The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-08
SPAIN.

Aue htteUsASe o0ssivSf " LoIei6h audikU, uNu
especially me friend Of Earopean liberty, win
find much TO- interest him In the csnditisn of
Spain The history of that country, the long
and fierce contests between the Christian and
5araeen FOR her possession, and the 6uai over
t,rcw Of the latter; her former magniiceuce
and grandeur, when she stood in the front rank
OF the Nations Of the World, and her present
degradation, mark her out as an object Of pc
culiar attention. Our interest In her is stimu-
lated by a reference to her position on the map
OF Europe, her genial climate and rich soil,
and by the reflection that it can be said Of
her more truly, perhaps, than Of any other
Nation, that she is rendering an III account Of
the talents bestowed upon her. We should,
therefore, hail with profound joy and thank
fulns 9, the dawn Of new and brighter era in
her history.
While We pretend to no skill e. prognos-
ticator Of events, we believe we shall be Iusti-
fed IN advancing the opinion that the time is
not far distant, when Spain will be the Thea
tire of complete and decisive Revolution, a
real, thorough one, compared with which the
Revolutions which are taking place there
now, IRE mere child's play. They are the con-
tests of parties and rival chiefs, all ambitious,
and aiming at power, whereas the one which
is to come, will be strife between the DOWN
trodden people and their tyrannical rulers--a
strife for freedom, for the dearest rights Of
man.
The cause Of freedom has been advanced as
much, perhaps, by the mistakes and necessities
Of wicked, though weak and inefficient rulers,
as by the efforts of wise and good ones. The
great chartar was obtained from one of the
worst and weakest monarchs that ever sat up
on the throne of Englind, and history is full
of similar examples. The rulers Of Spain,
Including the Queen and all her Ministers, are
foully corrupt and wicked. They have, with
perhaps an occasional exception, obtained their
power by corruption. intrigue ard crime
They are licentious and vicious beyond exam
pie. That they are weak, and incapable OF
exercising, even secure tyranny, is demonstra-
ted by the many and frequent changes which
are continually taking place in the Govern
ment. This fact must be taken in connection
with another Of no less Importance in consid-
erisg the causes of great revolutions. 1t is
dangerous for tyrants to permit their subjects
te know that rights and privileges are due
them in the construction of society. Having
once had concessions made to them; having ex-
perienced liberty, though in the slightest de-
gree possible desire for more freedom is
generated. When the people are told that
rights are due them, and yet those rights are
withheld, they will naturally persist in the
Just demand that they should be restored to
them, and persist until they are restored Es-
partero, recently Minister, undertook, at what
exact period we cannot state, 10 prosecute GER
tain important measures Of reform, all tending
to popular relief and advancement, and among
others the sequestration of the estate Of the
gon, forward slowly, if it is no. altogether
suspended. The consequence is, popular dis
content, and we notice that one Of the causes
which lead TO the recent outbreak at Malaga.
was the belief that all the oppressive privile-
ges were about to be restored to the clergy
Thus the Government is placed in this diem
ma, that If it regards the demand of the peo-
pie and completes the work of sequestration,
it will prove its weakness before the people
and thus encourage them to make other de-
mands, and in the name of liberty we pray
that they may be so encouraged; while, if it
aisregards the demands of the people, and res
torres to the clergy the obnoxious privileges, ii
will place itself in the attitude of refusing
that which it has acknowledged is due to the
subject, which, so history teaches us, is very
apt 10 produce Revolution. Thus the short
sightedaess and plumbers Of the tyrants are in
a fair way to bring about great results. Thus
there are TWO causes developed which have so
often contributed to produce revolutions, first,
a weak and vascil,atng, though corrupt and
tyrannical, government; and, secondly, an OPP
pressed people beginning to inquire into tLeir
natural rights, and to whom concessions have
been made.
Another cause is in the fact that the govern.
ment il advancing, though in the wrong direc-
tion. 1t was liberal under Espartero, but by
every change which is made in it, it is APP
preaching nearer to absolutism, a continuance
in which will be the signal for rebellion, as is
very clearly shown by the rising at Malaga, as
one of its chief Causes was report that the
Queen had declared herself an absolutist. No
government v hich has been once absolute and
then liberal, can 60 back to absolutism without
its existence.
Sill ahoti er cause is what is called the Sab
of the land owners from their es-
tates. While the people in the provinces are
suffering from the want ct the necessaries Of
life, the landowners are absent from their es-
tates and spending abroad their money which
ought to be spent at home among those Of their
own neighborboods and districts. The rich,
and more especially any Of the extensive laid
owners Of any Of the European nations, can
support the government very greatly by ac-
quainting themselves with the interes and
wants Of the people, and by distributing Their
gifts and patronage among those by whom
they are immediately surrounded. In Spain
it 81 happens that the extreme rehabilitation
of the powers Of government, and the entire
absence Of local Legislature ia Provinces, at
tracts the attention of the rich ard influential