The New York Herald Newspaper, May 7, 1873, Page 6

REPUBLICAN SPAIN. «Shall We Reach the Elections for a Constituent Cortes ?” THE FRENCH AND THE CARLIST BANDS A Call to Arms in the Style of the Old French Revolution. ATESTFOR PATRIOTISM No Money in the Treasury and Dissensions in the Cabinet. THE TROUBLES OF CASTELAR AND FIGUERAS | The Abolition of Crosses and Orders of Chivatry. SHADOWS OF THE COMMUNE. “Les Descamisados,” or the Shirtless and Unreconciled. A REVOLUTIONARY = MANIFESTATION. Sunday on the Prado and a Demonstration. Manni, April 1, 1873. FRREDOM TO SLAVES IN CUBA. The two features of the situation since the ad- lournment of the Cortes are the announcement of the elections and the call to arms. I telegraphed you the fact that the ministry had issued a decree carrying out certain features of what is called the Moret law of 1870, The effect of this decree is to manumit about ten thousand negroes who are called “emancipades.” Although the negroes have been actually free since the publication of the, “Moret law,’ the government of the King and the succeeding radical Cabinet did not put it into force, The opposition of the pro-slavery league was 80 In- flexible and successful that the King’s government dent before it, and although this recent decree is simply an act of justice, tardily done, it has excited much criticism among those who clamor about vested rights and the sacred character of property. Friends of freedom everywhere will welcome it as Bn earnest of the government's good faith in carry- Img out on the ministerial bench what its members g promised while in opposition. The Blections are set down for the middle of May. Four days will be given .to cast the votes. By another feature of the new electoral law all Spaniards over the age of twenty-one will be allowed the franchise. Heretofore that right has been given omly to those over twenty-five. This assimilation of the Spanish to the American cus- tom will have a peculiar effect. The efforts of the Liberals, who have had possession of the govern- Ment for some years, has been to extend educa- tion; so that while the Spanish are an unusually ignorant race, the younger men, the generation of New Spain, as it might be called, is more enlight- ened, The effeet of this enlargement of tne fran- chise will, be to add trom six to seven hundred thousand electors to the poll. These electors can gil or nearly all read and write. They are nearly all Republicans, And you can fancy what effect it wall have upon the elections, this sudden throwing of a large fragment of new, intelligent voters into the electoral scales, However, no one doubts that the result of the elections will be largely Republi- can. “SHALL WE REACH THE ELECTIONS!” But shall we have elections? That is now the Question asked by the Conservatives. Iwas pres- ent the other evening at a reception at the British Embassy and happened to fall into talk with a noted Conservative—one, too, who had served the tate King in a responsible and high position, “What of the situation ’’ I said; and he replica that it was very sad—very sad indeed! “Do you think,” he continued, “there will be any elec- tions?’ “And why not ?? was my inquiry. “The country will not hold together long enough. Spain ls gradually crumbling away. Disorder is every- where. There is no discipline in the army. There is no confidence in the government. We all re- spect the genius of Castelar, the polity of Pi y Margall, the ability and character of Figueras. Bat all who love order and respect religion and want protection to property see no assurance that these gentlemen will be able to resist the influences that they have brought into existence and which will soon carry them away, No. There will be no elec- tions, Before the time for the elections comes we shall be far into another revolution.” THE CARLISTS AND THE FRENCH. “Another revolution!” What my friend meant, Itake it, was another throe in the great travail that agonizes Spain. I can conceive it possible that there should be no elections. But it is not probable. The dangers intimated by this distin- guished Spaniard were grave enough. But there @re graver dange:sin the North, The Carlists are making progress in Catalonia and in the Basque countries. A good deal of hope was inspired by the announcement of the decree of the French authorities. As Ihave written to you, one of the grievances against France was the unremitting as- sistance given to the Carlists by Frenchmen. Don Carlos himself lives in France beyond the Spanish frontier. He was at Pau the other day, and more recently at Bayonne. Here he has headquarters and plans the campaigns of his followers. Here lived the Curé of Santa Cruz, whose atrocities are giready among the legends of Spain. The Pyr- enees were really @ base of supplies for the Carlist forces, But, under the earnest remonstrances of Spain and the pressure of the republicans in Ver- Bailes, who are in close relations with the government here, and threatened to “1n- terpollate’ M, Thiers and bother him unless he mended his neutral way. An order was issued directing the utmost vigilance to be used against the Carlist partisans. This has had the effect of paralyzing the movement, but only for a time. The Carlist committee in London is busy sending arms to the Biscay coast, ‘The Uarlists arc moving towards the seaboard in the hopes of taking and holding a port like Bilbao or Santander. Arms are coming in good quantities, and in the meantime ‘the country held by these Carlist bands is under con- tribution, The snow and the unusually severe ‘Winter on the Pyrenees have prevented any active Movement of the forces in Biscay, and the main achievements of the Curé of Santa Cruz have been the dismantling of the railway tracks and the shooting ef women and unarmed waylfarers, Aji Andustry is deaa in the Basque countries because Of the Garlists, while in Catalonia, the New England ofSpain and one of its most prosperous provinces, even 8 worse condition of affairs is threatened. The government have taken measures to arrest the crisis and accordingly issue the following decree, the substance of which was telegraphed you r tarde! the governinent elected by avote of re Cortes and confirmed by the assent of the nation would be anworshy of Its office tt {t poncesied AEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1873—QUADRUPLE SHEET. proclamation of a repubitc—after the nation, in the exercise of its sovereignty, has entered into a form of government to which all parties should submit, Tn vain has liberty been given to every form of thought; in vain have the electoral colleges been thrown open to the independent vote of every Spanish citizen; in vain have the questions of sovereignty and the forms of the constitution been submitted to the will of a majority of the nation. ‘These partisans ot absolutism and monarchy, know- ing that a generation of Spaniards, edueated in the ideas of this enlightened age, would never surren- der willingly their liberties and their rignts, seek to enslave ‘and enchain them by the force of iron and fire, In the pursuit of this purpose they destroy the communications, cut the telegraphs, devastate the fair fields, burn the archives of the towns aad com- munitics, impose tribute upon the rural popula- tions, rob like Driganae, arrest, imprison and mur- der unarmed and inoffensive people, shoot the heroes who are about to surrender to rior force, and, amidst the smoke of devastation, Incen- diarism and war, they re id Lo the creation of the Republic and our words’ of peace and recon- Stele by restoring the reign of vengeance and 1c. ie time has come, therefore, for the Spanish people, comprehending the immeusity of these dangers, to maturely and calmly resolve to apply an energetic remedy—and to do so with their tra- ditional heroism and devotion. A holy war of lib- erty should respond to this wicked war of barbar- ism and envery! In spite of the grave exigencies of the bere pe the government will not rest until it has dis these dangers to the public safety, re-established Uhe discipiine of the soldiery and armed the volun- teers of the Republic. The soldiers of Catalonia are already in motion pursuing the enemics of liberty. The vatiant and disciplined army of tne North, in herote strife, seals with its blood its loyalty to the Republic. The troops in Valencia struggle without repose. The Carlist bands in Andalusia are dis- heartened and diminishing, and gradually disa} pear before the impetuous and formidable efforts of the soldiers pursuing them, Wherever in other provinces rebellion has raised its head it has been annihilated by the army and the citizens. The government appreciates this noble conduct, and labors without rest tomass against the enemy.the most abundant means and the most efficient force. The resources voted by the Cortes for purposes of armament will be ap- pen to that end as rapidly as the laws will admit. ie bathe a offered to the army by the late re- form will all be realized with all the energy and promptitude permitted by the poverty of the ury. The battalions of volunteers, the pad for whose organization is published, will go into the field as rapidly as they become fit for service, and the local authorities of the distracted and ravaged provinces, feeling that they are menaced by open and avowed war, are resolved to wage war with- out rest and without pity. In a republic, however, the union and concord of all classes, without any exception, are necessary, if we are to have social order and self-government. Every citizen should feel that in defending the Republic he defends his moral dignity and rights. The liberal party must remember, especially, that this liberty, so precious to them, and for which they have made 80 many sacrifices, is indissolubly united to the republican form of government. We appeal to Spaniards to fatl in no means of combat that will terminate this civil war. Let the citizen militia mobilize, Let the free bodies of volunteers take arms, and let the armed citizens maintain order, defend their homes and protect property, 80 that the soldiers may attack the enemy with energy and vigor, It is only thus that we can-show that we are worthy of that liberty, inherent to all people who can redeem themselves and save their country. It is only thus, by heroism and resolution, that we can save the Republic, and with it the liberty of the people and the life of Spain. The President of the government of the Republic, ESTANSIOLAO FIGUERAS, THE WANT OF MONEY. If this decree 1s carried out in ite true spirit it should have as important an effect as the call to arms in the French Revolution that led to the battles of Valmy and Jemappes, There is cer- tainly public spirit enough in Spain to crush the Carlist and all other factions, But there are a hundred difficulties, Above all, money is wanted. Industry and commerce are paralyzed by the civil war. Trade is brisk enough in Barcelona; but industry is helpless. The Spanish have that strange quality which makes it impossible for the nation to exert itself when there is any unnatural Political situation, As a friend said the other day, when there is trouble in the Cortes or an impending crisis, the servants will not work, the cook is late with the dinner, the maids will not dust the rooms, The national mind cannot bear the stress of this prolonged inaction and uncer- tainty. While there is no money in Spain for government uses the nation has no credit in the money markets of Europe. Spanish credit has not been very high since the time of Charles III. It was never lower than under the kings. Isabeila and her friends resorted to expe- dients to raise money that would shame an Irish fortune-hunter, Even Amadeus could not borrow exeept at exorbitant rates of interest. But still he coulf borrow. Now even that resource ts closed, The money markets and merchants of credit have no confidence in this Republic. And without money what can be done with an army? The rich classes, the noblemen and owners of the great estates are paying their money to the Carlist committees or in intrigues to return Don Alphonso, Without order Spain cannot borrow money, and disorder comes from the monarchical party. So the mon- archists have a double success. They advance their own cause and stifle the growth of the Re- public. With Europe against Spain, no countries whatever giving her a iriendly hand but the United States and Switzerland; with foreign fleets ap- proaching her coasts implying an illy concealed menace in their presence, what can we expect from this call to arms? RUMORED