The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-08-30
spain-aer Present. Attitude.


America the greatest attention. History
would carry Us TO those days when Spain |
had her Armada fha, swept the ocean;
when the vast waters Of the West were
s.Spanish lake. when this, continent was
held in the names of the proud King and
Queen OF Aragon and CASTLE. There is
one 6gure ia Spanish history, which looms
up in proal conspicupusness above the
level of ordinary annals. II alone would
compel an interest in Spain from every
iAoashttu. American. ..One sublime fig
efe "a shape of frewarded greatness-.of]
triumphant patience-a grant heroic fig.
ure; mouonless upon the rude prov of a
caraval, with sad eyes. Frightening into an
awful joy, as that new world, borne about
so ios:g within his throbbing brain, slowly
rises a visible reality, from the bosom oi
the calm blue seai''
ChristopherColumb planting the cross
OF Christ on new continent, aud taking
the stately Isabella, is the first and bright
est link in that chain which unites the old
world with the new. Through varied vi
oissiiules, has that proud monarchy, whose
sway once extended from the heaven-lit
shore of Naples to the still more beautiful
isles of the Antilles. come down 20 US
through all the steps of advancing degra-
daiion. The las, step of regal corruption
had been taken Ministers had become
@common rogues, and the courtiers worse
when the outraged people arose and
whelmed the monarchy and raised the bar
ricades Of Madrid. Well may the Lon
don Times exclaim, "'Fhe aspect OF Spain
ct this moment is the most extraordinary
/ ever exhibited by European kingdom" ;"
What makes this extraordinary aspect!
Itis the unwonted phenomenon Of the gov
eminent OF the old peninsula absolutely in
the hands of-who! Why. its own inhab..
itants.
What now is to be done? How is the
government to be reconstructed! This is
an absorbing topic, equal. if not superior.
in interest to the Russian war.
To solve this problem requires an un-
derstanding OF the present Status OF those
claiming power at the hands Of Spain2
- r The present Queen, Isabella, is not
In the legitimate line of Spanish success
Sion, but is one OF those chance illusira-
lions OF a sovereign raised to her position
by outside pressure, and with constitu.
ktional limitation on her will. Her chances
OF remaining on ihroDe--a powerless
puppet of power behind it-are good.
Espartefo and O'Donnell have already ex-
acted from her pledges for the future and
tears oi repentance for the past. If wo.
mans tears may be relied on, there is 10
be great reform in the morals OF the
court But shall we not again have the
old story OF humility in weakness, and
pride and lust when strength shall again
come?
e. The Spaniards have Representative
Of their old and legitimate roy yality in ex-
lie. lie is none of your Democratic Kings.
sclaiming election at the hands of the peo-
pie, but claiming diyinely derived author
ify. We rather think that the Bourbon
stock is a ia discount in Spain as in other
parts Of Europe
81 Again, we hear Of the Duke de Mont
pensief, son of Louis Philippe. He rep
Tesenis the Orlea house, as the Count de
Moiaiemoiin represents the Bourbon house
But Il is not likely that either oil these no
blemer have had anything to do with the
present insurrectioE. Their chances o.
ruling are over.
The Bonapartes are moi without some
preteRsion 10 the throne Of Spain, if the
precedent OF King Joseph weighs aught IN
The scale. W ith the aid OF the French EN-,
peror, connected as he is by his marriage
with the Spanish nobility, there are some
cially if Louis Napoleon. should intervene
Against the people, with his arms, as lie
did al Rome.
5. Another plan proposed, is the union
-6E Spain with Portugal, under the rule o.
the young King OF the house OF Braganza
This is seriously discussed. The Epgisi
would prefer such an alliance. as their in:
huencs with Portugal is paramont. Bu
tho hatred OF Spaniard and Portuguese has
not and will not subside. Its inveteracy
proclaims an eternal ban againstthe union
g. The last and remaining plan is thai
Of y republic, in which intellect and mol
titIes shall control Spain-in which the
people, selecting their best citizens. shall
renew again The democracy Of the old
Cnrtez, unrestrained by the kingly perog-
alive. Apdulasia and Catalonia are full
OF republicanism. II only requires some
leading spifit-some Washilieton--io di-
rect this element to lis proper object-and
70 refuse The purple--to unite. or the mod.
el which Mr.. Soule can furnish. the States
Of the Peninsula one noble confed-
GRAFTON of republics. Never had the
Spanish people such an opportunity as
now 10 reconstruct their Stale; TO inspirii
the population with the peculiar energy
and enterprise of the age; TO reclaim their
splendid lands, so long wasted. and to re-
build the marts Of Commerce, SO long de-
serted!
viii they seize ii? Have they Wash.
ingtona Can the purity which has given
life to this lnsnrfeciion. andSwhich has led
70 the pulling down Of rotten dynasty
construct winsiiiu,ions. with the health
blood Distributed throughout them? Or is
this, like other European revolutions, bu
the ssqu5rim anous activity ofIhe monkey
who can throw down, without the sagacity
ant. Wisdom Of manhood that can buift
np9s We hope much fromthe fact that the
late Government fell because it lacket
popuiar, respect. Can any Governmen
=, =, La