The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-18
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1S, 1868.
About Spain.


We remarked how much more interesting his
tory was than fiction, and could history be al
ways written in the interesting and picturesque
style of Michelet, Macaulay, Froude, Hallam,
and some others of the modern school, it ought
to occasion as great run at the various libra
ries as is continually being done for trashy
novels. The history of nearly all countries
would furnish tints for good historical painters.
Spanish history has been particularly seized
on by various writers of the school we have
referred to. With Americans it seems to have
been considerable Of favorite, Washington
Irving, Mr.. Prescott, and Mr.. Ticknor have
done much in the way of elucidatipg Spanish
history. Such writers are too we'll known to
be particularly referred to here.
A considerable discussion was raised at the
hypothesis, put forth by the late Mr.. Bl,kle,
in his history of Civilization in England, that
much Of the superstitious element inherent ia
the Spanish character was owing to the fire.
quenoy of earthquakes and volcanic eruption3
in that country. Bs that as it may, that such
was the chief characteristic of the Spaniard, il
notorious, and yet what territory did the
Philip the Second. In Europe Philip ruled
Spain, Portugal the Netherlands on both sides
of the Rhine, Franche COmp6, Roussillon, the
Milanese, and the two Siclies. Ia Asia he
possessed the PHILIPPINES, and all the con.
quests which the Portuguese had made
previously. In America his Sominions ex-
tended on each side of the equator into the
temperate zone. His power over Europe was
greater than Napoleon's subsequently became.
But at the end Of another century this great.
ness was gone. Spain had lost Holland, Portu
gal, Artois, Roussillon, and Franche Comp:e,
But worse than the loss of territory, she had
lost her commerce, from that miserable misman-
agement which has continued almost ever
since. So complete picture is that period
of what, as we have just remarked, has suce
been the condition of that unhappy country,
that We cannot refrain from transcribing a
most eloquent historians account: -"Murders
were committed in the face OF day with perfect
impunity. Bravoes and discarded serving men,
with swords at their sides, staggered every
day through the most public streets and
squares of the capital disturbing the public
peace and setting at defiance the ministers OF
JUSTICE The finances were in frightful dis
order. Our readers will doubtless remember
that only very recently London banking
firm advanced quarter of a million pounds
sterling on account Of a new loan offered in
the London market, and it failed to be taken,
the Spanish Government boldly pocketed this
sum and gave the owners no redress.
Spanish history since that time is con-
tinual record of weakness and bad government
Napoleon attempted to destroy the old Bour-
bon Government, and when the French branch
of that family were reinstated, France then
sent French army, under the Duke D'An-
gouleme, to restore despotism and the Inqu-
sition, which had temporarily been abrogated.
What will be the future of that country? Will
not the light of civilization be reflected into
that benighted region Mr.. Buckle took a
most Responding view. He says that, while
even barbarous countries are improving, Spain
sleeps on untroubled, unheeding impassve,
receiving no impressions from the rest of the
world, and making no impressions upon it.
She is proud in continuing everything of
which she should be ashamed. She is proud
Of the antiquity of her opinions, proud of her
orthodoxy, proud of the strength of her
faith, proud of her immeasurable and childish
credulity, proud of her unwillingness to
amend either her creed or her customs, proud
of her hatred of heretics, and proud OF the uu-
dying vigilance with which she has baflled
their efforts to obtain full and legal esta-
blishment on her soil.
This is, indeed, gloomy enough; but
although education, among other things, has
been backward enough in Spain, we can
scarcely bring ourselves to believe that she is
destined ever to remain in her present torpor.
1t seems scarcely possible that while progress
is exercising such sway among, We may
say, nearly all the nations OF the earth,
Spain should remain entirely isolatel
from its influence. Let us at least hope that
the spirit OF the age will make itself felt in
that land so favored by nature, and so cor
rupted by man. With all due Difference to
the late Mr.. Buckles opinion on this point,
we must be permitted to hope that he took
too gloomy a view OF some matters, and await
yet the intelligence not buoyed too much with
hope, Of the introduction OF free measures;
even a free Constitution, which, of course,
must be followed by one of the most powerful
adiuncts of free Constitutions free press
The Turf.
TIE racing season is over in England and New
York, under the distinguished patronage of