The Sandhurst Manifesto and the Foundations of the Bourbon Restoration

Sandhurst Manifesto: Classification and Authorship

Document Classification

The Sandhurst Manifesto is a historical text and a direct primary source of political and informational content.

Authorship and Audience

The author is Antonio Cánovas del Castillo. Although written for the future King, Alfonso XII, the manifesto was primarily addressed to the Spanish public.

Development and Historical Context

Circumstances of Creation

Cánovas del Castillo had spent six years building a political movement centered around the figure of Prince Alfonso. Following the collapse of the First Spanish Republic (marked by the pronouncement of General Pavía), Cánovas designed a new political system aimed at restoring the Bourbon dynasty.

The statement was completed and sent to England, where Prince Alfonso was studying at the Sandhurst Military Academy. Alfonso signed the document, dating it December 1, 1874.

Core Ideology of the Manifesto

The manifesto proposed the establishment of a constitutional and hereditary monarchy, recognizing Alfonso XII as the legitimate heir to the Spanish Crown. The text states that the Crown is to be recognized "uncut not resolved..."

Key ideological points included:

• Shared Sovereignty: The regime would feature the establishment of the Cortes (Parliament), ensuring shared sovereignty between the King and the legislative body.
• Reconciliation of Order and Freedom: The system aimed to balance stability and liberty, drawing inspiration from established liberal nations like Britain and the United States.
• Role of the Church: It favored a system where the Catholic Church would maintain significant importance, even within a newly established liberal framework.

The Bourbon Restoration System

Cánovas's Political Model

Cánovas became the architect of the political system known as the Bourbon Restoration (1874–1923). This system was founded on several core principles:

• Nation (Country)
• Monarchy and Dynasty
• Shared Sovereignty
• A two-party system (Turnismo), modeled on the English system, based on the Conservative and Liberal parties.

System Validation and Consequences

The stability of this system, which was based on the 1876 Constitution, was tested and validated following the death of Alfonso XII in 1885. The subsequent signing of the Pact of El Pardo (1885) secured the regency of María Cristina and formalized the practice of turnismo (the peaceful rotation of power between the two main parties) to ensure regime stability.

The Restoration era marked the return of a liberal system, although it included certain characteristics:

• Subjugation of civil and military power, often aligning closely with the Church.
• The entrenchment of caciquismo (local political bossism) and widespread electoral fraud.

This system marginalized other political groups, notably Republicans and Carlists, who refused to accept the Bourbon Restoration.