23 AUGUST 1873, Page 2

A very curious incident is reported from Alcoy. It will

be remembered that the Socialists got the upper hand in this little town, and committed atrocities which, even though exaggerated, must have been bad enough. These atrocities were hardly punished, the " leaders escaping," doubtless under some arrange- ment, and no particular vengeance was inflicted. Recently,

however, two bands of Intransigentes, defeated by the troops, madwfor. Alcoy, hoping for succour or protection there. The towniesiaunguarded, but the workmen rose; amain a body asked for WOO; pledging themselves to destroy, the Irreconcilables. Something very like this haa.occurred at Malaga also, and raises the suspicion that the Tireconcilables have not caught the workmen, but only the workmen's labourers, who, oppressed everywhere, are in Southern Europe really sufferers. If this is the case, the Government, once armed, will not have half the trouble it expects, for it will be able, even in the great cities, to trust a class which, slow to move, is when moved stronger than any mob, and will in moving give the bourgeoisie, who in Spain show excessive timidity, the necessary stimulus.