DISSENSIONS IN THE CABINET. In addition to this there are rumored troubles in the Cabinet. The question that has been in the minds of all thinking Spaniards is, Can this gov- ernment rule? The men who form it are among the worthiest men in Spain. But they have had no experience in government. Figueras has been all his life im opposition. Castelar is a young man, who has been journalist, professor of rhetoric and exile. Pi y Margail has been a journalist also. ‘They have been struggling all their lives for an ideal republic. Garrido, for instance, has been in prison seven times, if | remember rightly, and if he had served out all the terms for which he was indicted he would have had over one hundred years of confinement, Well, Garrido was simply one of the party, rather extreme, and his offence was re- publicanism. He had conspired against Isabella by Advocating @ republic. Most of the members of the party were, at one period or another of their lives, in exile. Castclar has partaken of the bitter bread of banishment and eaten many a bad dinner in the Latin Quarter of Paris, not without anxieties as to whence the next would come. Figueras has been under sentence of death, and it is not long since—only three years back, when Prim was in power—most of the leaders were saved from prison by the protection of a foreign embassy. In three years of strife, propagandaand banishment they have had their illusions, And nothing is more amusing than the efforts of the id monarchists to revive the dreams of exile and gravely ask the Republican Cabinet if it means to put into the form of clauses the pam- phiets on Spanisn politics written in Paris. Among others a “form of government” is circu- fated here, which a republican committee, em- bracing Figueras, Piy Margall and others, pub- lished last year. In tliis plan there was to be no ' Prosident. There was to be a central government in Madrid, with very limited functions, each pro- vince or State having its own autonomy under a council named by the Assembly. This Assembly was to be the sole governing power, the Ministers being executive officers, having no directing will and depending fer their orders upon the Assembly, As to the Assembly each member was to be under the orders of his constituency and to obey them under pain of dismissal. Judges and all other officers were to be elected and there was to be no standing army, In addition to this there were speculations as to a liberal foreign policy, which would give Spain Gibraltar. REPUBLICAN THEORIES. Well, the Cabinet whose principal members planned these constitutional pamphlets is now in power, The members stand confronting the actual Spain, with her woes and cares and hopes, and they are called upon to govern many millions of people. An ancient system has fallen; ® system appealing to every sentiment of pride and rever- ence in the loyal Spanish heart, The men whose duty it is to found a new system are in sore stress, It is plain that this is not the time for the pamph- lets or for extreme notions about “the will of the people.” I presume it is fair to say that while the Cabinet agree upon the general ideas of a republic, no two of them have the same opinion as to the truth, however bitter the truth may be, or remedies fit only for @ people sunk in resen' eak nt and impotence. oo ism and monarchy, who claim in their prociama- tions to be in arms for the overthrow of a mrvies Sing, stu pontinye civii war and reyelliog alter the details, of government, and it is said that Mr. ~“Gasielar bas serious dimerences with President ligueras, I hesitate to repoat these stories—although they are in the air—nhecause I am unable tp say how far they may be true or ee false, But rumor has it that Mr. Castelar does not think the President shows energy. Among other things he complains that the army has not been organized; that discipline has not been restored, and that efficient measures have not been taken to repress the Carlists. The Secretary be- leves that Spain can do nothing without an army, and that energy, almost supernatural, is needed to revive the drooping spirits of the Republie, There are stories that the Secretary does not think enough has been done to repress the extreme republicans. But chis ig too im- Probable to bear discussion. As to the army, the impatience of Mr. Castelar can well be understood. But the army is a subject that cannot be remedied by a decree, These republicans have all their sen- sitiveness and apprehension about bodies of mili- tary men, An army is needed to suppress the Carlists. Withoutan army they will surely march to Madrid unopposed ; every step they take adds to their strength. One or two conspicuous victories and the bourgeoise clement, which wants peace at any price, and order, come whatever sacrifice, will declare for them, and shout, “V%tva Carlos VII!" a8 they shouted ‘Viva la Republica!” and “Viva Ama- deo!” ‘To prevent this catastrophe an army 1s needed. And yet, if a conspicuous captain comes to the front and leads this army he may become a usurper—a king lke Napoleon—or a maker of kings, like John Prim. CASTELAR, So the President is said to be sorely troubled and the Minister is in an agony of mind which one can weil understand, looking at his sensitive, poetic face. “Ah!” sald @ gossipper on the Alcaia this morning, “Castelar is not happy. He shuts himself up in his chamber and has hours of deep distress. He wants an energetic policy. He cannot move the President. Oh! he looks very haggard.” I re- Peat this as gossip, amusing, but, I suspect, not over-true, because it is the kind of whispering one hears on the highways in Madrid. I saw Mr. Caste- lar an evening or two since, and hada pleasant talk with him about recognition and federal repub- li¢an theories, and he seemed bright and cheerful enough—rather impatient because of the lethargy of the great European Powers, but neither hag- gard nor with the look of a man given to hours of silent agony in the recesses of his chamber. And when a fair maiden, with a face that we carry away in the memory and cherish among the dreams of Spring days, sung an Andalusian ballad in the Prettiest, lisping patois, the great orator listened and applauded like the rest of the boys, who were boys in very truth in the enjoyment of the simple