704 



SPAIIT. 



mate progress, wars against all those principles 

 which constitute the vital strength, the soul ? and 

 the manhood of the Spanish nation. Liberty in its 

 unlimited expansion and in all its manifestations, at- 

 tacking Catholic unity, the monarchy, and the legal 

 exercise of power, disturbs family ties, destroys the 

 sanctity of the domestic hearth, and kills virtue and 

 patriotism. If you think that the crown of Spain, 

 worn by a queen whose fortune it has been to con- 

 nect her name with the social and political regenera- 

 tion of the state, be the symbol of those sound prin- 

 ciples, you will, as I hope, remain faithful to your 

 oaths and to your creed ; you will allow to pass away, 

 as a scourge, the revolutionary vortex, in which in- 

 gratitude, felony, and ' ambition, jostle each other. 

 You will live in the assurance that, even in the hour 

 of misfortune, I shall omit nothing to uphold that 

 symbol, apart from which Spain has not a single en- 

 dearing recollection nor a single sustaining hope. 

 The insane pride of a few is for a time upsetting and 

 distracting the whole nation, throws men's souls 

 into a state of confusion, and society into a state of 

 anarchy. There is no room in my heart for hatred 

 even against that small number. I should fear, lest 

 any feeling of petty resentment should weaken the 

 feeling of deep tenderness I entertain toward those 

 loyal men who have risked their lives and shed their 

 blood in defence of the throne and public order, and 

 toward all those Spaniards who witness with grief 

 and terror a triumphant * insurrection a shameful 



Eage in the history of our civilization. In the noble 

 ind whence I now address you, and everywhere, I 

 will deplore, without allowing myself to be over- 

 come, the misfortunes of my beloved Spain, which 

 are my own. Had I not to support me, among many 

 others, the example of the most venerable of sov- 

 ereigns, a model of resignation and courage, also a 

 prey to bitter tribulations, I should derive strength to 

 do so from my confidence in the loyalty of my sub- 

 jects, from the justice of my cause, and, above all, 

 from my trust in the power of Him who holds the 

 fate of empires in His hands. 



A monarchy embodying fifteen centuries of strug- 

 gles, patriotism, victories, and grandeur, cannot be 

 destroyed by fifteen days of perjury and treason. 

 Let us have faith in the future the glory of the 

 Spanish people was ever connected with its kings ; 

 the misfortunes of its kings ever fell heavily on the 

 people. In my firm and patriotic hope that right, 

 honor, and legitimacy will be maintained, your 

 minds and your efforts will ever unite with the 

 energetic decision and maternal affection of your 

 queen, ISABELLA. 



CHATEAU DE PAU, September 30, 1868. 



The Queen remained at Pan a few weeks, 

 and then took up her residence at Paris. 



Immediately after the success of the revolu- 

 tion in Madrid, a Central Junta was elected, 

 which called upon Marshal Serrano to organize 

 a ministry. Marshal Serrano accepted the task, 

 and the ministry was formed on the 8th of 

 October, consisting of the following members : 

 Marshal Serrano, President; General Prim, 

 War ; Admiral Topete, Marine ; Figuerola, 

 Finance; Lorenzana, Foreign Affairs; Ortiz, 

 Justice; Sagasta, Interior; Ayala, Colonies; 

 Kuiz Zorilla, Public Works. It was at once 

 announced that the definite organization of the 

 country, and in particular the future form of 

 government, would be left to the constituent 

 Cortes which were to be elected, as soon as 

 practicable, by universal suffrage. The Central 

 Junta, and the several members of the minis- 

 try, issued a number of decrees for the provi- 

 sional administration of the country until the 



meeting of the Cortes. The Central Junta con- 

 tinued its functions until the 21st of October, 

 when it dissolved. All the local juntas followed 

 this example, and Marshal Serrano, until the 

 close of the year, remained the head of the 

 provisional government. 



On the 20th of October the Provisional Gov- 

 ernment offered a manifesto, explaining the 

 reasons which compelled the Spanish people to 

 throw off the yoke of the Bourbon dynasty. 

 After explaining the grievances of the nation 

 against the late Government, the manifesto 

 says: 



The people must now regain the time which it has 

 lost. The principle of popular sovereignty which is 

 now naturalized in Spain is the principle of national 

 life, and the ideal type of the nation's aspirations. 

 We may, therefore, be permitted to affirm that the 

 national sovereignty, exercised in the first place by 



alienable patrimony of a civilized country. 



The circular also examines at length the 

 question of freedom of public worship, and ex- 

 presses hopes for the free exercise of every 

 religion. It also states the desire of the Gov- 

 ernment to be on good terms with foreign 

 Powers, and to obtain the moral concurrence 

 of foreign Governments, adding : 



But if we should fail in this respect, if the example 

 of America in recognizing the revolution be not fol- 

 lowed, we shall not be discouraged. We can tran- 

 quilly proceed with our task, for our independence is 

 not threatened, and we have no foreign intervention 

 to fear. To legitimize the revolution we have sought 

 the sole criterion now considered infallible namely, 

 an appeal to universal suffrage. The aim which we have 

 in view is to place ourselves on a level with the most 

 advanced nations, and thus cease to form a disso- 

 nance in the great concert of nations. We have a per- 

 fect right to expect from foreign countries respect for 

 the state of things which we have created, and we 

 entertain a justifiable hope that the Governments 

 which march at the head of civilization will not re- 

 fuse to Spain those proofs of amity and fraternity 

 which they accorded to the power that crushed and 

 humiliated us. 



The new electoral law announced by the 

 Provisional Government was as follows: Every 

 Spaniard twenty-five years of age has a right 

 to vote. The only persons disqualified are the 

 following: Convicts not rehabilitated; men 

 under criminal accusations at the moment of the 

 elections; those deprived of their political 

 rights ; individuals against whom a judgment 

 has been given, declaring them incapable of 

 managing their own affairs ; bankrupts ; insol- 

 vent traders or manufacturers ; and individuals 

 prosecuted to recover payment of their taxes. 

 Soldiers and sailors will vote at the places in 

 which they are garrisoned, provided that they 

 have a two months' residence. All electors 

 dwelling in the communes and engaged in trade 

 are eligible to municipal functions ; they may 

 also form part of the provincial councils, pro- 

 vided they do not occupy any office paid by the 

 local government or the state. No Government 

 functionary is qualified in the province, dis- 

 trict, or commune in which he holds his office. 



