The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-21

revolutionary fire as quickly as possible. TIL
Piedmontese army being conquered in a bat
tie on the 9Th of April, the hopes of the Liberia
party in Piedmont were annihilated.
A reaction, though not as violent or blood,
as at Naples, now took place, and Austrian
troops remained for some time in possession
of great part of the country.
Thus, Italy was again made subject to arbi
trary rule, while the friends of its freedom were
either sent to the most horrible dungeons, or
expatriated, or consigned to death on the gall
lows. Austria, on the part of the Holy Alli5
ance, kept guard around the thrones of ting
Italian princes, most of whom distinguished
themselves by prosecuting with unrelenting sc
verify all those who were suspected of enter
tanning liberal ideas.
The ilustrious members of the Holy Ali
ance, encouraged by the successful issue o
their measures in Italy, resolved to continue
their persecution against the cause of Freedom
In the month of October, 1922, the monarch.
of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, together with
the most of the Italian princes, and largG
number of the most distinguished diplomats O
Europe, assembled in the city of Verona. This
Congress resolved-.Jfrst, to put an end, by
force of arms, to the Constitutional Govern,
ment, or, as it was then called, the Democratic
disorders in Spain, and to commission France
with the execution of this decree; and then to
leave undided the Greeks, who had during the
preceding year raised the standard of indie
pendence, "because being rebels against Leqit-
innate authority" and, finally, to continue in
common the measures for maintaining the as
tendency of the monarchical, principles. For
the two latter points, all the members of the
Congress had been unanimous; but relative to
the interference in the internal affairs of Spain,
the English representatives had declared that
England could not participate, but would remain
neutral.
1t was not only great presumption, but also
fragrant injustice, on the part of the Congress
of Verona, to resolve to interfere in the domes-
tic affairs of Spain. Still, it must be admitted
that the Spanish people generally was then
very unfit for using properly its acquired free
dom. The servile tenets which the priests took
all possible pains of intoxicating in the minds
Of the great multitude, the scandalous habits of
the monks, and the examples which these VAIN
pyres of the life-blood of Spain gave of lazy
life, had, together with long despotism, and
the influx of the riches of Mexico and Peru. il
the course of few centuries corrupted the
national character to an almost incredible de.
gree.
Superstition made the Spaniards the instru.
ments of a wretched priesthood, and ignorance
rendered them blind to their true interests.
Their natural generosity had by idleness been
changed into ferocious rapacity, and their in,
feriority of discipline and experience had du.
ring their long struggle with the legions of i'm
perial France, degraded their manly and proud
bravery to the abominable temerity of robbers
and assassins. With all these faults, together
with revengeful spirit which nothing but
blood could satisfy, the Spanish nation bore I'M
questionably within itself the very seeds which
were liable to produce the most atrocious
acts of internal discord, as was manifestly prov
ed during the reign of Ferdinand VII.
But the powerful enemies of liberal institu-
tons, well acquainted with the internal weak
ness which the laxity of morality had produced,
resolved, without any regard to the rights Of an
independent nation, to take advantage of that
circumstance, in order to make the Spanish
people submit under despotic rule again.
But already, as early as at the very meeting
of the Cortes, in July, 1920, it had become
evident that many intrigues were at work, not
only on the part Of the King and the clergy,
but also on that OF foreign Powers, in order to
prevent the true patriots from being able to
effect the reforms generally desired. The whole
nation soon became divided into two great par
ties, called AGsol,tists and COnStitutiOnalists,
in accordance with their respective political
creeds.
1t tarried not very long before these hostile
parties appealed from verbal disputes to arms,
as the more effective means of deciding the
question of political ascendency. The better
cause proved at first victorious, and the brave
General Nina compelled the "Army of the
Faith" as the cham pions of AbsolutiSn, were
called, to seek refuge in France, in November,
1922.
But when the then weak Government of
IL, IL
the Congress at Verona, united its valiant war
riors with the beaten soldiers of Absolutism,
then the cause of despotism and priestcraft
triumphed again.
To the lasting disgrace of Spain, an army OF
not more than 5000 Frenchmen, who, under
the nominal command of the Duke of Angou-
leme, entered the Spanish territory on the 9Th
of April l823-were permitted, without any re-
sistance worthy of notice, excepting that OF
General Nina, in defence of Barcelona, to con-
quer its liberty, and lay itself bound at the feet
of periured King. A strong proof that il
was not love of genuine freedom which had
animated the majority of the nation-the de-
generate descendants of heroic ancestors--to
| fight the experienced soldiers of Napoleon,
they, Infatuated by superstition and the articles
of the priests-they had, while ensaved to
their wrought-up fanaticism, rushed as madmen
headlong in the most desperate encounters,
without deserving to be honored as champions
of Liberty.
1t was not until after long list of unheard.
of sufferings, that the eyes of the Spaniards
opened to the light of truth. Many of those
who had most violently opposed the Govern
ment of the good-natured Joseph Napoleon
acknowledged, in the course of the reign of his
successor, that they had committed fragrant
error cursing the hypocritical or bigoted priestS
and licentious friars, who had led them astray,
But this is only one of the many examples
which history affords of nations who have been
seduced to furious outbreaks against their well.
wishers, and on the other hand cajoled to re,
ceive with open arms and festive songs those
who came to render them subject to shameful
slavery.
Actuated by military discipline, the French
soldiers permitted themselves to be used as in
struments in depriving the Spaniards of their
constitutional rights. From the frontier they
marched in a continual triumph through the
whole length of Spain, compelling the most
gallant and constant supporters of the Consti-
tuition to take their last refuge to Cadiz, and
restoring uncontrolled power to the King. The
first use Ferdinand made of it was to break his
oath to the Constitution of 1872, and to declare
all the DEGREES which had been issued between
the 7th of March, 1920, and the 18th of Octo-
ber 1923, null and void; thus, in the most
barefaced way imaginable, showing his entire
disregard for public morality, and even for the
appearance of decency and virtue.
Now the most bloody prosecutions began
against the ConstitutionaliSts; and it must not
be left unnoticed that these Span1ards, who
for Freedoms sake were then hunted as wild
beasts, found in the generous warriors of
France effective protectors against the revenge
of the King and the monks.
In order to prevent the friends of the Consti-