chant. So far as these eyes could see there was no evidence of that strife of soul which all Madrid at- tributes to the young Minister and which is be- Heved to be wearing his life away. FIGUERAS, * Nor were there any traces of any similar strife in the manner of President Figueras, One who had known him many years offered to take me to his presence. We passed into the palace—a modest palace, apparently not as large as our White House— on the main street of Madrid, and much resem- bling the erdinary houses in‘ the neighborhood, with the exception that sentinels guarded the doorway. We passed upa wide, richly-tapestried stairway and into a long, or rather oblong, ante- chamber, An attefidant was writing numbers on a thin strip of paper, and he handed us one as we entered, marked 45. Another attendant stood at the door, and as each visitor departed he called olit the number of the next in waiting, after the manner of a fashionable Broadway bar- ber shop with an unusual press of busi- ness, We made interest, however, with some of the officials in waiting and were taken by aside door, and without delay stood in the pres- ence of the President of the Spanish Republic. Mr. Figueras, who arose and embraced my com- panion in the Spanish fashion, is a tall, courtly. attractive man, hair well on to gray, a thick, closely cropped black mustache, with white tints, @ clear, lustrous eye, and an expression more French than Spanish. The face showed expression, intelligence, the lines more graceful than strong and more amiable than resolute, One fan- cied he saw something of the quality of Lincoln in the countenance of the Spanish President, but withont that inexpressible look of sadness and weariness and yearning for. rest which made the bearing of the great President 80 painful in his latter days. In our conversation the Presi- dent spoke cheerfully of the condition of affairs’ He did not underrate their gravity, but had con- fidence in the patience, courage and resolution of the Spanish people. Of the course of America towards Spain he spoke with unusual warmth, and said it had created ties between the two nations that could never be broken. There was nothing in his manner to indicate the war that is said to rage in his Cabinet. What most impressed us was his exquisite, high-bred courtesy. As we left his presence we felt that if his face showed less of Lincoln and more of Stanton we should be more hopeful of the Republic. ABOLITION OF CROSSES, DECORATIONS AND ORDERS OF CHIVALRY. This feeling can be better expressed, however, by reading another decree which is just printed, While the Carlists are ravaging Catalonia, and the country is waiting patiently for some energetic movement, the Cabinet prints an elaborate decree abolishing crosses and ribbons and orders of chiv- alry. In this paper the Cabinet says it will, pending the meeting of the constituent Cortes, make no changes in the laws, except where such changes are properly the function of the Execative power. Born from a sovereign assembly and living in an- ticipation of the constituent Cortes, it cannot radically change laws which have been made by the Legislature. To do that would be to violate the fundamental principles of its own existence. But the order of chivalry—the crosses and decorations—come from the Executive power, from monarchs who gave these honors to the immediate flatterers and supporters of the crown. Accordingly nothing is more proper than that a republic should hasten to destroy all orders and insignia Whose existence cali to mind the tra- ditions of the monarchy. Therefore the govern- ment has resolved to decree the abolition of all orders, decorations and institutions that are con- trary to the spirit of the Republic. It has been a question whether ribbons, crosses and stars really minister to the vanity of their recipients or stimulate acts of virtue and patriotism. This controversy, OM account of the arbl- trary and profuse manner in which these distinctions have been given by Spanish monarchs, does not apply to Spain. Between the years 1833 and’ 1873 there have been created nearly forty thousand knights of the Orders of Isabella the Catholic and Charles Ill. Many of these knights were decorated for personal merit; but the larger part through interest or the favor of the sovereign or the Ministers. As a consequence, instead of representing merit they indicate the caprice or the paytiality ofthe Court and Cabinet. In a re- public the true citizen will find his recompense, not in the display of crosses and stars, blazing with gold and diamonds, but in the consciousness of merit and the ap- proval of his fellow men. In @ fe public public opinion and not executive power should give honors to these who succeed in the contest of intelligence, pairiotism and service— honors which contimue through life and are cher- ished by posterity. “Thus,” according to the clause, which is said to be the work of Castelar, “we see the difference between the popular and virtuously-bestowed honors of the Greek republics and the royal favors capriciously given by the Byzantine emperors. The two free nations of Europe and America—the two nations which have laid the foundations of the freest governments in the world—Switzerland and the United States— prohibit decorations, The decay of liberty in na- tions otherwise illustrious and great hag been attributed to the avidity with which the people have erased these meaningless and showy trinkets, The decorations heretofore given by the Ministry of State are declared incompatibie with republi- canism, Charles IIL founded one order, not to consecrate a great national event, but te illustrate an incident personal to his dynasty, He estab- lished grades, decreed ceremonies and limited the number of his knights, but the parsimony and the boyish thirst for honors which marked the character of the notorions favorite of his unhappy son broke through these laws, and, caus- [ng the reguiatiogs to be fyrgotten, increased Wig number of grand crosses far beyond the number intended by the illustrious founder, Thus the num- ber arose from sixty to 130, This was done to satisfy and adorn the courtiers of the Prime Minis- ter, Godoz, even as had been the custom with the courtiers of the monarch, This system increased until, at the death of