The progress of the insurrection at Barcelona, now drawing to
a close, corroborates the opinion that it was rather a symptom of the unsettled state of Spain than the result of any definite movement. Catalonia is the traditional depository of Spanish turbulence ; it is also subject to the disorderly incidents of a manufacturing-town ; and thus it forms a centre of attraction for all classes of political schemers and intriguers. The slight and hastily-withdrawn concur- rence of a few other towns in the revolutionary move, shows how little it was premeditated or organized ; and the very revolutionists, who conquered in their last struggle with the troops, begin to waver and run away under the threat of a bombardment from the over- looking fort of Monjuicb, and the terror of ESPARTERe8 approach with reinforcements and all the prestige of his ascendant star. It looks as if the disorder would subside and die away before his arrival. It is said that he means to be severe ; and, according to prevalent notions, severity would seldom have been better justified : the in- solent display of sympathy with revolt among the Catalan Deputies in the Cortes indicates the want of "an example" ; and truly no movement was ever more gratuitous and criminally ill-timed. One excuse for it is, that it was a struggle for liberty violated in the person of a newspaper-editor, and other Republicans who had been visited with the rigours of the law : but, recovered as Spain has just been from a Royalist insurrection, it was incumbent on the Liberals of all parties to preserve tranquillity for a time, even at some sacrifice. If the Republicans claim to take their turn with CARLOS and CHRISTINA in breeding revolts, Spain is likely to rue the zeal of her Patriots.
Previous page
