seen to throw up bis hanué in a gesture of deprecation and despair, turn suddenly away and take his hat, which no one had hidden, and stalk angrily away. This pantomime was as well understood as if the Migisters had spoken from the tribune, Zorrilla waa beaten in his own Cabinet. L The firmness of rigueras and the eloquence of Cas- telar had won, Martos arose, and gravely, almost sadly, announced that the government accepted the propositions of the republican leader and con- sented toa permanent sitting. The session was nominal simply. The Presigent and secretaries | were in their places ali night. There was no de- bate, no business. The night went down upon an anxious capital, with the republicans thus lar vic- torious, THE REPUBLICANS REST ON THEIR ARMS. ‘The night came on—one of those anxious nights which old men remember and tell to their children, It was a bight big with the fate of Spain, What ‘would to-morrow bring? All parties were at sea— all but one. Don Carlos—where was he’ Why did he linger at Bayonne, when his presence here Might open the gates of thus ancient and loyal city? And why was Don Alphonso in Vienna? Where were the chiefs of the monarchical party? A throne reeling, @ crown tumbling into the gutters, and no One to rescue it; no sword to My from its scabbard and save loyal, faithful Spain. Men moodily paced the Alcala and gathered in groups on the Puerto del Sol, and wondered whether to-morrow its stones would be reddened with Spanish blood. The republicans were eager and watching. They drifted all night from the American Legation to the Cortes. Somehow the presence of the Ameri- can flag was an inspiration, and when a new and ugly rumor or doubt came to them, they hur- ried to the American Minister for counsel, All night long messengers passed to and from the legation, and when they came forth they were cheered up. Dificulty after dificulty was sub- mitted to the Minister for his solution. What was a@republic? How did it work? Was there réally social order? What would be the effect on in- dustry, on the army, on the Church—above all things on Cuba? You cannot imagine the thousand questions that came into life that night, for these men had only dreamed of @ republic, had only seen it in fancy, roseate, soul-cheering, as a dream cherished in exile or brightening prison walls; and now it was coming—surely coming—with the blessed sunshine, which in a few hours would creep over weary, amxious Madrid. “Let all be peaceful, orderly; no disturbance, no Violation of law, no excitement.” This was our Minister's advice. As for America, it would give the Republic the hand of instant friendship. And if no mistakes were made Europe must come swiftly after. And so the Cortes sat in nominal session all night and the republican leaders rested on their arms. The victory was theirs, and to- morrew they would win it. VIOLENT COUNCILS IN THE PALACE. ‘There were those around the King, and others who believed in royalty as a profitable trade, who swarmed to the palace that night and urged Amadeus to change his purpose. AsI have said, Serrano was away, but his friends gathered at the house of Sagasta. Who knows, they thought, but that the Kiag might repent his abdication humor, banish Zorrilla from his councils and send for Serrano and Sagasta to form @ conservative ministry. Any how they would be found like the wise virgins waiting with their lamps burning. One of the party who had kept well with the King called at the palace and said to His Majesty that he had no need of abdica- tion. There were brave and wise men who before had served him. He did not take their advice then; let him call them and take it now. They were all waiting at the house of Seflor Sagasta, and in the morning Serrano would come also. But the King said “no.” In the first place he had been treated like a partisan and an adventurer by these gentlemen. They had insisted upon regarding him a8 @ politician, and not a King. He had done all he could to conciliate Serrano—for instance, had written him, amd he was treated in return with indignity. Again, it was proposed to suspend the constitution. That he could not and would not do. He would not wear the crown unless he could wear it like a gentleman. There was an- other party of military men whom the King had honored. They did not care to see this fountain of honor dry up, as there was no certainty as to whether another would open—and if it did whether its waters would be bitter or sweet. They went to the King. They had been loyal to him and were loyal now. Why should he throw the crown into the streets? The army was with him in every way. Only let him say the word, and at the head of the army, now encamped in the Madrid barracks, they would sally fortn and suppress the tnsurrec- tionary spirit and put the throne on a solid founda- tion, To this the King answered that he knew weil enough that to an enterprising military com- mander, with the loyal troops of Spain behind him, anything was pessible; that he need not say that against the enemies of Spain he would march at the head of bis army. But he upon Spanish people. He would not wear a crown that could only be held by acoup d'état. Upon that he was resolved, He would net even consider the contingency. He could not reign in Spain ex- cept asthe king of @ faction holding sway over a faction. He expected this in the beginning, but he had hoped that time would wear it away and bring the people nearer to him as he proved himself worthy of their loyalty and love. But every ad- vanee had been repelled. The breach had grown wider from day to day. No force could narrow it. He mght hold Spain by the sword to-day, but no threne could reat upon the sword in this age. No! his mind was made up. He had done his duty asa king. He had