NARVAEZ AND ISABELLA.

Otago Witness, Issue 801, 6 April 1867, Page 5

NARVAEZ AND ISABELLA.

Tyrants are generally considered to have and to give an excuse for their acts of despotism and cruelty. The Macedonian Kings pretended that they had to defend Greece against the power of Persia. Napoleon the First had to defend France against European coalition. We are totally at a loss to discover what excuse Queen Isabella of Spain and her minister Narvaez can give for the atrocities which they commit. Some 150 of the most respected members of Cortes resolved the other day to go in person to the Palace, and remonstrate with the Queen against the arbitrary acts of her Government. The Government has punished this open and constitutional act by arresting the deputies and ordering them for transportation! Narvaez has in fact imitated the famous measure of the French Directory, when it Fructidorized all its Parliamentary opponents. Barris caused the whole band of opposition to be seized, and sent to Cayenne. The victims were Moderates, and the crime of being so was distorted into the accusatien of their being Royalists. But Narvaez could n,Qt set up even this lame accusation against s ich men as Rio Rosas. The act of that General is, in fact, a coup d'etat against constitutional government. To be constitutional is held as treason. Narvaez might just as well have closed the Hall of the Cortes, and put the key into hit pocket.

The consequences of such an act must be serious, even if not immediate. It must raise in every mind, even of the most moderate, a regret that they did not second Prim when he raised the standard of revolt. The Queen flatters herself, however, that she has no competitor. The King of Portugal was her bugbear. But this recent visit to Lisbon and reception there has satisfied herself, and she hopes the world, that no usurpation or substitution can come from them But. things are now at such a pitch that even the Liberals would prefer one of the legitimists princes to Isabella. There is also the Duke of Montpensier, who haa conducted himself with most exemplary prudence rind abstinence. Shut up in the Alcazir of Seville, exiled from Madrid and from the Court, the Duke has sbown himself a loyal relation. But circumstances are now urgent for his being invested with power, were it but as regent and guardian of the young Prince of the Asturiqs. As such, the French Emperor himselt could not object to his elevation.

The Euglish public have, however, become not only incredulous of revolutions, but of tha necessity of them. Spain is wretchedly administered. So is Turkey. Yet why should the wretched Governments not be allowed to last ? We beg to answer, this is impossible. These wretched Governments subsist by the army they keep up, and which they use as an instrument of terror.

By-and-bye the Spanish army will be obliged to support itself by pillage or by contributions. And if so, it becomes a mere horde of brigands, not likely to obey either Queen or Marshal. Narvaez wa3 obliged the other day to dismiss almost all the non-comraissioned. officers. _ Those he has promoted in their places will turn out precisely the same. They are of the people, and the people is profoundly disaffected to the Queen and the Government. So that, instead of transporting 150 members of the Cortes, the military Dictator would have to transport the intelligent thousands of his own army. A Grand Turk shot a number of sergeants. When the day came for employing the military against the people, the existing sergeants and non-com-missioned officers said, No, aad the dynasty fell.