The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-30

1888, Spain had become once more e first
class power, and was more formidable than
she had been since the sixteenth century.
The army was improved in quality and dis
cipline. The navy was nearly doubled in
number, and more than doubled in efticien-
oy. No fresh burdens had been imposed
upon the people. The national resources
were so developed, that, in the reign Of
CHARLES III, large amount of taxation
could have been easier paid than small
one under his predecessors. The industry
of the country was liberated from many OF
it's trammels. The Spanish American colo
MES were treated according to the maIims
of o broad and comprehensive policy.
Many ef the taxes which bore most heavily
on the lower ranks were repealed. The
literary and scientific classes were encour-
aged and protected. The King founded
colleges, endowed schools and rewarded
professors. The principal cities of the
kingdom were beauti6ed and improved.
The roads were repaired. Interior rivers
were made nsvigable, and canals were
formed to connect them with each other.
The transactions to which we have re-
ferred extend from the accession of PHII1r
V to the death of CHARLES III, period of
nearly ninety years. For three generations
there was no pause on the part Of the gov
ernment; not oHe reaction, not one sign OF
hating. Improvement upon improvement,
and reform upon reform, followed each
other in swift succession. But the policy
of the government, wise as it appeared
was of no avail, because it was opposed to
the habits of the national mind, and was
introduced into state Of society not yet
ripe for it. Upon the death of CHARLES Ill
the reaction came. CHARLES w, in less than
five years, was able completely to reverse
that liberal policy which it had taken three
generations of statesmen to frame and carry
into effect. The most valuable reforms
were neutralized, and the country was re-
duced to the verge of intellectual and fnan-
cial bankruptcy.
The French invasion now followed; but
Spain could have retrieved all her losses If
the people had been Injured to those habits
of self-government, and to that feeling of
self-reliance, which are the spring and the
source of all real greatness. In Spain they
are unknown, and it seems impossible to
establish them. Loyalty and superstition
have there usurped the place of those nobler
emotions to which all freedom is owing, and
in the absence of which the true idea of
independence can never be attained.
More than once, indeed, during the pres
ent century, spirit has appeared, from
which better things might have been au-
cured. In 1912, in 1920, and in 1886, a few
ardent and enthusiastic reformers attempted
to secure liberty to the Spanish people, by
endowing Spain with free constitution.
They succeeded for moment, and that was
all. The forms of constitutional govern
ment they could bestow; but they could not
find the traditions and tie habits by which
the forms are become facts. AT the first
stroke of adverse fortune, their constitu-
tions were broken up, their assemblies dis
solved, their enactments rescinded. After
each disturbance the hands of tho govern
ment were strengthened, the principles Of
despotiem wore confirmed, and tho Spanish
Liberals were taught to rue the day in
which they vainly endeavored to impart
freedom to their ill-starred and suffering
country.
No later than 1866, the Liberal party had
the madness, when they obtained short
lease of power, to revoke the concessions
made to the Church, and which public opin-
ion had ratified. The people few to arms,
the reformers were overthrown, and by the
spring of 1857, the policy of the two pre-
ceding years was completely overthrown.
In Spain there have been many outbreaks,
but for the reasons which we have given,
there has never been a revolution properly
So called; there has never been one grand
national rebellion. The uprising Of which
We now read may seem to be successful; but
the inertness and tenacity of the people
will cause its strength to melt away and
quietly work its ruin. Il may give an i'm
petus TO the national mind, it may hasten
the day when the whole people, being in
advance of the government, shall demand
reform; but it cannot at this time achieve
any permanent success, or fail to rivet more
firmly, when the reaction comes, the chains
of prejudice, tyranny and shame. This re-
action may in turn give way to other upris-
ings, of which each will be stronger than
that which preceded it; but there will be
no lasting victory until the march Of sci
ence, familiarizing men with conceptions of
order and of regularity, gradually en-
croaches on the old notions of perturbation,
prodigy and miracle, and accustoms the
mind 10 explain the vicissitudes of affairs
by purely natural considerations. At pres
ent, Spain sleeps and is proud of the an
tiouity of her opinions, proud of her Gre