New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-26
Trampling the Flag.

Spain is absolutely under the control
of the priesthood; the power of the
Queen is literally obliged to succumb
to the power of the church. But the
ambitious clergy are not satisfied to
have their power act as an undercur-
rent, away from the eyes of the poIit-
ical world, but their supremacy must
ne shown in certain ceremonies and
performances that may inspire the
lower class of the laity with awe, though
they excite the ridicule and scorn Of
the neighboring powers of Europe.
While spending the summer months
among the vine-clad hills of Corunna
and Gallicia we had the pleasure of
witnessing one of these ceremonies,
which greatly interested and Disguised
the spirit of Young America"
On entering the streets of Ferrol
early one morning we were surprised
to see the senoritas-who seldom are
seen in the streets by daylight-prom-
enading up and down the walks in
groups and couples, their long, black,
glossy hair blowing out behind from
under their mantillas, and the
long trails of their dresses sweep
ing the streets and keeping them in
fine condition for day of public
parade. Bands of music were play
ing at all the prominent corners;
squads of soldiers lined the sides of
the narrow steeets, and the red and
yellow flag of Spain was flung to the
breeze from all the public buildings.
1t was beautiful day, and the crowds
of peasants Gathering along in their
wooden shoes, mingling with the fair
est of the higher class, formed a pic
turesque picture. Such was the day
that the shepherds of the Flock"
had chosen for the display of their
temporary power. God grant that in
deed it may be a temporary power
The pageantry was grand, and calcu-
lated to inspire the empty minds of
the ignorant masses with reverence;
but that the educated, intelligent
class of inhabitants could offer such
homage to mere show was beyond
our comprehension.
The long lines of priests with shaved
heads, black, bushy eyebrows and
dark, sparkling, wicked looking eyes,
clad in their sombre gowns, chanted
solemnly and impressively in the Latin
tongue, while they filled the air with
the smoke of incense rising from sill
yer censers. Gold and silver images
of all the saints and virgins that ever
lived or were imagined to have lived
costly beyond description, were borne
aloft for the worship of the poor, de.
formed, starving beggars from whom
the immense sums were wrung. Truly
it was a solemn sight to see this vas
concourse of people bow themselve,
to the earth in homage to these men il
the garb of priests of God, and yet We
have seen the deYotees spurned by tho
feet of the passing clergy. 1t was {
sight that made us shudder for the
future of such a country, when we saw
riches enough to feed the begging
starving populace for days, yes, weeks
all expended by the pitiless church il
senseless images for their worship.
But the most impressive part Of thu
service was TO come, and it was t.
witness this that the inhabitants of tn,
city and neighboring towns had assem-
bled. Up on the front of the General
| pal ice were unfurled the national col
ors of Spain. As the procession drey
nigh the populace parted and the col
ors were run down to the public stree
and spread across the road in tn
dust. On either side of this the grea
body of the priests formed themselves
seemingly as a guard. With uncov
cred heads the great mass of peopl
| bowed to the ground, and the chic
priest of the city, an ugly, repulsiyel,
featured man, who we subsequent,
heard was the most licentieus hypo
critic in the city, marching forwar
with the monstranee raised before hi
face, amid profound silence, durin
which the birds even SCENE
too frightened to sing, wake
across the flag, trampling the nationa
emblem in the dust. Not word o
remonstrance from the representa-
tives of the nobility standing around
not a murmur of disapproval from the
crowded street was heard. The flag
was raised from its degraded position
to be purified by the free air of heaven
and the pageantry moved on. 0 wha
despotism 0 what hypocrisy VIVA
must be the situation~of that peopl
who are so degraded, so debased tina
the flag that should be the emblem o
all that is dear to them on earth is dis
graced before their very eyes, by thes
wolves in sleeps clothing who minis
ter to them in sacred things MAJ
God hasten the day when the flag ant
religion of every nation may go han,
in hand, and the darkened minds 0
this deceived people be enlightene
with the light of a true religion.
W. A. C.