Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-11-27

The Reviewers proceed TO tfaee out
STE origin Of what Is called in Spain the
LIBERAL Party, but We have not room,
at present, to pursue the subject any
further.
From the same, Norem6er2l.
One great object Of the Reviewers in
the article which we noticed yesterday
appears 10 be to show, that the lnquisi.
tion has had direct tendency to de.
grade the character Of the Spanish ma
ton, and principally by destroying its
intellectual Improvement. Many facts
and much reasoning are addueed in
support of this proposition; and they
certainly in tins part of the subject
make out a very plausible case. "Un.
der the patronage of truly enlighten-
cd sovereign" say they. Spain ava
ken,ng from her rorpor, might havecrea-
ted a literature Of her OVID, and stamp.
ed il with the character of her vigo-
rous genius. Bot Philip was bigot of
the French school: he loved literature
IS an ornament which became court,
and wished, If possible, to make Mad
rid mini ure Of Paris. The few men
oftalent who still preserved taste for
real knowledge, and del lored the o6sta.
Gle. which stood in the way of national
improvement. were embodied in two
acade mics. one for the cultivation of
the Spanish language, the other for
the advancement of national history.
Facilities were offered for literary in.
tercourss between the eminent men of
letters in France, and these eager vota
ries of learning But still that nation
al enemy of mental improvement. tho
Inquisition, was supported by the King,
who mindful, TO the last, of the advice
which Louis XIV. had given him, re.
sisted the repeated endeavors of his mi
nisters to suppress, or reform it. The
Inquisition ragged with uncommon fu-
~ during the forty-six years that PHI
lilo held the crown. The descendants
of the baptised Jews were found to have
been secretly attached to the religion
oftheir fathers, which, by the gradual
spread of the families, had multiplied
to a surprising degree the secret fol-
10 ers VI co zoe number OF dutoS
da Fe during the reign of Philip v a.
mounted to 7S2. The reports of 81 Of
these autos, consulted by Llorente,
give the following number of sufferers
Seventy nine persons committed to the
flames. sixty three burnt in efigy; eight
hundred and twenty nine persisted by
fire, Imprisonment and infsmy. The
same historian makes the average of
persons burnt alive. every year, during
that period, about twenty four. This
horrible persecution fell almost exclu-
sivsly upon Jews and enthusiasts. The
race of pro,estants was utterly extinct"
The Reviewers attempt to point out
the origin, and give the character of the
Spanish Liberal party, of whom they
entertain a very poor opinion. Yet
truth" say they, "must not be disguis
ed: nor shall we, from = mistaken mo.
tive, suppress our perfect conviction
that az there are not two sorts of be-
ings 50 differing in their ideas and sem
timen as those who, in spain, bear she
names OF Li6e ais and seroiles, no men
are wo rse ii ted to produce moral and
political improvement in the msss Of
the country than the former. Their
knowledge 10 narrow, superh:i exotic,
lthas been acquired by stealth, 10 hooks
aud corners, under the constant sppre.
hension OF danger. apoos crop almost
choaked with the weeGs of spite and
anger. The liberals themselves hard
ly know what hey are agreed upon,
except the destruction of whatever OPP
poses certain general views of the par
ty, whose tendency is to upset the whole
structure Of the monarchy. The Spa
nish nation is decidedly against them. "
They then proceed to remark upon
the Spanish Constitution, aud Particu-
larry upon the principle recognised in
it, viz. that THE sovereignty resides
essentially ia the nation" 1t is not
strange that this great principle Of re-
publicsnism should be unpalatable to
politicians of the character of those who
conduct this monarchical publication.
Nosi it our bject to undertake at pre-
sent to vindieate il. To Us in this re
public it is not only familiar but, in the
sense we understand 1t, fundamental
The Reviewers, in attempting to show
its failacv and absurdity, make the fol.
lowing remarks:-''The proper topics
for ronsing Spain out OF the indolent
slumosrs of prolonged degradation,
we're the inherent rights Of every free
people to be governed according to fix
ed laws; the necessity ofre establishing
such institutions ss had been devised
BY their forefsthers to balance the
powers of the State" We think that
the SPaniards might have contended for
q still broader principle, viz. THE
NIGHT OF EVERY PEOPLE TO
III cow NOn nu rND