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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, September 24, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 15

The Insurrection in Spain.

Some years ago it was commonly reported that Louis Napoleon had proposed the recognition of Spain as one of the Great Powers of Europe, and her admission to the Conferences which undertake the peaceable solution of great international complications. Spain, at that time, had an area by far exceeding that of Prussia; her population was only about two millions less than that of Prussia, but exceeded it if all her colonies were counted in. There is no reason why, under an able administration, Spain should not have exceeded Prussia, and have asserted, without any formal recognition, her right to be respected as one of the most powerful nations of the Old World. But Spain has been declining for centuries from want of good administration. Her natural resources have not been made use of, and the people have grown in ignorance and indolence. Thus the Government has come to be despised abroad as well as at home, and the idea of admitting Spain among the leading nations of Europe—if the proposition has ever been really made—could only be laughed at.

There have been a few lucid intervals in the general gloom of modern Spanish history. Such an interval was the brilliant administration of Espartero from 1837 to 1856. Since then Spain has been alternately ruled by Narvaez and O’Donnell, who, if not equally despotic, were at least equally opposed to a truly constitutional form of government and to all thorough-going reforms. Spain, as every other country of Europe, has its Progressive party, which demands freedom of the press, freedom of religion, extension of suffrage, and in general the carrying through in legislation of the popular will. This party has worked with great energy, and not without success. As long as it was allowed to publish liberal papers, the party was strongly represented in the daily press. They were a power in all the large cities, and in particular in those of the Eastern provinces, Barcelona, Saragossa, Valencia, Tarragona, and others. Their efforts for the regeneration of their country are worthy of the highest praise, and though they were not successful, inspired a large portion of the people with confidence in a better future. If the Government had given them a fair chance at the general elections, they would have fought with peaceable weapons; but as despotism deprived them of all possibility to show their strength at the polls, nothing remained for them but to show it in insurrection. And in this, as the recent history of Spain shows, they have not been remiss.

Twice during the year 1866 an attempt was made to rid the country of its despotic Government. Both attempts

failed; but they showed that discontent with the Government prevailed throughout the kingdom. In December of that year a stirring proclamation to the Spanish people was issued by the revolutionary Junta of Madrid, and widely circulated in all the Provinces. Ever since, the utmost efforts have been made in the preparation of the insurrection which broke out about a month ago. We gave, a few days ago, a full statement of all the intelligence that has thus far been received. As usual, it largely consists of rumors and contrary reports; but the declaration of siege throughout Spain, and the proclamations of the generals and the governors of provinces, leave no doubt that this time it was not a military revolution exclusively, but that in many places the people took an active part in it. The insurrection has now been in progress for more than three weeks, and according to the latest Cable dispatches, it was meeting with success in the Eastern provinces, and even held control of the city of Saragossa, the capital of Aragon. We shall probably have to wait only a few more days to learn the final result. The Government has concentrated all its military power to crush the movement; if it fails in this, the insurrection will probably march to an easy victory.

The head of this, as of former insurrections, is Gen. Prim, the acknowledged leader of the Progressive party of Spain. Prim is on intimate terms with Garibaldi, and it is stated that a number of Garibaldian volunteers are already fighting in the ranks of the insurgents. It is certain that in case of success, the insurgents will not be satisfied with a change of Ministry, but will expel the Bourbon dynasty from Spain, and call a National Convention to decide the future government of the country. A year ago the Liberals were mostly in favor of a union of Spain with Portugal; but since then the Portuguese Chambers, as well as the king, have declared against this plan, which, therefore, is said to have been abandoned. Probably the leaders of the Liberals are at present not fully agreed on this point, and will leave its decision to the majority of a National Convention.—N. Y. Tribune.