Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-04-16
> From The Norfolk Herald, Of april II.

fr0m tne NOJOiS ueTotd, " DpTH IL
POLITICAL STATE OF SPAIN.
The following extract is from friend
who has resided some years in Spain, and
who has had opportunities oil making him.
self acquainted with the national character
OF that country, and of acquiring correct
information Of the character, policy. and
proceedings of its Government. His views
OF the new order OF affairs do not correspond
with he ardent anticipations We were wont
to entertain Of the Spanish revolution; but
they are in perfect accordance with sub
.equent Developments of,he mal-organIza-
ton Of their political system-an instance
OF which is manifested in the late riots and
disorders in the Spanish capital. We Tear
we may look in vain for rational liberty
where the people themselves in the height
Of t,.eir enthusiasm in its favor, are blindly
bound to the superstitious dogmas OF BIZ
go,ed priesthood. its mortal enemies. II
Spain would be free and happy, the first
step necessary to secure these ends must be
religious liberation; the next liberal sys-
tenn OF commerce. If the people are not
prepared 10 admit the first, and are TOO in
dolent 10 demand the latter, they can ne
YER know more of liberty than the name;
and sooner or later they must fall back into
the tolls of despotism and priestcraft from
. which they have temporarily emerged.
Extract of letter TO The Editors ofths He
raid.
"Cadiz, Jan. 10, 1921.
::'You will not be surprised to learn, that
Rifgo aud bis followers have been taken in
10 favor again. and the Patriotic Societies
revived at the particular instigation of Nj
n,stsrs!-Riego is captain general OF Ara.
gon. But il requires one 10 be immersed in
the very core ofgoverument intrigues in this
country TO explain satisfactorily these mys-
,erious and conflicting changes in its policy
and conduct. To see the people in Spain,
and hear them talk, one would suppose
there was an arGor and constancy in favor
of the constitution which nothing could
shake. Ever since the King was ignomi-
niously brought back 10 the capital to ex-
plain TO the people the motives torhiS breach
of constitutional duty, arallying badge has
been put into every man's hat, in bsnG
of green ribon with the motto Of. 'Constisu-
cion O. Muerte' Constitution or Death
and they boast of il as an earnest of their
feelings, and an evidence OF their determine
alton to fulfil the terrible denunciation of
their creed. Ard yet from all We see, and
all we hear, this phrenz'ed attachment to
constitutional liberty is manifested only
BY the most gross and public violations Of
every principle it iDculcates, of every law
and ordnance which has been enacted un-
Ger it-snd these flaming mo,tos of patriot
ism and devotion are worn by such men,
three-fourths Of whom canno. read or write
and who are as ignorant of the import and
tendency OF the phrase they have adopted
as the text Of their decaIogue, as vas The
Prince of Peace, when Prime Minister in
the reign of Charles the Fourth who main
tained for long time That Russia snd Prus-
sia zere The same country,
THE prisons of Spain have had bu:
short respite. A few months more of the
present system vii! replenish their .dreary
vaults with aceumua,ei sorrow and misery.
A few days ago no less than eighty wretched
beings left Algeziras in one party for ecu
"a! Nor cap II be oiherwise--for the people
canno. live without violating the laws. The
first nscessaries of their being is prohibited
10 them, and what was before strong i'm.
Pulse from corrupt principle, and the i'm
punity of practice, is now made an urgent
motive of natural right and preying neccss-
~. The Smugslers have increased ten
fold; and il is these men who hurl defiance
at The King by the motto of Constitution
o Muerte'-rbey may in good truth be
now called The people of Spain: the oppo-
si,ion they meet with is only from the kings
officers, who OF course have the 'loaves and
hsbes'-but il IS notorious that their vigi-
lSnce smacks not Of patriotism OF constiiu-
lionsi faith-they only seize to smuggle in
their turn. The original purpose is con-
summated, but by different hands-and
neither The sanctity Of the law, nor! the in
tegrity of justice is subserved by the change
of property.
1.-THE crooked policy of the government
has deprecisted the paper Of The country SO /