(The Weekly Times—July 27, 1873)
Nothing can be more discouraging to every true Spaniard than the present state of the country, which may now be said to be in a state of collapse. In reality no Government exists, or what there is may be designated, not as a Republican or Monarchical but as an anarchical form of Government. The political fabric in Spain has fairly tumbled to pieces.
When King Amadeo was driven by intrigues and affronts to turn his back upon the people who had deliberately called him to the throne, he left a vacancy into which none but the weakest of all parties had the courage to rush. The intriguing Monarchists hesitated, the Radical hung back, and the Republicans then seized the opportunity. First, a Republic was proclaimed, though there were probably not 100,000 Republicans in the whole of Spain. Then the Republic was declared to be Federal, but even that did not satisfy the little knot of fanatics, who wished it to be anarchical or Communistic.
At last the government has been compelled to turn upon its assailants, and the Majority, in the most democratic National Assembly ever seen in Europe since the days of Robespierre, now declares the necessity of putting down “demagogues.” We hope they may succeed at the attempt, but the anarchy in the provinces, as every mornings intelligence shows, is desperate, and even the Carlists are at last making head. It must be taken as evidence of hopefulness on the part of the Legitimists, that Don Carlos himself has entered Spain, and taken in person the command of his little army. Against any established government he could not hope for success. His military strength is insignificant. His followers are but a few thousand in number, and are ill-provided with arms. In a pitched battle with regular troops they would be scattered like Ashantees ; but their want of military discipline is compensated by the force of their convictions, and if they ventured to leave their old stronghold in the North, it is doubtful whether the Government could dispose of a force sufficient to repulse them. The first impulse of the Revolutionists after their sudden accession to power was to break up the army, and they are now paying the penalty of their policy. There is no army in Spain, though there are vast numbers of armed men ; and if there were an army, it is by no means certain that it would support the present government. A military dictator, should such a personage appear, would not be a Federal Republican. The Carlists on their side have cohesion, courage, responsible leaders, and probably a few good officers. Ministers have only the remnants of an army lately mutinous, and a swarm of volunteers without training or discipline, on whom no kind of reliance can be placed.