failed, and he would return the crown to the men who placed it on his brows and go back to the court of his father. THE SCOND DAY. The night passed, however, and no danger came to the Republic. The monarchists could not unite. In truth, monarchy was no longer @ sentiment or political principle with*these men. It was not a king they wanted, but @ partisan; and in the de- sires for one prince or another ail the malevolence of former reigns came to life, and the more they discussed the situation the further they were from a union, The republicans were alert. They ar- ranged their plaa. The point gained in yester- noisy. Deputies time after time went to the win- dows aud addressed them, urging geod cheer—that all was well with Spain, Martos, the Minister of State, them arose and made an eloquent speech. He was not anxious to precipitate events, No harm could come from an adjournment. The Ministry would look after the country. Figueras came back with iron power to his proposition. There was no King, and there could be no peace without a Cortes ‘n session to watch over the crisis. Them Castelar Zorrilla and the new Cortes was overwheimingly radical. Even Sagasta, who bad been Prime Minis- ter and leader of the conservative party, could not obtain an election, The new Ministry began its work of reform, There was a large republican minority who supported it. One abuse after anether was stricken down. Emancipation in Porto Rico was carried along and put on its pas- Bage, and it really seemed as if the young monarch sition of his leader, calling upon Sp arose, and, with that wonderful eloquence which 1s the marvel of Spain, followed in a brilliant, temper- ate, calmly logical speech, supporting the propo- ards to re- member the days when they took up arms against an King had torn the crown from his brow and day’s struggic gave them command of the field, unless they should make a mistake or the govern- ment should succeed in coup d’état, But of this there was only a limited danger. The temper of the King was well known. He had shown it in many ways. From him there was no fear. He would not break the law for his own crown, certainly he would not connive at its infraction to give a crewn to Don Carlos or Don Alphonso, Nor was there much danger from the Cabinet, They had beaten the Prime Minister on his own ground, It was known in the King’s Cabinet there were three or four Min- iaters Who would not consent to extreme meas- ures. There was Martos, the Minister for Foreign invader and expelled him after their kings had | Affairs, the best orator in the Congress next to fled, and appealing to them, now that another Castelar, @ supple-minded man, not insensibie to’ his own advantages. He was almost a republican thrown it into the streets, to take it up and as- | and would support the republic. Tne public senti- Meade pe rennplean, Taat senile would never command Spanish troops in a war | ment found expression in the presence of five or ten thousand citizens, who stood waiting—calm, resolute, only a growl now and then—waiting for the hour. The republicans them- selves were men of tact and genius. Althengha minority in the Cortes they had always put upon it asevere pressure. The best parliamentarian and lawyer was Figueras—the best orator was Castelar. To these two men was entrusted the command of the campaign, ABDICATION ACCEPTED. Immediately upon the opening of the Cortes the Secretary read the formal abdication of the King. This grave, eloquent, manly document was heard with a slience almost painful. It was the formal Seal upon the act that had been in all men’s minds. At once a resolution was adopted without dissent accepting the abdication, and a committee was appointed to write the address of the Cortes in reply. This task was assigned to Castelar. An ad- journment was had to give him time for the work, and upon reassembling he read the address from the tribune. Never was monarch addressed in terms of such grateful and gracious rhetoric. Never was ruler honored as sincerely and with such complimentary phrase. And when, finaily, Castelar concluded by saying to the King that although Spain could no longer offer him a crown, it could offer him the higher dignity of citizenship in a free and independent republic as a man whom that republic would never cease to honor, the Cortes broke into a roar of rapturous cheering. Acommitteé was appointed to carry this to the King, and the struggle recommenced. Pi y Margall at once arose and offered a proposition declaring the Republic. Here came an interlude which shows how these Spanish legislators, so wise in many ways, are children in others, ZORRILLA MAKES A DESPERATE EFFORT TO SAVB THE CROWN. AS soon as the King’s abdication was read Zor rila and his colleagues left the Ministers’ bench and sat among the Deputies. There was, there fore, nu Ministry and no government, The Senate had come from its Chamber and now sat with the representatives, a8 one body, ,“the sovereign Cortes of Spain,” Zorridla, who seemed to be in- spired by the spirit of mischief or revenge, or some evil impuise which in one day undid all the fair achievements of a celebrated and busy life, arose and asked the Chamber where was the govern- ment, and what would be dene in the case of dis- turbance, and who would open a despatch an- nouncing the capture of a town by the Carlists? Considering that this Minister and his King had adandoned the government, and that the Cortes was about to supply their places, the speech exas- perated the members. ‘This was what Zorrilla meant. Jt was his last despairing chance. If he could) provoke @ tumuit—if the Chambers could be prevailed upon to do an act of indiscretion or violence, there would still be hope for the reaction. ‘he republicans, wo were not