The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-11-15
Spain as she was and as she IL.

Nations, like individuals, are liable 10 ex-
tFaordinary changes in .heir power and fortune.
This is clearly palpable 10 all who glance
back At the ancient nations, 10 Rome and
Greece in their days of glory; and who then
turn 10 lhei. present comparatively power
less condition and ruin. But the history of
Spain affords another striking instance Of
the decline of nations. Macaulay, in one OF
his adm irable essays, forcibly remarks, that
whoever wishes TO be well acquainted with
the morbid anatomy of Governments, who
ever wishes to know how great States may
be made feeble and wrelched, should study
the history Of Spain. He says the empire
of Philip the Second was undoubtedly one
ofthe most powerful and splendid that ever
existed in the world. In Europe he ruled
Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands on both
sides of The Rhine, Franche Comte, Rousil-
lion, the Milaaese, and the two Sclles.
Tuscany, Parma, and the other small States
of Italy, were as completely dependent on
him as the Nzam and the Rajah of Berar
now are on the East India Company. In
Asa, the King of Spain was master of the
Philippines, aud oi all those rich settlements
which the Portuguese had made on the coasts
sula of Malacca, and in The Spice Islands of
the Eastern Archipelago. In America, his
dominione rxteudsd on each sido of the
equator into the temperate zone. There is
hoiia hot
amounted, in the season Of his greatest pow
or, TO four million sterling; a sum eight times
as large as that which England yielded to
Elizabeth He had standing army of fifty
thousand excellent troops, at time when
England had not single battalion in con-
slant pay. His ordinary naval forces con-
sisted of hundred and forty galleys. He
held, what no other prince in modern times
Of the sea. During the greater part OF his
reign he was supreme on both elements
His soldiers marched up TO the capital of
France; his ships menaced the shores OF Eng.
land. At the same time, Spain had what
Napoleon desired in vain-ships, colonies,
and commerce. She long monopolized the
trade of America and of the Indian Ocean.
All the Gold of the West, and all the spices
of the East were received and distributed by
her.
But how art thou fallen from Heaven, o
Luclfer, son of the morning. How art thou
cut down to The grouad, that didsl weaken
the nations.
If we over!eap hundred years, and look
at Spain towards the close of the seventeenth
century, what change do we find! The
contrast is as great as that which the Rome
OF Galenus and Honorius presents 10 the
Rome of Marus and Cesar.
Al the presen, day, the condition of Spain
is indeed deplorabls The discovery OF the
New World is now deprived of all its
mighty possessions on this glorious contiuani,
while even The parent nation is, in great
measure, an instrument in the hands of other
European powers. Torn and agilated by do
mestic commissions, she has just passed
through several fierce and bloody civil wars,
and the last advces indicate that she is on
the eve of another change. And what is the
secret OF this teleroralion2 MacauIay says
that all the causes of the decay of Spain re-
solve themselves INTO one cause--bad gov
eminent. Wba, lesson to nations