Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-10-27
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, NOMINATIONS.
The Revolution in Spain.


most wonderful in history; being the
most perfect in plan, least bloodless
in its course, and the most rapid and
peaceful in its progress of any similar
attempt of which we have any account.
The whole country has been revolu-
tionized, its queen deposed and pro-
visional government established since
the 18th of September, on which day
Gen. Prim, the leader of the move
ment, landed at Cadiz from a South
ampton steamer for the purpose of
overthrowing the government OF lsa-
bella and founding a new one upon its
ruins. In less than three weeks from
that date the object was fully accom-
plished the queen driven from throne
she disgraced, taking refuge in France,
while with almost united voice her
late subjects call for better govern
ment aud a more worthy ruler. The
revolution has been comparatively
bloodless. Not a thousand lives have
been lost on both sides. City after
city and province after province rose
with such rapidity and pronounced so
vehemently for the new government,
that the queen knew not where to turn
for succor. The navy first struck its
colors, then Cadiz and Seville and
Zaragossa and Madrid, then the army,
in fact nearly the whole kingdom join
ed the standard of the revolutionists
decreeing the downfall of the queen
and the old order of things. The
new provisional government consists
of Junta made up of the leading lib
erals of the realm, who have proposed
a series of measures to be submitted
to the people for rejection or adoption
in the month of November.
Among the reforms proposed by the
Junta are civil and religious liberty,
free education, gradual abolition of
slavery in the colonies, freedom from
prosecution for political opinions, free
dom of speech and Of the press. In
addition to these wonders the order
of Jesuits has been abolished. These
proposed reforms are hailed by the
people with such wild enthusiasm as
argues well for future harmony of &C
ton between Junta and people.
We must again express our sur
prise at this action Of Spain. 1t is an
action that no one could have antici
pated who had the smallest acquain
lance with her history. Had England
Scotland or Ireland demanded such
sweeping reforms, we should have
looked upon it as but the necessary
result of causes flowing from the
teachings of their statesmen aud the
instructions of the dominant church
which have mainly been for the larges
liberty OF conscience and freedom OF
political action. Neither should W
have wondered at such demands froI
the French, for we we'll know thei
chronic love for revolution and any
thing that promises change. Blu
for Spain, proud and imperious eve
In her poverty, ignorant to the loves
degree. debased by centuries of mi,
rule and the precepts and practices o
a corrupt church, to have made sue
demands, to have enforced them wit
such eminent success, and with non
OF the horrors that usually atten
such revolutions, we were not prepa
ed. OF all the countries in Europ
she has been the most illiberal. Ii
tolerant in her religion, oppressive
her laws and barbarous in her execv
ton of them, her people ignorant b.
yond belief, and private virtue held j
small respect, she was the very Las
country we had looked to for any d
gree of freedom and particularly fc
freedom in matters of religion.
When one thinks of Spain and h
church, thoughts of the inquisition ar
the auto do fes necessarily crowd Il
mind with the nameless horrors th
were their inseparable companions
We again pass in review the noble a
my of christian martyrs, heroes al
scholars-of which the world was n
worthy-who fell beneath the ave
ging strokes of veritable antichri
We see again the rack, the gibbet al
the thumb-screw; see the bed of ir'
spikes; see men and women thrown
wild beasts or tossed to serpents
the behest of him who protested
held the keys of heaven and earth.
We see her gowned priests and hoe
ed monks, her mitred bishops and
cherous cardinals, her nuns profess
ly set apart as the daughters of Chr
but truly the concubines OF the prizes
go mufhed and grim through the da
corridors Of antique abbeys and S
emn cathedrals, intent upon some Il