OUR ENGLISH LETTER

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 1003, 8 December 1868, Page 3

OUR ENGLISH LETTER

! London, October 1, 1858. j Undoubtedly the greatest' event that has occurred since the last mail is tlie breaking out of a decided rebellion, and in all probability revolution, in Spain. So long has it been looked ou as a certainty, and so often has it been delayed by a series of " unforeseen circumstances," that, now it becomes really a fact, it is deprived of a great deal that would otherwise have composed its legitimate interest. This revolution in Spain is the real plot against which Gonzalez Bravo tried to provide by transporting as many generals as he could lay his hands upon to the Canary Isles,, and thought he had entirely suppressed by exiling the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier. On the 18th September the whole of the fleet stationed at Cadiz declared against Queen Isabella's Government. Prom that time forth the insurrection has gained ground, and there seems little doubt that the year of grace 1868 will henceforward be known as that of the Spanish Revolution number — (the blank to be filled in by any person of sufficiently imaginative powers.) There can be little doubt that, whatever the revolution may result in, the people are at last fairly tired of the grinding exactions of the Government, and the tyranny of its priesthood, as also that it is only owing to the apathy of the general population the effort has been delayed so long. Spain, as I have often said in my letters, has too long been the reproach of Europe, and that its " easy moral" court and corrupt style of government must eventually bring its own destruction. It may so happen even now that Queen Isabella will once more be at Madrid ; but, if so, she must be sure that only a total change of Government will ensure even a temporary occupation of the throne of Spain. The present dynasty has produced a set of courtiers, marshals, generals, and " what nots," who each in his turn has become dictator of Spain. A republic in Spain must simply mean a continual rise and fall of military " successfuls," andtowardthis Spain seems now drifting, mayhap to pass through the stages that have brought France to her present position. Happy for her if this is the only result, and that her permanent governor is not the representative of some foreign power. The latest news is that, the Queen's generals being defeated, her Majesty has decided that flight is preferable to death, and hence has fled to Prance, where she now is an exile. A Provisional Government now reigns in Madrid, and it remains to be seen what sort of Government those in possession of this temporary authority propose to erect. But an event far more serious and appalling than a Spanish revolution is reported from Peru, of which doubtless you will already have received full details. At first, when the telegrams arrived in England, telling how 20,000 persons had lost their lives by an earthquake in Peru and Ecuador, we were inclined to place it amongst lies which were pi'omulgated with regard to the total submersion of Tortola which were received last year from America; but information arrived, first from one part and then another, till we learnt that the catastrophe which had taken place was understated, and that city after city had been swallowed up by the terrible convulsions of Nature. A fund for the relief of the suffering which this event has caused is being raised in London and elsewhere, and there is little doubt a large sum will be raised for the relief of the poor survivors. Returning once more to our own European affairs, it is difficult to foresee what course Napoleon will pursue with regard to Spanish matters. With the terrible experience of his uncle in the Peninsula, it is not likely that he will quickly interfere in Queen Isabella's affairs, but to have a Republic at his very doors, under the protection of the Pope, is an idea not to be borne. Nevertheless, the Pyrenees are a good barrier against the tide of revolution, and Spain has a great distance to travel before it can present even such free institutions as those of France. With regard to the rest of Europe, Louis Napoleon declares that peace is the one desire of his heart. Does he mean the peace after war or before it. The King of Prussia, who can only be looked upon as the French Emperor's rival duellist, also declares that " he don't want to fight ;" but every one sees that he quite considers himself ready for war if it comes. At home little attention is paid to anything that does not bear upon or have reference to the forthcoming general election. At present the fight is being waged in the registration courts, where both Liberals and Conservatives are doing their utmost to increase the number of their rank and file by weakening that of their opponents. The only thing that has been of any interest to the outside public is the number of debates that have taken place with regard to the claims of women. The revising barristers have, byalargemajority, decided that it was not intended by the Reform Act to extend the franchiso to females ; but the pertinacity which has always distinguished the daughters of Eve has received a fresh fillip by Miss Becker's learned addresses upon the rights of woman. This irrepressible lady made her appearance before one of the revising bai'risters, and was neatly " shut up." It happened thus : the revising barrister, in going down his lists, .came to one Mary Smith, or some such name, and immediately proceeded to strike her out, upon which Miss Becker urged that the fact of any one possessing the name of Mary was not sufficient proof of her being a woman, as many men abroad received such baptismal names. To this the barrister replied that Miss Becker's argument only went to prove the party was a man, and upon that ground was entitled to vote. He had always understood Miss Becker to be the advocate of woman suffrage ; now it appeared she " went in " for the cause of her oppressor man. But if women have been a trouble, lodgers have proved a most intolerable grievance to the revising barristers, who have constantly to go into wise questions of weekly rental, &c, and who find it at times a difficult matter to say whether the claimant shall become one of the " free and independent." All the registrations will have to bo finished by the Bth instant, and when this is done we shall expect the writs to issue within 30 day — that is, if Mr. Disraeli keeps to his avowed intention of having a winter session. The way, however, in which the two sides are fighting over the register seems likely to frustrate this object. A new feature has sprung up in this election — that of. certificate giving and getting. Mr. Gladstono has certified to the " good character " of three or four of the candidates that have appealed to the voters. Mr. Mill, of Westminster, has determined not to pay one penny towards his expenses for re-election, and hence his supporters have been called upon for a fund. But though Mr. Mill objects to pay his own expenses, he does not object to subscribe to those of other people. Hence Messrs. Bradlaugh, Beales, Odgers, and Co., all of whom have put up for various places, upon the Radical platform, have received cheques from him — a certificate of a more " paying" character even than Mr. Gladstone's. As far as the elections themselves are concerned, they simply resolve themselves

into the question of " battle cries " and money. The battle cry of the Liberals has already been given very clearly — it is simply " Gladstone for ever." For the Conservatives there is no battle cry yet issued, but whatever it may be there is little doubt the real fight will turn upon each candidate's view of the all-absorbing Irish Church question. Madame Hachel has taken up five days' time more at the Old Bailey, and the second jury, after twenty minutes quiet thought, brought her in guilty, and the judge sentenced her to five years' penal servitude.