No. 429.
Señor Castelar to Admiral Polo.
Madrid, February 12, 1873.
[Received from Spanish minister March 6, 1873.]
Most Excellent Sir: You have already been made aware by the telegrams transmitted from this ministry that the sovereign assembly of the Spanish nation has proclaimed a republican form of government as the definitive form of the government of the State. This act has not been brought about by revolution; it has not been born of stupor and amazement; no, it has been born of the profound conviction and of the sovereign will of two legislative bodies, which, having recently been chosen by universal suffrage, based upon full authority and exercised in [Page 1053[1853]] perfect peace, became convinced that, under existing circumstances long since foreseen, such was the national sentiment.
While doing full justice to the sentiments of loyalty, to the enlightenment and the constitutional sense of the monarch, it is but fair to say that he could not overcome the innate repugnance of this proud nation to anything that could be construed, whether rightly or not, to impair its independence. This being the case, the king, with lofty and dignified patriotism, decided the conflict by abdicating the throne of Spain, both for himself and his successors.
His purpose being known, and his abdication having been made public, there was but one opinion among all parties, one thought, that of the imperious, irresistible, and supreme necessity of substituting a republican for the monarchical form of government.
The Cortes of the Spanish nation, with high patriotism, with a political perspicacity of which there are few examples, and with a loftiness of views natural to our enlightened race, rose grandly to the demands of the hour, carrying out the public will, and establishing the form of government which belongs to democracies, viz, the republican form. No inward or outward pressure, no threats, no tumults, influenced their deliberations. The people were quiet, the army obedient, all the authorities in the peaceful exercise of their functions, when, by the vote of both houses, convened as a national assembly, we passed, pleasantly and tranquilly, to the new order of things.
The national government, composed of the representatives of the people, was then appointed, as your excellency is aware; and this government, having met immediately after, resolved to use all the means at its command, all its energies, to execute the mandate of the assembly, and to preserve public order at whatever cost.
I hope, therefore, that your excellency, being actuated by your enlightenment and patriotism, will inform the government to which you are accredited that the republican form is that which has been definitively adopted for our government, and that, in order to sustain and establish it, we rely upon that respect for the laws which characterizes the Spanish people, and which has been so admirably demonstrated during the past four years of democratic rule, and on the fidelity of the army, which is resolved to sustain the new form of government.
Try, your excellency, to dispel all prejudices; seek to inculcate the idea that this republic represents the national will and furnishes a guarantee of public order; endeavor to demonstrate its pacific character, both at home and abroad; and, finally, endeavor to show that our country possesses those virtues which are necessary among nations fit to govern themselves. Dispel the erroneous impressions which may prevail in other countries in regard to the attitude of the army; as we are resolved to sustain and improve its organization, so is the Spanish army resolved to maintain our authority, which is legitimate, as born of the will of our people.
Be pleased to read this dispatch to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Washington, and to leave a copy of it in his hands.
God, &c.,