The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-30
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1852

The outrages committed upon Spanish subjects
by the pirates of the Riff coast, and the insults
offered to the Spanish flag by Moorish mob in
the neighborhood of Ceuta undoubtedly give to
the Court of Madrid just claim Tor redress
against Morocco-and in the event oil Satisfaction
being withheld or refused would afford reasonable
Ground for war. but will scarcely account for the
alacr;tv with which the Spanish Government and
roorJo have embraced the ultima ratio regunt, and
embarked in warlike preparations. To obtain
indemnity for the past and security for the future
which Marshal O'DONNELL has declared to be
the limit of Spain's demands-would hardly
require an armament of the extent and magnitude
of that which is now fitting out in the Spanish
ports. When nations go to war, it is generally
with motive beyond and distinct from the par
ticular grievances which furnish the pretext for
hostilites Interior schemes of conquest and ambi
tion or secret promptngs of jealousy and revenge,
usually underlie the formal declaration of injuries
which are supposed to constitute the casus belH |
In the case Of Spain, it would be absurd to
imagine that all the enormous expenditure incident
to the preparation of an army of 10000 men for
the field, and the equipment Of corresponding !
feet for the sea, is being incurred for no other
purpose than to avenge the defacing of the Spanish
consular arms, and the tramplng under foot of
the Spanish flag by parcel of fanatical Moors.
We may be sure that it is not for redress alone
that Spain is going to war; and we have the word
of Marshal O'DoNNELL for it, that it is not for
conquest How much faith is to be placed in the
latter assurance, we can better tell when the war
is over and the diplomatists are called in to settle
the boundaries between the respective dominions
of Her Catholic Majesty and the Moorish SUI
TAN-if boundaries or dominions the latter shall
then have left. In the meantime, and with
out doubling in the slightest degree the good
faith and sincerity of Marshal O'DoNNELL, salts
factory explanation of this warlike humor on the
part of Spain may, perhaps be found in the pres
emit condition of the monarchy. Between the
time when PHILIP II. reigned over dominions on
which the sun never set, and the day when British
bayonets were called in 10 rescue Spain from the
hands of the French, this once great and powerful
nation had sunk low down in the scale of political
importance Stripped of her Colonies on both
sides of the globe and plundered and misgoverned
at home, the once mistress of the Indies and arbi-
ter of the destnes of Europe had shrunk and
power. Latterly, however, Spain has given re-
markabe and gratifying evidences of returning
spirit of energy and enterprise Wiser counsels
and more liberal ideas have prevailed in the cabi
nets of her Sovereign, and a more Independent and
manly spirit has spread abroad among her people;
limit has been set to the insolence of ecclesiasti-
cal bigotry and oppression; and an impetus has
been given to commerce, to agriculture to manu-
features and the arts, which bids fair TO place
Spain once more on the road to prosperity
One of the earliest and most natural developments
of this awakening spirit of progress and improve
ment and one thoroughly consistent with the
Spanish character, is the disposition to make the
capacity of the nation for separate and independ-
ent action once more felt and recognized in En-
rope; and in no way can this be so easily
or so certainly accomplished as through the me-
dunn of a successful foreign war. Such being the
warlike disposition Of Spain, we shall not cavil at
her selection of an antagonist, since even France
could find no better school for the education of her
generals and the training of her soldiers than
furnished in the plains and mountains of Algeria.
1t was there in conflict with the wild Arabs ofthe
Desert, and the wilder Kabyes of the mountains,
the art of war, and first attained distinction
as generals and the Chasseurs, Ttrcos and Zouares
acquired that perfection of discipline and hardi-
hood in action which has since made their names
world-famous in connection with those of the
Malakoff, Magenta aud Solferino. Fallen the
Moors undoubtedly are, as the Spaniards them
selves are fallen, from the days when the seats of
their Empire in Spain-Cordova Seville, and Gran
ada-were seats Of learning and the arts likewise,
and the home of the most graceful and picturesque
civilization that had existed since that of Athens
and Greece Yet-even now-as enemies the Moors
are not to be despised and as the history OF Alge-
ria will show, the conquest of their country will
be something more than the work of a summers
campaign. Unequal, of course to any prolonged
contest with the Spanish troops in the field, they
will probably betake themselves to the mountains,
and thence keep up system of irregular warfare,
infinitely more troublesome and harrassing, and
requiring greater generalShp on the part of the
commanders, and greater courage and endurance
on the part of the men, than any form of regular
war. Under such circumstances, it is not impos-
sible that Spain may yet have an army of
veterans at her command better qualified for the
defence of Cuba than any number of volun-
teers that we might send against them, could
possibly be for its capture. Whatever the uti-
mate designs of Spain may be, the present in
dications are that she will be suffered to prose
cute them without interruption. The apprehen-
sons of England were at first aroused by the con-
centration of so large a number Of sea and land
forces in the neighborhood of Gibraltar, but these
the explanations of the Spanish Cabinet have sufi-
ced to alay, and the neutrality of that power is
consequently assured. France has given substan-
tal evidence of her sympathy with Spain by fur
nshng supplies ofmateriel and is, herself suspected
of a secret hankerng after slice Of Moorish terri
tory. The conduct of the Moors, on the other
hand, has been such to deprive them of all claim
to the consideration or sympathy of Christendom.
Their character for centuries has been that of
ton Of corsairS and pirates and nothing but their
diminished power, and the fear of punishment have
prevented them from being now, as in times past,
q terror to peaceful mariners. To those who are
fond of recognizing in the events of history the
hand of an avenging NEMESIS, ii may be interest
ing to note in the present war another Illustration
of the manner in which Time works its revenges.
Twelve centuries ago, an army of Moors crossed
thenarrow straits, under command of TARIK, who
gave his name to the rock of Gibraltar, and subse-
quently, conquering nearly the whole of the PENN
sula, founded the empire of whose ancient glories
we have spoken. In the reign of Isabella the
first of the NAME this Moorish dominion in Spain
came to an end-the last king of Granada, the
luckless BoABDU, dying an exile in Africa. Now
in the reign of another ISABELLA the second of the
name, but unlike the first in all other respects, 8
Spanish army crosses to the other side-bound il
may be on a similar mission of invasion and con.
quest-who can tell?--the sequel only will prove
1t is evident that large number of persons
in the North have determined 10 treat the existence
of slavery religious, rather than political
question, which it clearly is. The Puritans habit
ually committed the same mistake of confoundne
political evils with social crimes, and, CHASING
them all under the general denomination of sins
they attacked them Unfortunately from the
pulpit. In England they assailed the measures O
the Government on religious grounds, and drew
from theology the arguments that led to the over
throw of the nobility as well as the hierarchy
They assailed the administration of CROMWELL
because they could not always find Scripture
for and thnir irra fionel inf