The National Register.
London, England, 1809-12-24 00:00:00

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 'lBO9. •

No. 104

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

PITINBER ONE HUNDRED ♦ND TWO.

SPAIN.

" That Spain should be free, was, and is, the universal wish
of the Nation ; or that it may. become an universal 49serf,
" one vast sepulchrepwhere the accumulated carcasses of French
`• and Spaniards shall exhibit to future ages our glory and their
" ignominy."--SUPREME JUNTA. Address to the Spanish
Nation.

High-minded, unfortunate people ! such is the predica-
ment to which you are reduced ! such the alternative which
the ambition of an iron-hearted ruffian suffers you to
cause ! Humanity shudders, justice recoils, and religion
shrinks into doubt, at the idea of one man having the
power to torture, to degrade, to exterminate eleven mil-
lions of his fellow creatures ! But such is the picture,
which the situation of Spain presents. To us distance
softens-the tints; and we are not near enough to be affect-
ed strongly by the images of distress with which it abounds.
Our own little cares, occupations, and pursuits, engross so
much of our attention, that we have no sensibility left to
weep over the misery of strangers. • Our sympathy,' t will
be said, cannot alleviate the despair of an unfortunate fa-
mily in Saragossa or Madrid, recal to life their murdered
father and brothers, restore their plundered property, bring
back peace to the tortured bosom of an insulted female or
a widowed mother. What use can it be to them, should
we enter, in imagination, iuto this distracted circle? Behold
them eat their scanty cheerless meal, with the big tear rolling
down their cheek ; the seats once occupied by a father and a
brother, now filled by a French soldier; whilst this ferocious
intruder is a living memento of their own and country's
disasters. Such is the convenient philosophy of the pre-
sent day : it certainly can be of no use to the disconsola'e
groupe we hale just described. But it is unbecoming and
inhuman to join in the aspersions of their oppressor, to
re-echo his invectives, and represent the victims of his in-
justice as unworthy of esteem, and consequently of com-
miseration and support. This conduct has been of late
pursued with a degree of success which makes us tremble
for the character and feelings of our countrymen. These
even who affect to advocate the cause of the Spaniardstind
others, who really wish it well, exclaim on the slightest
reverse 64 that their cause is !int." It has been lost for
these eighteen months in the opinion of the ignorant, the
selfish, and the systematic ; and neither the sublime exer-
tions of the people of Saragossa, nor the equally memo-
rable defence of Gerona, nor the continued resistance dis-
played in every province, which no public reverse, private
losses, or increasing danger can diminish, could induce $Fe
supporters of this opinion, even for a moment, to relax
from its severity. They Once condemned the Spaniards;
lot. 11.—N•. CIV.

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t....ti.t•,.-

PRICE 94.

and, whether the sentence was just or unjust, for consist-
_
eney.sake they are determined ti,? abide by it.

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We have received a greA number of letters, containing
disapprobation of the warmth we hive expressed in favour
of the patriots. Some are couched in the linguege of
advice ; others evince a great deal of impertint.ere ; mauy
more, those common places, which ara4.disgustiiigly re-
tailed in the independent publications of the day, abont
Spanish superstition, abuses, and want of discipline. In
fine, after some prefatory compliments, by way of sugar
strewed over the pill, they impute to downright folly and
obstinacy the hopes and the wishes we empress in favour of
that injured people. We certainly may be wrong. We
arrogate no infallibility ; and entertain very considerable
apprehensions that our sentiments will have litti., weight
in repelling the enemy, or impelling the allie3 1 f the Spa-
niards. But the material question is, whether praise or
censure should be conferred 'upon endeavours wbich have •
no other object than to excite the sympathy•and ro-opera-
on of a free people, in favour of another people strug-
gling to be free. We night defend ouv conduct upon a
variety of very urgent grounds; upon.the advantages our
own country would reap in the event of Span'sh sue cess.
and upon the accumulation of dangers •to %%die!) she nil'
be exposed in case of failure. In the warmth alai vanity
of discussion, these grounds, as if they had no reference to
the question, are left out of sight, and.its merits are treat-
ed.with as much indifference as if we Isere totally unin-
terested in its solution. Let us not deceive ourselves,' we
are vitally implicated in the result ; and if no appeal is
to be made to British generosity, perhaps one to British
interests may have more success.
A curious doctrine, of which former politicians knew •
nothing, (but what were EURLEIGH and CHATHAM and. the
Ministers of QUEEN ANN to the enlightened Statesmen of
our age ?) has obtained considerable currency within the
last two, or three years.—That Greai Britain has nothing
to do with the disp..lies of the Continent. Verily this is
very humane; and if it could be reduced to practice, might
spare this country a great deal of blood and treasure. 'But *l4
these gentlemen think only of the beauty of their system,
without minding how far it is applicable to our situatior. ;i
They lay down. a-magnificent plan of building ; but have
neither money to defray the expences a site to build upon,
nor an architect to execute it. If we consult our -own in- .
terest and convenience, exclusively, the nations of the
Continent will, in return, consult theirs; and where there
is no reciprocal advantage, there will be ao interchasige of
benefits. If egotism is to be the ground work of our Cu. . •
ture policy ; are we so miserably opinionated as to inaginso
that other will care for us, if we evince no interest for
them ? if we shut ourielves up in our si:ell, that they
will not imitate our example, and make the most of their
own ? If We laj dOwn this rule of conduct, it is necessary
to adopt, at the same time, another. We must instantly.
abatiduti QUI lOperalLOW colonies and manufactures, and
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re-echo his invectives, and represent the victims of his in• these gentlemen think only of the beauty of their system,
justice as unworthy of esteem, and consequently of corn- without minding how far it is applicable to our situatior.
miseration and support. This conduct has been of late They lay down a magnificent plan of building; but have
pursued with a degree of success which makes us tremble neither money to defray the expences ; a site to build upon,
for the character and feelings of our countrymen. These nor an architect to execute it. If we consult onr -own in- -
even who affect to advocate the cause of the Spaniardsoind terest and convenience, exclusively, the nations of the
others, who really wish it well, exclaim on the slightest Continent will, in return, consult theirs; and where there
reverse 64 that their cause is lost." It has been lost for is no reciprocal advantage, there will be ,ro interchauge of
these eighteen months in the opinion of the ignorant, the benefits. If egotism is to be the ground work of our fu-
selfish, and the systematic ; and neither the sublime exer- turf policy ; are we so miserably opinionated as toinagise
lions of the people of Saragossa, nor the equally memo- that other will care fur us, if we evince no interest for .
rable defence of Gerona, nor the continued resistance die- them ? if we shut ourselves up in our, silell, that they I
played in every province, which no public reverse, private will not imitate our example, and make the most of their i
losses, or increasing danger can diminish, could induce $Fe own ? If gietaj frown this rule of conduct, it is necessary
supporters of this opinion, even for a moment, to relax to adopt, at die meet time, another. We must instantly.
from its severity. They Once condemned the Spaniards; abandon QUE pareillam colonies and manufactures, and ;
lot. IL—No. CIV • A , • -
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