The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-02-01


descendants chiefly of France, Eng
land, Scotland, and the German States
and are of protestant and puritanic
blood and aside from the fact that
they were of the oppressed peasantry
of the land, and pilgrims whose mig hty
hearts rendered loyal and peaceful by
religious culture, moved them over the
ocean for the better enjoyment of Lib
erty, these nations breathe an improved
spirit; their honor is higher; though
iron, arrogant, and military, it is more
charitable, considerate, meditative,
philosophical and industrious "a peo-
pie grati6ed by the praise of their in
telligence and Jurisprudence. These
characteristics are prominently relieved
in their history, and there is little doubt
that for many centuries past these
countries had have a powerful element of
true republicanism, producing the high
spirit of their common life, and giving
character to their crowned authorities.
would not reflect lily upon Spain !;
a greatful remembrance Of her noble
sovereigns and common benefactors,
must forever enshrine her in American
hearts; but this will not excuse her
from the just criticism due to every
people.
Spain was once the most powerful
kingdom of Europe, but she is now the
most feeble; though great portion of
her soil is fertile, she has amiserable ag-
riculture her education is limited and
confined to the higher circles and but
few of the lower classes can read and
write. She once had large share of
American territory, and the best of it,
but she is pruned of it all but Cuba
and Porto Rico. And how shall we
account for this decline in her welfare,
but that she has the element of de-
struction in her own bosom. She re-
veals it in the spirit of her people !;
they are not morally great; their idea
of honor is physical, disloyal selfish
ness which presumes to perfect itself
by social want and misery. Spanish
love has often imposed itself success
fully on the unwary moralist who has
been stung by its pathos, and has not
been able to say why; it is not the
voice of love in free clement, it is a
broken melody that is restrained and
hampered by miserable jealousy. But
with well studied formality it keeps
an inviting surface with which the in
dividual is wholly captivated if he
chooses to feel and look no further than
the external presentation, but to that
mind and heart that freedom has devel-
oped, is at once discovered the wretch
ed plane of vassalage upon which it
subsists, and that beneath the golden
surface there rolls the wailing tide OF
beggard intelligence and virtue. Dis
tinction is more respected than aimed
at; it comes by birth, and exists in idea
rather than merit, and is readily tol.
Grated by the subordinate, from their
Injured veneration for military caprice,
and disparity-barely the idea of high
and loac; is fully synonymous with the
Spanish idea of distinction, and does no,
necessarhy involve the idea of any de.
velopment,-to know thatthe serf is be.
meath with no hope to rise, is general.
ly satisfactory to the nobility. Hel
military spirit is rarely connected with
a sentiment of patriotism; ga love Of
the whole country and every soul in
it," principle indispensable to nationa
prosperity, especially that of repub
lie, she has never exhibited as nation
al characteristic. These are the prom
inent characteristics of that suicida
element of her bosom that has wastee
her treasure and divided her power.
Spain is the mother of Southern
Chivalry. Her Cortez, planted it il
Mexico and gave it character in pill
liaging of tombs, and the deliberate
and unproveked murder of the Monta
zumas, the superiors of his murderou
clan in everything but numbering eff
cheney, and it has perpetuated itself no
only in Mexico and the more south
, ern spanish countries, but, undeniabl,
also in the cotton-growing States o.
the Union. The blood is entirely legit
innate and full of its original spirit.
} is true that in the early settlement o
Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia
t England had the major representation
r but from the Louisiana Purchase to th
: present time, Spain has taken the plac
4 of England in, foreign migration t.
the South. Thus, respecting the Nortl