The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-30
European 3lrteIIigencr,
FROM THE PARIS ARGUS.

Spain prefents at this moment fpeascle
worthy of filing the attention of flatefinen. Il
cannot be efficiently admired that at the mo-
ment when the Englilh miniitry thought the
Spannh government benuTbed by long report,
overwhelmed by the waiting fcourge of conta-
glon, cait down by the lofs of focle fiips, and
discouraged by being robbed of fope r,illjons,
| that government, hyperion 70 the calanities
which it has experienced, ihould announce il
felt on fudden upon the ftage of the world
with the luire which diftineuinhed il in the l 9Th
and 10th centuries. The EngIiih lniniftry have
Uncovered their error too late, by driving to
extremitcs nation naturally generous, which
only requires commanders like the Prince of
Peace TO replace itielf foon in the rank of the
mott warlike nations. 1t is not the creatures of
Mexico which conftitute the bravery and great
neis OF people. 1t was when Spain bad RATED
herfef to the fummit of her glory and power
that The conquered Mexico, which fhe was in
no need of to enable her to give laws TO the ref
of Europe. Some great politicians have dated
her decline from that immenfe conquef, they
have Uncovered in II the curfe of her depopula-
ton, OF the decay of her agriculture, and of the
weakening of the national valour. We fhall az
fign further caufe for the decline. Spanifh va
lour ihone with great luftre even in the 18th and
sth centuries: whenever the government has
wnhed to make brave men, it has made them:
whenever it has honoured bravery, it has ho-
noured warriors. The Spanifh army amounts
to above one hundred tboufand men the navy
may be computed at about fixty fnips of the
line: this military eftablilhment does not exceed
her population, which the mott moderate cal
culations raife to ten millions. Mott of the
powers Oh Europe have more numerous army,
and yet their population is more numerous i'm
proportion to the extent of their country. 1t
IS not then IN the great number of folders that
the fuccefiive depopulation of that country is
to be looked for; when it was prey to war, it
was more populous. The war of the revoluti-
on, 10 terrible in appearance, which has raifed
10 many men, which has colt 10 many lives, does
not however, appear to have diminifhed the DO
pulation of France. The new ftatfical fate
ments already fent by the protects, announce,
on the contrary, an augmentation. Rome al
mott always at war in the ineft days of her glo
ry, Jaw her population augmented at every CEN
ius made of it 70 true it is that there are other
caufes OF the decline and fall of ftates Neither
is 1t the finances of the Spanifh government
which have weakened IL; its annual receipts
exceed Its expencesby Tome millions of dollars, &
its public debt amounted, in 1889, op1v tc so|
millions of dollars, very little beyond the reve-
nue. OF iingle year. Thus, in confdering the
political geography of Spain, we fee that fhe
It'll poiieiies within herfelf all the feeds of great
neis and PROPERTY. Her ftuation fecures her
from foreign invaiions as long as fhe remains H.
nited with France, from which country nature
has ieParated her by barrier, only the better
TO iecurc the mutual independence and friend
ihip Of the two nations. 1t is a Happiness for
the Spanih nation that its government has LOFT
its preteniions TO the two Settles. That fource
q exhauitlon being hut, has afforded the means
OF employing more uiefuIly the riches and oou-
rage of the nation. Spain, defended bv the two
ieas, policies more than the necefary ftrength
to make war with luccefs agaiDR England. and
At the fame time far more than is rrquilite for
the defence Of her colonies. A hgna from the
government will refore to the nation the ener-
81 which It ieemed to have loh. II has been
maxim among all nations which have aeouired
renowp IN arms, that there is no honour nnlefs
for thofe who have fought for their country;-l
fuch has ever been the fource Of nobility in mo.
parchies and of honours in Republics. This
ientiment has fnpportsd franceat every perilous
cri'is, ihe ha' Good in, under Charles VII. I'M
css Henry III, under Lewis XIV. and through |