The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-19
A Hi.tory OF Spain.

We pleased to learn fron, the correspon dence
prelixrd TO his lecture delivered before the Mary
land institute, and recently published, that S Il.
W ALLis, esq, OF Baltimore, is engaged upon
work OF Spanish history. Tie lecture embraces I,
period of events in spain Of which We believe there
is connected and authentic account, viz: from the
accession of Ferdinand VII to tn present time;
and though we may not concur in al. the views OF
the lecturer as 10 these events, cannot deny to
him the merit Of research and intimate ac-
qrantancc with his subject. His description Of
the Sponiard OF the present day has decided air
of vraisemblance:
"Ihtre really, in Spain, no republicans or
deInocrats-or, at all events, no persons seriuusly
contemplating the establishment, at any time 10
come. OF a republic or a democracy. The seuse OF
personal independence Id as high and scrupulous
there as it can be anywhere-not excepting
own country. And there is a republican element,
too, In the character OF the Spanards, which be-
leve exists now here else at the degree in which
they possess it, Your American citizen will con-
ccde to you no doubt--it you ask him to do
That other people are as good as he But this ID not
the principle which he sets chiefly forth in his life
and conversation. Ii s the reverse OF the medal
it is tho conviction the practical demonstration,
that he is as good as other people. lie will not
deny, he dares not deny, the equality of others
with himself, but he goes about always asserting
his equality with others. The Spaniard, on the
contrary, has sense OF equality. which blesses
him who gives as well as him who takcs. If he
u
chiefly and emphatically. through the concessions
which he makes to them. There ID SO much self
respect involved in his respect others and in his
manifestation of it, that reciprocity ia unavoidable
To this, and this mainly, is attributable the high,
courteous bearing, which is conspicuous in all the
people, and which renders the personal intercourse
Of the respective classes and conditions iess marked
by strong and invdous distinctions than in any
other nation with whose manners and customs l
am familiar.
"Bnt with this cmnently republican temper the
loyalty OF the Spaniards to their monarch is per-
iecuy compatible. There is serviiy in it.. II
is homage paid to the individual, identified with
an institution. The prince is the embodiment of
their nationality-he representative of past glory
and present unity. They rally round the throne
in spite OF the fraiites crimes of him ho fills it,
They are no worshppers of Ferdinand or Isabella,
no martyrs for Carlos, but lege men 10 the person
whom they believe to be the rightfu monarch Of
the Spains. IL is matter Of great uncertainty,
therefore, whether the most perfect system of free
institutions which the Spaniards will adopt
will lack, though il may modify, the monnrchical
feature. At present, certainly, il is folly to cup
pose the abolition Of monarchy possible. and still
greater folly 10 suppose, because Of such impossi-
bility, that Spain has title to be registered
among the nations whose institutions liberal"