Ferdinand VII, a period of sixty-two years, 480 grana crosses had been cre- ated. From the death of Ferdinand until our day, a space of forty years, the number increased to 636, The year most fruitful in this crop of honors was 1846, in which thirty-seven were bestowed, or more than half of the number to which the founder had limited it. The same may he said of other orders. Seventy: decorations were originally de- creed for the Order of Mama Louisa, and in the reign of Isabetia they reached the number of 289, In 1815 the American order of Isabella the Catholic was founded to reward the defenders of the Spanish dominions in the New World. But very soon the insignia of this order adorned the uniforms of the very men who had fought against that dominion. In 1819 the King, Ferdinand VII, permitted the monks of St. Atocha to sell at auction grand crosses of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, and with the sums thus realized they repaired their monastery. So that under the monarchs crosses of honor became articles of merchandise. Under the Republic, and in honor of the historical dignity and self-respect of the Spanish character, it is deemed proper to abolish asystem that has led to such abuses, Those who held these decorations may bear them. But letit be known that the orders they represent and which are specified in the decree no longer exist, but pass away, as before have passed away the orders of La Banda (the Bibbon), La Encina (the Oak), Los Lirtos (the Iris), La Merced (Grace), El Pichon (the Pigeon), La Espaita (Spain). For ina Republic dignity should come not from the ruling power, but from the re- spect and esteem of our icllow citizens.” THE DECREE. ‘The letter of this singular decree, the preamble of which I have just summed up, is as follows:— ARTICLE 1,—The orders of Charles III., of Isabella the Catholic; of The Noble Ladies of Spain, and of Maria Louisa are declared extinct. —The convocations of these orders will re- main dissolved, ART, 3,—The officers of these orders will return their archives to the Ministry of State. Ant. 4.—The Minister shall coblect, in order that they may be preserved, the insignia belonging to decorations in Spain as well as foreign countries, which are the property of the State, and shall dis- tribute them for preservation among the diferent archeological museums of the nation. SHADOWS OF THE COMMUNE. Whether this decree will make any impression upon Spain Icannot say. But with these grave questions on all sides I fancy that the decorated Spaniard will not have time to mourn, even for his ribbon and his cross. Great as is the danger threat. ened by the Carlists a still greater danger is feared from the revolutionists—the extreme republicans— or, touse thelr own expressive Spanish phrase, “Las ultimas capas sociales,” or the last geological layer in the social strata. Parties claiming to re- present the extreme party on last Sunday pub- lished a newspaper, s0 much a curiosity in its way that you will surely find it worthy of notice. This journal is called Los Descamisados, It 1s a small, four-page sheet, in large type, three columns to the page, each column about one-fourth wider than the cotuinns ofthe HERALD. The head line is a sketch of two faces, thin, pinched, haggard, wild, matted over chin and brow with thick, bushy hair, mouths open, staring, furiously—rudely personating hun- ger, ignorance, misery and crime. On either side of the two heads are the following mottoes:— “Nine hundred thousand heads.” “War upon God!—We shall war upon God until the heavens crumble up like a sheet of paper.’ “Property is robbery.”"—Proudhon, “Social equality—complete and absolute.” “Universal traternity.’? An ideal decree—“Articie first—This is nothing. Nobody is charged with the execution of this decree.”—Commune of Paris. “Free Love.”’—The Citizeness Wilhelmina. “Blessed are they who are persecuted tor justice sake.”"—Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. ‘This Journal, as I said, is called Los Descamisados, or the Shirtless, and is a Spanish imitation of the Sans Culottes, or the without-breeches of the French Revolution. Let me give you an idea of its spirit :— “The shirtless are distinguished for the love they bear the red. They will drink with enthusiasm ofthe fire, the blood and the wine.’? “The mathematical formula which expresses our ideas is the following:—‘The night of St. Bartholo- mew, plus the incendiaries of the Paris Com- mune, are equal to the grand revolution that will come. The sensation produced by its publieation was amusing. It was sold for a copper coin, and in the evening copics were commanding a dollar. All Madrid was wondering about “he Shirtiess,” and when they would begin the week of massacre and the taking of 900,000 heads. Many Spaniards be- lieved the journal was a real, sincere propaganda, and that it foreshadowed the reign of terror. It ‘was remembered, however, that a similar sheet had made its appearance in the revolution of 1868— called, I think Father James, in imitation of Pére Duchesne and the wild sheets of the French Revo- lution, And it was generally accepted as a catch- penny effort to trade on the extraordinary cre- dulity and excitement of the hour. THE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY. But there is a Descamisados party in Madrid, and I have been at some pains to study it. It would not on the first blush appear probable, for many reasons. Madrid is not a manufacturing town. It has no industries. There is no large working class, simply because there is nothing to work with—neither timber, nor coal, nor water, nor earths, nor minerals. In this respect it is unlike Barcelona, which has a laboring population and supports various employments. In Madrid most of the inhabitants are directly or indirectly con- nected with the government, By a vicious system of Spanish politics, which I explained in a former letter, whenever @ government retires from power its supporters go with it. So there is always @ class awaiting a crisis to return to oftice, living as best they can until the chance ripens—conspir- ing, begging, talking politics. Tris element intro- duces shiftlessness and want of economy into so- ciety. There is no strenuous, self-respecting, opu- lent, conservative middie class