New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-26
ROMAN INFLUENCES IN SPAIN.

However dense the opacity with which the
wOrshipers of the darkness of past ages may en-
deayor to obstruct light-howeyer slow the world
may be in dragging its lost rights from this
obscurty-still the work of illumination and dis
enthrallment progresses uninterruptedly. Men
tai and social emancipation, if impeded in one
avenue, forces its way through another. The
breach between Spain and ROme-a breach not
created by few individuals nicknamed BY their
enemies philosophers, but one in which the Cortes
and Government are sustained By the immense
majority of the citizens of Madrid and large por-
ton of the people in the prOvinces-proves clearly
that the age in which We live sounds the death
knel of various kinds of despotsm.
At the very outset of what are historically
termed modern times, beginning with the close OF
the fifteenth century and the early dawnngs of the
Reformation, Spain more than any other country
contributed to strengthen the pspal power, while
the war upheld it in Italy more earnestly than the
Italians themselves. 1t was Spain which carefully
preserved the bloody Sparks of the auto-da-fes
until they became rekindled in Italy and Rome by
the accused Caraffa, and which alone fed the
flames for centuries afterward. In Spain the
Jesuits and Jesuitism had their birth; and when
in the sixteenth century the conflict began be-
tween Luther and his disciples on one side and
Rome and her tOnsured legions on the other, Spain
threw her power-whch now for generations had
overspread Europe into the cause of persecution,
and ruined herself in the effort to strangle in the
cradle the new. born spirit But now at last Spain,
with her Most Catholic Msjestes, has risen
against the Rome she has so long Obeyed and idol
lied, and with courageous endeavor is shaking of
the load which has long oppressed her.
This struggle which is now Developing itself be-
tween the better citizens and the clergy of SPAIN
the one battling for the admission of cyilizing
light the other for the retention of the old enslay
ing darkness, is not of recent origin. II dates so
far back as the time of Ferdinand VII. With oc-
casional Interruptions it has existed throughout
the reign of Isabella II; it appeared distinctly
during her minority, and is now brought to deci
siye issue. Not that the Queen, or her nearest
confdants or friends, is a willing party to the
movement; but she is compelled to follow the
impulse given TO her Government by the Cortes
and the popular will. During her minority, at the
outset of the Regency, her mother, Maria Chris
tina, was compelled to seek the support of the
Liberals who aimed, with the introduction of the
Constitutional system, to curtail the papal and
monkish influence Beside an impoverished ma
ton and empty treasury there stood clergy reve-
ing in wealth, possessing rich treasures and an
immense landed property lost and dead for all ma
tional uses. This property it was determined to
return to the nation to which il originally belonged,
in order that il might be converted into source of
public utility and serve TO alleviate the public
debt A decree was enacted directing the sale Of
this property and to pay the salaries of the
clergy from the public treasury. A great outcry
was of course, raised by the interested parties.
Rome protested, but UNDER the pressure Of newer
and better ideas, the law was partially carried
out In the course Of events, however, Maria
Christina, supported by the Modersdos felt herself
strong enough to throw away the mask OF hypoc.
risy, and under the premiership Of Narvaez the
Government atoned for the past by prostrating it.
self before the papal power The further sale of
church property was at once stopped and con-
cordat concluded. When liberty was murdered
By the French troops on the seven hills Spain sent
her ragged warriors, under Gen. CordOys, to give
the last turn to the rack.
The recent revolution once more directed the
attention Of the nation TO the existing abuses or
inmunites of the Church, and the interrupted
naturalization Of Church property. Reform
throughout was and is paramount necessity, and
above all such reform as would abrogate those i'm
munities condemned by common sense and reason as
the heaviest burdens on the national body and mind
In the new budget the Cortes imposed certain
per centage Of tax on all salaries paid by Govern
ment, and among others on those Of the clergy,
which as being the largest could best bear it. The
Infatuated priesthood at once carried their COM
plant to Rome, and the papal Charge d. Afaires at
Madrid protested against this equitable measure
Without noticing however, the protest, the Cortes
continued their salutary work. abolishing Church
abuses, reducing the power Of Rome, and directing