For this reason copy and translation of a circular on the subject in to day’s
“Gaceta” are herewith transmitted.
It is understood that, in aid of these instructions of the minister of
gobernacion, the minister of war has issued instructions to the generals in
the field and to those in command of military districts to effect the
expulsion or deportation of the families of all active Carlists, the
destruction of all crops susceptible of being utilized by the enemy, and the
sequestration of the property of all persons who directly or indirectly
favor the rebels, whether by seditious propagandism or with material
supplies, the proceeds to be applied preferentially to the indemnification
of loyal persons who may have been prejudiced in person or property by acts
of the Carlists.
These measures are warmly applauded by most of the journals of Madrid, which,
indeed, tor some time past have been complaining of the gentleness and
complaisance of the government in this respect, and exhorting to imitation
of the greater energy of action displayed by our , Government in like
circumstances.
Announcement is made to-day of the actual application of these meassures of
rigor to the property and families of the Duque de la Union de Cuba, the
Conde de Bornos, and other persons of distinction in Madrid.
[Inclosnre in No.
435.—Translation.]
Circular in reference to the execution of the decree
of June 29 against the Carlists, dated
July 1, 1875.
[From the Gaceta de Madrid,” July 2,
1875.]
Circular.
The punctual execution of the decree published in the “Gaceta” of the
29th of June last demands as much activity as energy on the part of the
authorities at the head of the respective provinces. The government is
resolved that its enactments shall not be a dead letter nor a mere
menace of severities continually postponed. These measures, which the
conduct of the rebels imposes as necessary, must be applied with
inflexible rigor, and it is indispensable that, setting aside all manner
of personal considerations, you become imbued with the determination of
the government, and, without vacillations or condescensions, give it
your aid by the means you may have within your reach to realize that
determination. The ends of self-defense, which justify legislative
embargoes, ought to be a practical truth, because if they are not to
produce positive benefits, whether in the indemnification of loyal
citizens or in the chastisement and breaking up of the enemy, it would
be better to forego them, and not add loss of prestige on the part of
the authorities to the humiliation of impassively looking on and
beholding proceedings by means of which the right of property is
abolished for the liberals throughout the kingdom and the complete
realization of its value is attempted in the territory occupied by the
rebellion.
The government, far from this, if it with pain finds itself obliged to
accept such exceptional measures, understands that the unavoidable
consequence thereof is to make its effects speedily felt, and in all
parts the existing decrees, not being mere theoretical declarations but
positive enactments, which must be fulfilled with the most persistent
rigor to all their extremes.
It will not be hidden from your good judgment that embargoes of property
are not solely chastisements, repressions of individual offenses; they
are, before all and above all, a war measure; and that even as their
justification and foundation can alone be found in the cruel necessities
of warfare, so also they should reach, if they are to be
[Page 1132]
efficacious, all those who may he
considered as enemies in the civil war which is destroying us, even
though the place wherein they may chance to be, the circumstances which
surround them, or other causes foreign to their desires, may prevent
them from taking up arms or displaying the Carlist standard with their
own hands.
There is now no truce for the hopes that, out of respect for the
principles of humanity in the relations of the combat, the sectaries of
absolutism will moderate the traditional ferocity of their proclamations
and their conduct; and it is impossible for the government to renounce
its superiority and fail to search out the enemies of the nation
wheresoever they may be found, while the rebels are legislating for all
its territory, and are executing their exactions upon the liberals to
the utmost limits to which their roving bands attain.
So, then, although in the province administered by you, the Carlist party
may not be actually in arms and may not appear to be perilous in this
conception, it is needful that you apply to its individuals the
provisions of the decree in question, so that as many as may result as
being in any way identified with the rebels, whether by maintaining
correspondence with them, or by receiving and propagating journals, or
performing analogous acts which constitute party and political ties,
shall be considered as declared enemies, and for all effects of the
embargoes shall be treated as such.
The government holds a conviction that as many as may be found in this
case are in nowise grateful for the benignity or tenderness with which
they have hitherto been treated, since the effects of their hostility
are alone limited by their-impotence; and it judges that it may better
to its own profit the conditions of the struggle by depriving those
persons of their means of action, and no longer tolerating their
hostile, thankless, and underhanded course.
Acting on these principles, the government has accepted and developed a
system of legislative embargoes, and you must perforce put it into
practice in your province with inflexibility and at the same time with
impartiality, without affording pretext for the suspicion, even, that so
melancholy a necessity of war be mixed in any case with any other ends,
taking especial care that in no instance shall it be made the instrument
of private vengeance or local jealousies, and punishing with extreme
severity whatever abuses may chance to be committed in this matter,
which unfortunately affords such scope for abuses.
To this end you are to compare and seek your information from different
sources, and to incite the zeal of all the authorities and dependents of
your administration, so that one and all may second you m your course of
investigation into the resources of the enemy, relying upon the firmest
support of the government in whatever steps you propose or adopt,
founded in equity and in the real necessities of this service, whatever
may be the nature of the difficulties which offer themselves in its
realization.
The administration of embargoed property, now confided to functionaries
dependent upon this ministry on account of the difficulties presented in
giving similar functions to the officers of the treasury, demands also
your especial attention, since, as the representative of the government
in the province under your command, the duty is incumbent upon you of
causing to be obeyed the instructions which are given you in this
behalf, and to watch that all legitimate exigencies of public opinion be
satisfied. In a word, these measures, by their own nature, are
essentially political; and, obeying rather the procedure of
circumstances than absolute principles, you should give to their
execution the energy and activity which I reiteratedly recommend to you,
for only thus will you respond to the design of the government, which is
no other save that of abbreviating the duration of the struggle, and
causing it to bear less heavily on those who adhere to the cause of
order and of liberty.
By royal order I say this to you for your information and the consequent
effects. May God guard you many years.
Madrid, July 1,
1875.
ROMERO Y ROBLEDO.
To the governor of the province of —.