independent of office, indifferent to politics, but capable of angry interference in public arfairs when the emergency arises. One of the most serious dim- cuities besetting this republican government comes from the absence of this class. It has many genuine, patient supporters, who were republicans when the ckies were dark, and care nothing for cmolument or honor. But there is @ greater number who have the Spanish idea about party success, and demand office. Many of them have made little investments upon the success of their party. One has purchased a suit of elothest another a lottery ticket, a third 1s about to be mar- ried and a fourth has furnished himself with better lodgings. This has been done on credit, with the assurance that their party would succeed. This assurance has been realized, and they swarm around the government and demand the means with which to pay their debts. I have no doubt that the Cabinet, accepting the necessity, would consent to a demand so emphatically pressed; but, on the other hand, the Permanent Committee, chosen by the Cortes to represent it during the re- cess and hold supervisory power, is controlied by the radicals. That party held the last gov. ernment. Their friends were in the’ offices, They say, naturally enough, to the Cabinet, “We do not object to your ruling Spain, but if you mean to remove our friends from place, and have them come down upon us like locusts and destroy all peace of mind, and impose upon us the necessity of supporting them, then we shall use our power, summon the Cortes, and there will be trouble.’? The government could encounter no greater ca- lamity than the reassembling of the Cortes, and so it submits. But its followers will not see this, and they lead the Ministers distressing lives. Ican well understand how this alone would be reason enough to lead Mr. Castelar to publicly announce that he who would relieve him trom the cares of ofice would be his best friend, WHAT THE EXTREME REPUBLICANS DEMAND. 80, while there is no very great party in Madrid that may be called the Descamisados, there is, nevertheless, such a party, and just nowit is re, cruited from these disappointed republican® The name it adopts is Jntransigentes or “Irreconcil- ables,” a people who will be satistied with nothing. ‘This party was the result of the accesyion of the republicans to power. The moment the possessiqn, of power made the repablicans conservative—as power naturally and necessarily does—the extreme ‘partisans developed a new agitation. Many of the leadera—men of power like Ganido—who would be apt to annoy a government which did not appre- ciate them—were put in office, Ganido himself going to the Phillippine Islands as Intendente or Chancellor of the Exohequer—an efficient man in that or any place—and at a safe distance from Madrid for the President’s peace of mind, But there are not offices for all, and so the disap- pointed leaders are nursing their grievances; they desire a change in the War Ofice; they want the local municipal councils renovated, These coun- cillors were appointed by the King, and are mon- archists—sospechosos, as was said in thewsad times of France. They insist upon a more pronounced ‘acceptance of the federal Republic. The Ministers on that point, to their minds, speak with an uncer- tain sonnd, and they will not be satisfed, To their demanas it is replied that the War Minister, General Acosta, must do until a better one is found, As to dissolving the municipal bodies, that is @ measure too grave to be hastily at- tempted. While these councillors are in power they are more or less under bonds to support the government, or at least not to oppose it violently, To dismiss them would be to give the conserva- tives and monarchists an unusual accession of strength, comprising the best people in Spain. To do it, especially with the elections pending, would be to give the enemies of the Republic @ precious, inestimable advantage. As to pro- nouncing in favor ofa federal republic, the Ministers answer, that upon that point their views are well known. But that all yuestions as to the form of the republican goverment have been remanded to the Constituent Cortes, Pending the erection of that body it would be improper, in a high degree, for the Ministers to institute a propaganda of their own in favor of or against any particular form of a republic, confederatea or centralized. If they were to adopt this course they would be open to a twofold censure, transcending their powers as a government, and striving to improperly influence’ the free voice of Spain in the elections. 4 “DEMONSTRATION” ON THE PRADO, It would seem that these reasons are logical enough, but the Irreconcilables would not be reconciled. So nothing remained but a “mant- festation.”” This was announced for Sunday, and placaris were sprinkled over Madrid calling on the people to come forth and protest against the vampires who sucked the blood ot society, and so on, The scene of the manifestation was on the Prado, near the famous column of May. This column was erected in memory of certain Spaniards who were here slain by Murat, The legend is that Murat, as military governor of Madrid, was despised and assailed in his authority. He arrested the leaders of the mutiny, and they were shot to death here in 1808, as you will see by the wonderful Picture of Goya in the Museum over the way. The scene of the execution was called the “Ficld of Loyalty,” and a neat obelisk, surrounded by cypress trees, marks the spot. The day announced lor the meeting was raw and cold, the keen winds rushing down from the mountains and heavy clouds gathering over the horizon. It was noon when the manifestation was to begin, and about noon your correspondent joined the gathering. It was a picturesque crowd. There were none of those faces that we sometimes see in Whitechapel, or in Belleville or in the Five Points; but enough of misery, beggary and wretchedness. Beggars in all kinds of raiment, patched with manifold colors, heavy brown cloaks, ragged and shining wit! and the quaint Andalusian hat which resembles the “pork-pie,” but which young ladies wore when it was in the fashion, gave color and interest to the scene. There were some volunteers, wearing a full red cap and a rim trimmed with green, anda still smaller