The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-11 00:00:00

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN SPAIN.

The following is the judgment of the tribunal of
Grenada in the case of Teva and Matamoros for
propagating Protestant docrines in Spain :

Are condemned—Jose Alhama Teva, to nine
years' imprisonment, and Manuell Matamoros to
eight years' imprisonment, and both are for ever
prevented from following the profession of teacher,
interdicted from all political offices and rights dur-
ing the term of their sentence, and condemned to
pay a quarter of the expenses each. The books and
papers seized will be retained.
The other prisoners to the number of 11 are ac-
quitted. The Correspondencia says:—
These men were condemned not because they
' were Protestants, seeing that nobody is punished in
Spain for religious opinion, but because they openly,
with tongue and pen, excited a propaganda in
favour of Protestantism, which is forbidden by the
constitution of the State—a constitution which in
this respect is in harmony with the most demo-
cratic institutions which have existed in Spain
since 1812.

The Siecle, commenting on this, says :
That the Protestants of Grenada have been cant
demned demned under law we do not doubt ; but wha.
in
surprises us is, that witch a law should
existence in the 19th century in a civilised country,
and applied with so much rigour; and this for
one is
bour. The Correspondencia says that. nfe
having read the Bible in public, or lent it to a neigh-
But what
pro-
secuted in Spain for his religious belieniy
professed
is a religious belief that cannot be openly ,_
which id pro-
without committing an offence, and . p c-1 •
hibited from being embodied in worship • opain
which she has
likes to boast of the material
military glory,her
made for some time past—of
herrieulturat resources.
industrial prosperity,and he.rabgy the generous prin-
All this is not enough. It is
are
based that nations
ciples on which institutions
her railroads, bridges
progress.
are elevated or degraded- .
sise
and canals will not
.irt. An wishes to take her
Spain from the secondary
t „nwers, Spain must begin
great r
place amongst the
position she occupies. -
les of religious toleration
-the PriliciP
by adopting
ttlh...e strength and superiority of
the material pro s •
gress pain has
"' )5 notes
a:I and of the greatest agricul-
tural what is the value
FrancewhTi
i lae
en:
ciiE constituteanngi
prosperity, if unattended by a
of such de•
lately made,
of resources,
trial
velopmen'
tura' and industrial
corresponding progress in the
correspmanners, usages, and
of the country.
legislation
Can Spain flatter herself that she may be associ-
ated with the rest of Europe in what concerns the
creation of wealth, and
yet remain alien to those
ideas which arc the very essence of
Spain has given herself re •
presentative institutions.
Do we not there find a
strange inconsistency ? A
modern government
andan exploded legislation—
institutions borrowed
from the- 19th century, and a
code still redolent of the superstitions of the middle
ages. It is not forgotten that Spain made, not long
ago, an attempt to take her place among the great
powers of Europe. The attempt was unsuccessful.
It is fortunate that it was repulsed ; it would have
been too painful to have seen seated in the first
rank of the council of nations a power which, wit-
ingly and voluntarily, continues to lower itself to
a level with the very last.

ROYAL irouTIcULTURAL SOCIETY.—We are re-
quested to state that the international show of cereals, roots,
vegetables, and gourds, at South Kensington will continue
open during the whole of next week,