Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-30
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN.
TxPoRrANcE OF THE PRESENT REv0LU-
rrTnNr

None of the many revolutions which
/. have occurred during The reign OF Isa-
bella II began with so brilliant prospects
OF 8 speedy and complete success az the
present. We publish to-day only the
third days dispatches, and we have al
ready announced that nine provinces
have pronounced for the insurgents; that
several others are swarming with rebels !;
that the communication with the capital
is Interrupted; that the Queen must re-
main near the frontisri that the chiefs
OF the insurrection are marching upon
the capital that the Prime Minister has
resigned and fed. Never before was
there so much reason to hope for the sue
cess of the revolution as now. Success
of the revolution would mean in Spain
the close CT the present period Of its his
tory and the beginning of s new aud
more glorious era. Spain, we will not
cay better governed, but only less mis-
governed than she Is at present, would
soon occupy much higher rank SmOng
the civilized nations. The following
notes on the position of Spain in the past
and present, and her prospects in the fu-
ture, will aid in illustrating the vast inn
portancs of the present movement
THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE.
divided into twelve large divisions, most
of which were, in olden times, indie
pendent Kingdoms, as Aragon, 0ldand
New Castle. Gallicia, Estremadura, An
lialusia, Grenada, Valencia, Catalonia,
Navarro, Guipuzovs, and the islands.
At present it is divided into fOrty-nine
provinces. The area of the Kingdom is
about 1872, 900 square miles. In this re-
speet, it is exceeded among the European
States only by Russia, Turkey, Sweden,
Austria and France. AS Turkey in con-
sequence of It's disOrgRnizatiOn, and Swe-
den in consequence of its thin pePula-
tion, cannot claim q position among the
first States of Europe, Spain might be
the fourth among the European States,
II the increase of her population had
kent pace with the other civilized coun-
tries Of the world. Such, however, is
not the case. For centuries Spain has
remained behind the other States. She
has only population of about 10, ,0O0, 600,
and according to the latest census, OF
1857, the population is even said to have
decreased four per cent. Italy and Prus-
sia, both the interiors of Spain in point
of area, are far ahead of her in point OF
population. The result might be quite
different. The greater part of the soil
ton, as in Italy, Prussia, or Great
Britain, would give her from 80 600, 600
20 10, ,0G0, 600, and density as il Belgium
would swell the population to over 60,-
0G0, GOO. The past history, both Of the
country and Of the people inhabiting It,
gives ample proof that under a good
government, Spain might soon become
one of the grand powers OF Europe.
FORMER GREATNESS AND DECLINE.
The unity of the Spanish nation dates
from the union of the crowns Of Aragon
and CASTLE at the beginning Of the six
teenth century by the marriage Of Ferdi-
aand the Catholic and Isabella I. The
new monarchy, soon after its foundation,
found itself the most powerful empire of
the world. Columbus discovered the
New World, and soon enteTprising Span
ish generals conquered all its t1Ourishing
empires. The grandson and successor of
Ferdinand, Charles, was ut the same
time Emperor of Germany, and thus the
most powerful monarch of Christendom.
This connection between Spain and Ger
many ceased with the death of Charles,
his brother Ferdinand succeeding him
Ia the Austrian possessions, and as EN-
peror OF Germany, and his son Philip
in Spain. But still, with regard to ter
ritory, Spain was the first of European
Powers. Under wise rulers, her history
during the past three centuries might
have been one of unusual brillisncy
but unfortunately she was cursed, almost
without interruption, with the worst
class OF rulers, under whom the greater
part of her colonies we're lost, and her
former greatness departed. The follow
ing is a list of the monarchs from the
of Charles I. to the present
day: