Spain’s Restoration: Politics & Society (1876)
The Political System of the Spanish Restoration
The Restoration signified a return to conservatism and consolidated the liberal revolutionary cycle. This was achieved through the approval of a set of laws proposed for the Restoration during the *Sexenio*. The pacification of various sectors of society and its leaders was key. A broad framework for policy was established, an agreement was reached with the Church, and the army was subordinated to civil power. The theoretical framework, devised by Cánovas, was the Constitution of 1876. However, these successes were marred by the distortion of the electoral process.
The Ideology of Cánovas
Cánovas was a pragmatic politician with little faith in the success of abstract ideas. He believed that certain political principles, such as the homeland, the monarchy, liberty, property, and the joint rule of the King with the Courts, were unquestionable. Sectors that did not accept these principles could not be accommodated within the Restoration system. However, other state issues could be subject to political debate.
The Constitution of 1876
Despite the Conservatives having an absolute majority in Parliament, the Constitution often accommodated proposals from the opposition. The main ideological themes on which the two parties (Conservatives and Liberals) had consistently disagreed were subject to negotiation, resulting in flexible wording. These differences focused on the concept of sovereignty, the electoral system, and the denominational nature of the State. These were resolved by drafting sections that schematically fit both ideologies. Regarding religion, a solution of mutual tolerance was reached: the rule stated confessionality and obliged the state to maintain Catholic worship and its ministers. On the other hand, the Liberals secured freedom of conscience.
Political Practice: Legislation and Caciquismo
The Restoration represented a return to the moderate wing of liberal society, but with new political forms. It sought to avoid the confrontations that had led to the revolution and endangered the Bourbon dynasty and the monarchy itself.
This required reconciling all monarchists, ensuring the subjugation of the army to civil authorities, getting closer to the Church, and restoring the confidence of the bourgeoisie, shaken by continuous political lurches, wars, riots, and revolutions. Cánovas’s efforts went in this direction, reflected in legislation aimed at enhancing stability and blatantly monitoring electoral outcomes.
With the Constitution of 1876, each government could legislate according to its ideas, but with respect for the work previously done by its adversary. Conservative governments approved the electoral law of 1878 (based on a census), laws on printing and the press, and regulations for public meetings. Liberal governments legislated in a more progressive manner, with laws on freedom of assembly and expression (1881), the Press Act (1883), the Association Act (1887), the introduction of trial by jury (1888), the Civil Code (1889), and the electoral law of universal male suffrage (1890). Neither of the two types of voting allowed for the participation of women, and census suffrage only granted the right to vote to 5% of the population.
During the Restoration period, elections were never transparent. When a president of the government was obliged to resign, the King commissioned the formation of a new government to the opposition leader, who dissolved the Cortes and called for elections, which he always won. This was achieved through organizations dependent on the Ministry of the Interior.
Spain was separated from real parliamentary practice, and the system was discredited by the distortion of the electoral process and *caciquismo*. *Caciquismo* was the instrument that allowed the political system to shift power, ensuring the continuity of the Restoration without violence. The organization of the *turnantes* (rotating) parties was extended and activated during election time.