disposed to iose their temper, kept quiet, although they cnafed under the challenge. But the Presi- dent of the body was something of a goose, and he had made up his mind that upon hin devolved the cares of the State—that as the Congress was sovereign and he its President, he was therefore the sovereign head of Spain, So instead of listen- ing to Zorrilla and passing into business, this foolish, vain Rivero began a discussion with him— sald he was the head of the State, and being a map who was always calm, and knew what to do in most excited moments, it was proper he should be chief, Then came an uproar even more distressing than the other, The President took another foolish step. Finding the Cortes not disposed to listen tg nig néw-borm pretensions he: suddenly turned to the Ministers and ordered the to take the ministerial bench and there watch over Spain, This was even more exasperating, and the Chamber broke into renewed murmurs. Zorrilla declined. He was Minister of the King, and would not serve now that the King had gone. Martos said he had not lefta monarchy to pass under a despotism, The temper of the Chamber grew higher. The President, winged and quivering with the dart of Martos, left the chair and the President of the Senate took it. Again Zorrilla pressed his y point, andin the most offensive manner, taking care toexpressly irritate the friends of Serrano and Isabella, who had been quiet heretofore. “VIVA LA REPUBLICA!” Ifyou have seen public assemblies at a fever heat— all passions bubbling, seething, running ever—e cooi master of debate like Zorrilla deliberately feed- ing it; in the chair an abs urd, vain old man ; the gal- lerles crammed with eager, hoping men and women, their faces pale with the tension upon their nerves; outside the mighty democracy of Spain, its war coming now and then upon the ear, like the roar of a distant angry sea—impatient for the Republic—and the benches filled with the first men of au electric, sensitive, passionate race, easily moved to tears and from tears to blood, you cam fancy the scene when this incident broke upon the Cortes like a threatening cloud, boding disaster to the Republic, Men of resolute soul and cool Saxom blood, who wished well to Spain, and sat watching the birth of this new commonwealth, told me their limbs grew cold and the heart sick as they saw this incident and feared what might come, A word, @ hasty speech, the slightest imprudence from @ man with the eloquence of Vastelar to the crowd, and there would have been a scene rivaling the bloodiest day of the French Revolution, and Spreading its sweep to the distant mountains an& seacoasts of Spain. ‘This was what Zorrilla wanted, He stood inthe Chamber as cool and daring ag Mephistopheles. He could not rule Spain, and he woula ruin the new Republic. He meant to leave public life, and, like Sanson, he would puik down the temple in which he was no longer high priest. But the republicans held their forces in hand. Martos arose, He was sorry, he said, if he had wounded any one in his remarks, As for the Ministry assuming a place on the bench, that was @ technicality. The Ministry, all but Zorrilia, would act through their under secreta- ries, and so doing he and his friends had only to say they would vote the Republic. This was the breaking of the cloud. Zorrilla’s purpose was foiled, Martos had lead bis party away from him. ‘The Marquis of Sardoval, a warm friend of the King aad a monarchist, followed Martos, and said, in behalf of himselt and other noblemen with whom he acted, they would vete for the Repubiic. This they did, not because they had changed their con- victions in favor of a monarchy, but because they believed a republic was the only form of govern- ment that could save Spain, This carried the day. The Republic was sure. The debate con- tinued for some hours, to allow deputies to favor or support it. In this debate the republicans took no part. The vote came at last, by yeas and nays.. For the Republic there were 258 votes; against it, 32, id the President, in & voice of emotion, and amid cheers, which filled tke Chamber and was Caught up on the street, and were flashed by telegraph to every province of Spain, and under the deep sea to the distant island of Cuba, de- clarea that the Sovereign Cortes prociaimed the Republic. Members rushed from one bencn to another and embraced in the Spanish fashions Martos arose and cried, “Viva Spain! Viva tha nation! Viva the Spanish Cuba!” and Figueras, his face pale and swept with all the emottens thag must have come to & man who saw his twenty-flve years’ war for republi< canism crowned with such a@ victory, arose and asked permission to cry in the fulness of his soul, ‘Viva la Republica!’ And the Chamber arose as one man and said, “Viva la Repubdlicalt and tears streamed down faces not given to tha weeping mood, and bearded men sobbed and kissed each other like childrea. This was about the hour of nine in the evening. There was nee@ for refreshment and felicities and rest before nam~ ing the chiefs of the new commonweaith. So a recess was taken until midnight, The conservae tives and monarchists wemt home and did not re« turn, They were not more than thirty in number, and as they had no heart in the movemgnt, would not mar it with their presence, It was resolved ta retain in the Cabinet four of the Ministers of Amadeus, and to make Martos President of the Chambers. Thq Presidency of the Repub~ lic would be given to Figueras, the leader and head of the party. Piy Margall, the keenest an@ most logical mind, would be given the very tm« portant office of Secretary of the Intertor, while the brilliant and accomplished Castelar was to be Minister of Foreign Affairs. At midnight the Conse same. sonetaer and YOR Ib yEag two Doug