, 1861-04-05
:! SPANISH MOVEMENTS

ed to the sway Of q power now SO incon-
siderable, during period four times greater
than the: existence Of our own government.
Civil dissensions, religious prosecutions,
State: corruption and royal imbecility re-
duced the proud monarchy from its posi-
ton as the first power in the old world to
pitiable ifnot disgraceful standing among
the " sick men " Of Europe; and the Amer:
can colonies fell away from the old hulk
almost simultaneously, leaving Cuba and
Porto Rico the sole jewels in the crown Of
Isabella, to tell Of the former splendor Of
Spanish possessions in the Western hemis-
phere. -Hayti was lost in 1894, and the
other West: Indies, with two exceptions,
followed in. rapid succession. Louisiana
went next in 1906; the Argentine Repub=
lie with Uruguay and Paraguay in 1916;
Chill in 1917; Florida, Mexico, Central
America, Venezuela, New Granada and
Ecuador ii 1921; and lastly, Peru and. .Bo:
livia in 1894. A language and religion are
all that remain Of the Spanish government
on the mainland Of America The institu-
tion Of slavery, which went hand in hand
with the other institutions, wherever Spain
was sovereign, was speedily abolished by
all the reyolted colonies.
But the Spain Of to-day is not the Spain
Of 1921; A constitutional government,
scarcely less free than that Of New York or
Illinois, IN educational system equal to the
best in Europe, continued peace at home
and abroad, a decline in bull fights, relief
from the Inquisition, internal improve.
ments, ETC., have wrought Il wonderful
change in the land OF Ferdinand the Catho-
lie. Tic recnperating power Of Spain was
long. ago noted and commented upon by
Mr. Webster, when his fellow Senators
were derfding and belittling its insignif-
cance among nations, Though ;as yet pos.
sessed of an inconsiderable navy, her mill
itary strength is formidable, and her treas
ury shows an abundant surplus With the
return Of prosperity to her people, the old
Ideas Of Spanish greatness have returned
ALSO. The instinct Of conquest is as rife at
Madrid to-day, as when Coftes, Figaro,
DeSoto and Balboa took possession of
North and South America in the name Of
their snvereigus and Of the most holy Ca
tholic religion, The recent invasion
Of Morocco was hailed with rapture by the
entire population, and enormous sums Of
money were contributed voluntarily to
meet the ex expenses Of the war. We doubt
not that the more recent invasion of San
Domingo will meet like enthusiastic re-
sponse, and that the obvious purpose of the
government to regain portion of its lost
treasures in America will be vastly pop
ular.
Tt will be some time before we can learn
the exact bearings Of The San Domingo ex-
pedition on European diplomacy. The
question is one Of the most vital I'M
port to this country. Recent letters
from Madrid have disclosed the fact that
our national schism is received there with
unmingled satisfaction-that our extremity
is deemed their especial opportunity. If
the policy Of reoccupying her American
colonies has been decided upon by the
Spanish Court, their movements will
naturally be directed to Florida, Louisiana,
Texas and Mexico, according to oppor-
tunities and circumstances San Domingo.
though rich in tropical productions md
. the valuable timbers Of the West Indies,
is very small bite for O. power seek
ing to inaugurate foreign policy
On the pattern Of Philip II Undoubtedly
the next weakest State to San Domingo,
Of the former Spanish colonies, is Florida,
and the next Texas Both these States
have declared themselves out of the Amer
lean Union, and though their independence
is not recognized at Washington it may be
sufficiently recognized by Spain to war
rant her in resunling jurisdiction over
them, after the Dominican job is finished
One Of the inevitable fruits of secession
will be the reappearance Of European fleets
and armies in the southern portion of
North Armerica. They will swarm around !:
Mexico and Central Amer&a and along
the Gulf coast Of the new Dahomey,
meddling, fillibustering, grabbing and
protecting" We of the North can
probably stand it as long as JEFF: Dayis's
Aeptarchy. = a.