number who wore the Phrygian God- dess of Liberty cap, like what we publish at home at the top of our liberty poles. This 1s made of crimson cloth, with a small violet rosette or cockade at the side. There were a few women, well behaved apparently, and here and there an efiicient person who seemed to have the strings of the “manifestation” in his hands, On the grassy bank at the foot of the column wére a group of leaders, all wearing large rosettes of violet andred. A deputation from the Toledo quarter came sauntering across the Prado, bearing ared flag, with the legend, “The federal Republic or death.” Another deputation carried a red banner, with the words, “Work, bread, the federal Re- public or death,’’ while a third had some words signifying, “Down with the Municipalities.” These legends were not ofa merciful or cheering nature, and the crowd was sombre and gloomy in its demeanor. A half hour passed and no meeting began. In numbers the unreconciled gradually reached a thousand. They stood in groups smok- ing their cigarettes, looking gravely at the skies, the column and the cypress trees, Water carriers moved about swinging their earthern jars, and calling on the “shirtless? ones to buy and drink of the water “ascold as the snows.” ‘There was no humor, no banter, scarcely any con- versation. Just across the street, leaning on the railing of the Prado, was a thin, straggling crowd of black-coated gazers, evidently not of the un- reconciled class, who curiously watched the mob. With the exception of this line the Prado was ae- serted, A few soldiers marched down the street and entered the palace of the Duke of Medini Ccelis, This palace is a long, unpretending build- ing, not unlike a fashionable hotel at Saratoga. Its owner is the first grandee of Spain, descendant of the Kings of Arragon, and who has, among other blessings, the inestimable privilege of wearing his hat in the presence of his sovereign and of going to church on horseback. A few weeks ago His Highness died in Paris—died suddenly one night at the Grand Hotel—even as the beggar must die who is starving at his gate. A SUNDAY MANIFESTATION. Weil, we daily grow in number, until it would seem that we are more than a thousand, and if we do not begin to manifest very soon these clouds will interrupt our deliberations, So evidently thinks a tall, well Gressed person, by no means descamisados, who calls us to order and tells us what todo. In the first place, we must regard the newspaper, to which I have referred and which is sold all about us, as a libel upon the movement, a reactionary trick meant to throw dis- credit upon the true republicans, Then we are to have read a respectful letter to the President. Upon this letter we shall express our opinion, and then proceed in abody to the Ministry of the Gober- nacion, where Pi y Margall is in power, and hand him the document. The petition is read. It is addressed to President Figueras, and in the or- dinary Spanish custom begins, “Most Excellent Lora.” In these polite, ornate Latin countries it is not at all improper to address your bootmakeras the “Lord Knight’? So-and-So, and when it comes to a president we ascend in our grade of compli- ments. However, as soon as the address “Most Excellent Lord” is read out there is a loud clamor. “No titles, “No Bxcellency,” “No designations like that’’—a sharply brewing protest which comes from several quarters. The speaker in some way skips over the difficulty and plunges into his petition. You have heard the grievances and I will not repeat them. At the end all who approvea were called upon to say “aye.” No one said “no,” By this time the rain began to fall, and the procession, for the purpose of “demonstrating” in front of the office of Pi y Margaii formed in the shower. First marched a line of persons decorated with the red and violet rosettes, Then a line or two carrying the flags. And behind, and on the sidewalks—say a thousand in all tramped tn the mud and the rain—the “irre- concileables,” the “shirtless,” the idlers of Mad- rid and the correspondents of the foreign press. Along the Prado we swarmed, and down the Al- cala—the Broadway of Madrid—and out intoan open square—not quite as large as your City Hall Park, but something like it in arrangement and appear- ance. “THE GATE OF THE SUN." This open place is called the “Puerta del Sol,” or the “Gate of the Sun.” Once it was a gate of the wailed city. Now it is the heart of Madrid, On one side ts a gloomy, huge granite building, now a peaceful, badly keptitavern, with a woman-bewitch- ing bazaar underneath. This has been described as in the olden time one of the palaces of the Inquisition, Next to it 4 @ larger puilding, with a cburt yard, built by Charies ITE, ana now the office of the Secretary of the Interior as-well as the telegraph office, trom which all despatches are sent to the H&RaLD We march around into the open square, the Descamt- sades clinging to their drooping banners, the cor. respondents swaying their umbrellas and the raim falling rapidly, We reach the wide entrance and find a guard of soldiers, who inform us that a depu- tation of twenty may enter, but for the main there are mo accommodations, and we musé “demonstrate” outside in the rain, and listening to the splash of the cooling, gentle fountain around which the beggars sleep through the warm June nights. So aparty of us enter and see Mr. Pi Sd Margall, the Secretary—a strong man im Spain, with @ studious reflective face, a reso- lute nose, and beard and eye-glasses resembling Mr. Oakey Hall, Pi y Margall reads our manites- tation and is civil about it, and has kind wishes for the patriots who are out in the rain listening to the fountain, and will take our humble requesta into consideration. He gives us no hope, however, that they wilt be granted. So we return to our damp and dripping brethren, and, after all Manner of counsels, violent, temperate and judicious, we yield to the manifest presence of the rain and go home—carrying our flags in a draggied condition, meaning te come again and see Piy Margall if matters are not mended. CASTELAR AGAIN, So ended the demonstration—a modest, damp affair, showing that the patriots and descamtsados have life and motion and reserved elements of activity. Madrid goes back to rumors and