The public excitement in Spain roused by Prince Bismarck's seizure
of the Caroline Islands shows no sign of abatement. All classes of the population protest that the islands are Spanish, and must be retained even at the risk of war, while the popular leaders denounce the Monarchy as weak and unpatriotic for not declaring it. Even the Premier, Senor Canovas del Castillo, so far bows to the storm that he declares the King's visit to Germany to have been his Majesty's personal act, in the face of his advisers' representations, thus leaving Alfonso in a rather unconstitutional way face to face with his people. The result, it is more than hinted, may be to com- pel the King either to abdicate or to declare war ; and the Times' Correspondent in Paris, often well informed about Spain, sends a lengthy telegram to London in that sense. As Prince Bismarck, however, wants neither war nor a revolution in Spain, it is probable he will recede ; and, indeed, he has already offered to submit the whole affair to arbitration. The Spaniards object to this course, saying the islands are un- questionably theirs ; but they will probably submit to this method of decision. The result is a decided check for Prinoe Bismarck, who does not care either for the Carolines or any other islands, but who wanted to appear to the German people to be snapping up forgotten territories in all parts of the world. He was probably aware that the Spanish Court would not object, and regarded the Spanish people as " une quantite n‘glig4able."
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