The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-20

hills Of Asturias the Spanish Goths took heart
IN their recesses, and from the cave of Cova-
donga Pelayo sprang to turn back the tide of
Arab conquest. For more than seven centu-
ries the conflict endured, the Cloths gradually
regaining their lost ground, until in l49l the
sun of Arab dominion set with the fall of
Granada, and rose that of Western emprise
under the Spanish banner borne by Columbus
In the van to new world.
1t was amid the Gothic kingdoms of Spain
that the rights of the people, the principles of
elective monarchy and the safeguards of NUM-
cipal organization were strenuously defended,
even while the rest Of Europe was sunk in feudal
barbarism. Aragon was the first Christian king
dom in which the commons-the third estate
obtained legal recognition. When Alonzo the
Wise, of CASTLE, l222-1285, codified the
laws and gave more centralized form to their
administration he was long resisted by the
great cities, which chung to their ancient NUM-
cipal rights. In Aragon we behold the Cortes
creating the supreme court of the kingdom,
with chief justice to decide between the king
and the representatives; and in later period,
under Alonzo w., l4l6-l456, it was provided
that the chief justice should be appointed with
the consent of the Cortes, to prevent encroach-
ments upon the constitution. 1t was not until
the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella that the
crown succeeded in establishing that reign of
priestcraft and despotism which has since sunk
the kingdom so low. Nor was this done with
out resistance. Their successor, Charles-iirst
of Germany and fifth OF Spain-in the begin
ming of his reign encountered fierce resist
ance from the commons, when the
people defended their municipal rights
and very nearly succeeded in stopping
the encroachments of the crown. Under his
weak but despotic son, Philip H., the decay of
the kingdom began to be felt. Yet still, in
the sixteenth century, the Spanish language
and fashions led the courts of Europe. With
Charles H., 1665-l700, ended the reign of the
house Of Hapsburg, and the Bourbons came in
with Philip ILL., From that day, suffice it to
say, Bourbon policy ruled Spain. Yet still,
from time to time, we find the old Gothic
spirit cropping out. The people hailed with
joy the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1867 and
yet were not led astray from their old political
landmarks by the French revolution twenty
years later. When Napoleon placed his
brother Joseph on the throne in 1906 they
had recourse to their ancient institution of the
Cortes, and when Ferdinand VII. returned to
the throne they forced this elective body upon
him, and il was Overthrown only by French
army Of a hundred thousand men, under the
Duke d'Angouleme, which invaded the king
dom with the sanction of the Congress OF
Verona.
This rapid survey brings us to the period
of SPANS greatest decay, when, at the death
of Ferdinand, the Spanish banner had
disappeared from every sea, and Spanish
commerce, literature and power were
become things of the past. It was
the contest for his succession, which,
appealing to. the love OF liberty latent in the
hearts of the people, gave to Spain new I'M
pulse. Christina as regent during the minor
ity of Isabella, re-established the Cortes, and
Charles w., contesting the crown with her, pro-
claimed the ancient .fiteros, or privileges, in
the Basque provinces. civil war in the
name of freedom desolated Spain until the sur
render at vergara in 1889. During this
period, in 1885, the monastic orders were
abolished with universal popular rejoicings
but until very recent date military scab
covered the body polite, and the theories of
the crown are sufficiently represented in the
fact that il brought the Jesuits back. Be-
meath this military rule the popular heart held
up. Commerce sought and found new lfe
population began to increase, railways and
telegraphs appeared and traversed the penin-
sula in every direction, and new race of his
torians, under the lead of Castro, have dared
to assert that the history of the country as
written since the time OF Ferdinand and lsa-
bella is one continuous lie, which must be in
terpreted in contrary sense in every i'm
portant assertion. 1t is this growth, reviving
the old IDEAS which has driven Isabella II.
from her throne and to-day agtates Spain
from centre to circumference.
A few words on recent events win suffice to
General Prim is the most daring but not the
only leader who comprehended the true con-
dition of popular sentiment. Two years ago
he told Queen Isabella that she must change
her policy or be driven from the country. He
has since made several efforts at revolution
with signal failure. Subsequently the leaders
Of the army recognized the ripeness of time,
and an arrangement was made with Prim, then
in exile, that the army would follow his lead
in a new movement, provided he would not
claim the first place in the new government
The result is known. Isabella fed to France,
followed only by Gonzales Bravo, the two
Conchas and Marfori. Everywhere the new
government was accepted with popular rejoic-
ing Freedom Of speech and pen and Worship