specu- lations. In this city everybody appears to be talking at the same time, and all talk potitios, To-day the question concerns Sefior Don Emilio Castelar. It will not down nor quiet itself nor pass from our tongues. He will resign and he will not. He ts angry and he is pleased. He quarrels with Figuerfs; he loves the President. It comes im every shape, with this as a general impression— that Don Emilio is not in the best temper of mind; is, on the contrary, on the rack, and would like to leave the Cabinet and make a tour of Spain to ex- hort the people and preach the Republic. win CASTELAR RESIGN? It is not, we confess, an exhilarating business, this being Foreign Minister of a Republic which no one will recognize. Nor is the Council Cham- ber, with its repressing, narrowing influences, the eyrie for an eagle who soars to the sun, and wings his way into the empyrean, like Don Emilio Cas- telar, His genius lacks the stimulating air of “the “Oppostion.” Then, we are afraid, he has had so many dreams of an iaeal people suddenly spring- ing Into political life as an ideal Republic, with all its virtues, and wealth, and valor, that now, im presence of “the people’ as he finds them— “drreconcilables,” descamisados and other forms unlovely and uninviting; ‘the people” for whom he has given the bright years of a young and glorious life not free from demagogues and conspirators, but actually swarming into the Prado to demonstrate and manifest and embarrass the Republic because ig, will not show in the second month of its existence the power and resources of America in the ninety- seventh year of uninterrupted prosperity—his heart grows heavy and he craves the cloisters of his unie versity and his !ectures on literature and history. Nor is the rude, harsh work of government attractive to an exquisite poetical and rhetorical mind, But, with all this, I think few things are more improbable than the resignation of Castelar. To leave the Cabinet, except for motives appealing to his patriotism and self-respect, would be an act of cowardice, resulting in political suicide. He is largely responsible for the Republic. He is its com spicuous member—the one Minister with @ world. wide fame. His influence with his party is almost absolute. He has made a pleasant impression upon the silent, sullen European Powers., And the crisia may come at any time when his gifts will prove @ blessing to Spain. NO CABINET RESIGNATIONS PROBABLE, Furthermore—and this, I think, settles all ru- mors of Cabinet dissension—it is known that the members of the government have resolved to ad- journ all measures on which individual membera may have differences of opinion to the considera- tion of the Cortes, and to enforce those upon which allcan agree. Of these there are enough to tax the zeal ofany government. The Cabinet will held together until the Cortes meets, govern the coun try if it can, and certainly not divide. And if you ask why, this being the case, and so logical and just a resolution adopted, you should have daily telegraphic despatches about Carlist tronbles—remember that this capital is a vast political club, and that political speculations and the invention of political rumors have become, like beggary, gambling and banditism, a recog- nized and flourishing industry. Remember, alsa, that the Spaniards are a credulous people, and the history of the two last gencrations is a record of ministerial intrigues; that a Minister has lost his portfolio because he was awkward in a quadrilles that whispered words in a Queen’s bedchamber cost a Duke his honors and emoluments and sent him to exile; that nothing has been more frequent than a crisis and a conspiracy. When you live in London you carry an umbrella, because you never know when it will not rain; and this is why our English cousins will insist upon carrying their umbrellas in California, where it does not rain for six months, So our Spanish mind will carry ite umbrella, because it has done se for forty years; yet, if we hopefully read the signs, and take coun- sel from our hopes and wishes and the courage of the men in power, our pelitical skies will continue to be as bright as those that bend over California until the meeting of the Cortes in June, “AROUSING INDIGNATION.” Figueras Declares the Situae tion ‘‘Satisfactory.” THE INTERNATIONAL MADRID What the “Federal Republic” Means—Gath- ering of the Olans in Navarre—The City of Logrono Threatened— How Churches Are Pro- tected in Barcelona. , BARCELONA, April 5, 1873. The telegraphic news from Madrid this morning represents Mr. Figueras to have declared to the permanent committee of the Assembly that “the state of the country is better than people suppose,” adding, ‘the situation is satisfactory.” He dented the existence of any crisis, and said the govern- ment would continue as it is at present till the Constituent Cortes could assemble. Somebody must have been telling Figueras about Mat Win- ton. Mat lived not quite a thousand miles from Chicago. He had a strong predilection for whiskey, and notwithstanding the many difficulties of # very troubled existence was the most cheerful an@ hopefal of men. His wife was totally blind, his two daughters down with the small- pox, and his son in jail for blowing the top of @ man’s head off, While things were im this condition a kind neighbor found Mat one morning sunning himself at the corner grocery and remonstrated with tim, “Oh,” said Mat, with a knowing wink, “I sce you don’t know the whot# story. The gals bein’ down so bad is most prow dential; the neighbors is in an’ out lendin’ 2 nana, and things 1s just aswimmin’, The old womans quict as a lamb, and Bub ain’t thar to pester no- body. Not but what he'll soon be quit of his dim- culty, and then the gals will be all right and able to stan’ him. Come inside and have sometnin’.” Mat found the most refreshing satisfaction in the worst possible circumstances. So does Mr. Figueras. There is this difference, however—Mat was sincere, while Figueras talks to have his goed account of things telegraphed abroad, Among the telegrams received yesterday from the capital was this one:—“‘Agents of the Interna- tional continue to arrive.” Mr. Figueras possibly thinks it “providential.”” He may also be pleased With what occurred at the Intermanonal mecting