Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-10-23
SPAIN.


Isabella from retirement at the "Cnat-
can dc Pau, " in France, to her reeolG-
tionaly subjects, has twinge Of the
melo dramatic in its coloring. Ii seems
to assume that the overthrow Of her
despotism is merely temporary affair.
and that this enforced Spain in the
"noble land of the conquest ally" will
be but brief. She is pleased to term
the uprising OF people who have be-
come desperate with ii sense Of nation
al degradation, an ECLIPSE OF reason
and honor that cannot last long and
adds that the force to which l yield
in leaving my kingdom cannot inyiolnte
my rights, nor lesson nor compromise
them in any way" The address dwelis
with peculiar emphasis upon the recoG-
nized legitimacy of the royal line, and
the inability OF u revolution to disturb
the allegiance it claims from the peo-
pie She also asserts her conviction
that the enlightened patriotism OF her
subjects will soon cause them to see
what violent error OF Judgment has
been committed, aud with sublime
Indifference to their viii assumes still
to be their sovereign though they have
Enthusiastically declined the honor Of
her further supremacy.
Ii this be conscientious truth how
great is her dell;sion II not how can
nlng her hypocrisy. 1t seems hardly
credible that she can still cling to the
belief that she is the raler OF Spain,
while in fact Spain is ruling ITSELF
But so it would appear from the pro
clamation of injured innocence which
this pertinacious Queen sends from 5de
soil Of the ''39cond Empire There IS
more convincing proof, however, in
knowing that Spain has inaugurated 2
a revolution, driven Queen Isabella
from her throne an established new
government, than in any logic which
the exiled monarch can possibly afford
to the contrary. Through all her adj
mAistration the Spanish Queen has
chosen to ignore one vital element Of
social and political life and that is Pro-
gress. Her belief seems !, have been
thai il the world We're not stationary it
must be retlogressive While all the
rest OF monarchial Europe has been
gradually remoulding its policy to ac-
cord with the growth Of civilization,
ana adapting its diplomacy to more
liberal and less despotic idea, Spain
has been held in check by this scion of
a royal house, whose outraged dignity
can only be appeased by perpetuating
her reign, and providing for the sue
cession of her son. The advance of
Spain which might have kept pace with
that of other nations of the continent,
has been dwarfed by bigotry the arts
and sciences which entitled her to the
first rank among sister States have fall
en- into decay and reduced her to a sec
ond rate power. Literature has been
shorn of the laurels it fairly won il
competition with that of other nations,
/ aud the tyranny, usuIpation and wrong
practiced for long years upon this peo-
pie, have blighted their prospects,
crippled their industry, diminished
their resources and stained the ancient
prestige which was born to the nation
when CASTLE and Arragon united their
thrones.
What a bitter satire upon her reign
is il for Isabella to proclaim to her for
mer subjects her tender affection for
them, and her deep solicitude for her
welfare. Had she exhibited such &
feeling when Spain needed so much a
reactionary influence to put life into
trade and spirit into agriculture, she
would not now have to deplore under
/ the protection of a foreign flag, the
loss of her crown and the contempt Of
her people, Had the arts been encour-
aged, love of science awakened, anew
literature promoted, free expression
of religious sentiment tolerated, and all
the means used for the growth ofSpain
that more astnte sovereigns have pat
ronized, the point which she has now
reached would have been gained by
slow process, instead of at one tremen-
dous stride which has astonished the
world. But no. Isabella would lend
her aid to none of these things, and she