The Spanish elections, the first under universal suffrage, have ended
in a victory for the Conservatives, now in power, who have seated 322 Deputies out of a total of 427. This is a majority of nearly three to one, and would be a guarantee of strong government but for the distribution of the voters. It would seem that, excepting Madrid, the great cities are all Republican, though in some of them the struggle between the Liberals and the Socialists was so keen that Conservatives were returned. As the peasantry cannot combine, and have grievances of their own connected with tenure, the discontent of the cities is formidable, and the Government must still rely for order mainly upon the Army. The Army, however, has of late years been much better disciplined, and there has been no military revolt of importance since the accession of Alfonso XII., who won the soldiers by his care for their comfort when on duty.
