Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-14

4 he North mericsn says compared -ith what
she was In lT6f there l. scarcely q country in
Europe which AZ the present dsy presents 80 great
a contrast a. spain At that disastrous period OF
her history she bad sustained a series OF defeats
by and land which bid almost annihlated her
political Importance The English bad taken
from her The island Of Cuba sud the Mauillss
Trinidad aud Eat aud West Florida were eeded
by Der 10 her ambitious Antsgonisi,by the Treaty
II Paris IN 1863, shp ~ the rsme time restored
Oaba aud the Nanili-s--a great mistake on the
part Of hneiaud. The prestige Of Spain At
bad been reduced 20 90 iog an ebb that France
bad insisted or her ships Of doing homage
% the French fas everywhere This humilia
ton, however vas abfogated when "the B0ur
bon family contract" vas sigued The internal
administration OF The country vas depl0rahle.
The treasury was bankrupt while the taxes we're
eEorbitsnt, aud every branch OF public industry
va paralyked IL Is : singular fact that the
hing Charles III aud biz minister. the Mar
quis Squillsce, were far ahead Of the nation in
Intelligence and desire 20 reform the evils
which were sappng the vitals OF the country.
They projected aud attempted TO carry out yari-
Gus excellent measures, but were uniformly
thwarted by the prof gacy OF the nobility, the
bigotfy OF the clergy. and the apathy ard super
stilon OF the people
The latter were welded 20 their old habits
aud az attempt made bY the Squilsce to change
that national costume caused such disturbances
that the King was forced 10 dismiss ne minis.
ter. Since that period intolerance on the part 81
the church, snd a seif satisfied in1oence on the
part OF the people combined with gross licen-
tiousness az court. Kept SPAN st low water mark
Tor more than hall century after the period
are speaking or The French eruption in le0S
reused the Spaniards 20 patriotic efforts, aud
first broke tue dsrkpe-s OF the long night shich
had settled over the land The campaigns in the
Peninsula revived the military Ardor of the pep
pie for time. but the restoration OF peace
brought with il the rule OF Ferdinand VII and
all hat was bigo;ed aud eKecrable. A series OF
attempts to obtain constitutional government
only ended in failure. until the great CirIist aud
Christine contest brought about u crisis fayora
ble 10 liberty Since the accession OF Isabella
H. tiu 1888 something like rational admins
tration has prevailed
But In proportion AZ Spain has progressed IN
political intelligence aud material prosperit, the
national Character has developed its aggressive
qualities The en- ~essive pride and vanity of the
people have at ali times led them 10 fancy them
selves the greatest nation upon earth I'VE are
wonderful people" j. a tfuism among the
Spsniards Aud within The last FIVE wears the
idea has sprung up smonz them that they are
destined shortly 20 revive the empire OF Philip III
Their campsigu in Morocco in 1860, seems 20
have turned tier heads aud whelIed theig sppe.
tito for military glory. They have since that
time sent out expeditions to Cochin China and 10
Mexico IN c0nuncto, with the French AMI have
attempted to regain posses ion of ST. Domingo.
They are assiduously cultvatng quarrel Stb
Peru. and have doubtless formed y design against
the independence of that AMI the sister republic
ol Chilli y t. nov asserted that their nent step
will be Ia demand the son of the Cbineha
Islands. seize the ports OF Peru. and "a DESTROY
the Peruvian feet. This high handed proceed.
Inc will we hope, be frustrated; but tho mere ~
nouncemeut OF such a design il sufficient 10 show
what the spain OF the presen, day IS. and bow
little she j. guided by moral considerations
Ambition and lust OF power 10 be obtained 1t
no matter what cost. were her characteristics Ia
the days OF Ferdinand mi Isabella Charles Y
and Phillip II aud will be- found 10 be so nov
An illustration ct this hereditary tendency, a.
well rs sn amusing specimet Of Smniah grand
iloquence ) found IL the report published in the
Madrid official Gazette ot the 2Sth Oct and
addressed by the Ministry 10 the Queen. respect
ing the education OF the Prince o. the Asturias.
the heir to the throne The pompous document
commences by reviewing the power aud glor, Of
spain in past times, and. after noticing the fact
that all the soveregus OF boligerent nations have
led their armies in person upon the field of bat.
tic, u declares that the education OF the Youthful
prince must be chiens military and that il would
be rash 70 turn his mind in Il contrary direction
According to- the trainers ct this ,eport. all the
wars which have been hitherto are but trivial
preludes to those which are appreheDded and ex-
pecsed still. Fortunately. "the Spanish nation,
rich in glofons recollectons. and with most
brilliant history retains its rank end the lively
sentiment of ia dignity and honor
1T will rush into imprudeEt adventures.
nor unsuitable con9uests, opposed 10 the ideas of
our century But il war should one day break
out, it desires, and will nc obliged, take up The
attitude demanded by ,hs interests Of Spain =
! Accordingly the Prince OF Asturias in order
that he may be able TO lead Spanish armies to
victory. has had three military instructors ap.
pointed for him-one for infantry tactics. one tor
cavalry and one for artillery Let the whole
trembe At the same time il i a pity that a ma
tion so rich in heroes aud statesmen should be
unable 20 point 10 single eminen; author or
poet, painter. musician. sculptor. or any one per
son shedding lustre OF literature. philosophy ,
science or the nne arts. who has tipurished within
the Last century in the dominions of the Spanish
Crown. The railways flew in number) which
are 20 be met with in Spain are the work OF for
eign engineers. II We were asked to point out
Whist Spain has contributed TO the Improvement
or happiness of the world. We shonld be obliged
10 confess our inability To DO it. Such is this
pretcntous Spain OF 1864