Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-09
SPAIN.
Hopeful Signs of Progression.
Railroads - The Press -Educa-
Material Prosperity.

From the New York Evening Post
The question which underlies all
other questions ia the Penensala, is the
question Of dynssty,n wrOts an uneom-
monty intelligent EGG ishmau in 1856
The singular announcement made yes
terday by the Spanish Minister in Wash.
inggOn, that "ths Spanish Monarchy
has ceased to exist, ;" would seem to prom
ise that this fundamental question was
in the course of settlement.
How it will be settled, it Is not easv
now to tell but the flight OF the Queen
and the establishment of a provisionsl
government may be supposed to leave
the way clear for the establishment Of 3
government which shall be suitable to
the spirit of the people.
Those who judge Spain by the corrupt
court of the late Queen are exeussble if
they have small hopes OF stable and
liberal government among the Span,
isrds but those who know the people.
are more hopeful Of the future. Rail-
rOsds, which now traverse Spain in diff.
ferenJ directions, have done much al.
ready, according to intelligent observers,
10 spreading new ideas smong the Span
ish middle clsss; and perhaps their nat
ursl effect In promoting intercourse be-
be reasonably counted on to facilitate
the efforts of Spanish statesmen to es.
tablish useful and stable government.
With the extensiOn OF the Spanish
railway systeIa, large amount Of cepi-
tai has been introduced from abroad into
the country, and thus the general pres
perity has been increased. Nor do the
Spanish people fail TO recognizes the ben.
efits Of the iron roads. The English
writer from whom we have quoted above
remarks that the promise of road or
bridge is commonly used rs 8 bribe to
induce the people TO vote for the govern
ment candidates st elections.
The extension OF eduestion may also
be supposed TO promise a beneficial result
in this crisis OF Spanish affairs. In 1882
there were only 100 educational eetsD-
lishments in all Spain. In 1899 there
were but 900. In 1851 these bad in-
creased to %, ,207, Of which II 0O9 bows
schools were attended by e28, $50 schol-
ars; 502l girls schools had POI 200 scho,-
ars and 2S7 asylums fer children edu.
Gated q 100; in all, $50 1872 Ia 1851 the
number Of children IN the sehoois bad
increased n 1,04s,5 ,55s; and it was no
ticed that The boys were 10 the girls as
niue to four.
Moreover, In 1854 Spain had 25S iour-
nals, OF which 81 were published daily,
and SO were neither political nor reii-
gious.
The Court of Queen Isabella was con-
trolled by priests and fayorltes; but the
Spanish priesthood has no longer that
positive political power which is secured
by large territorial possessions. The es-
tates Of the Church have bsen sold; (; and.
as In Mexico, the people have been quite
ready 70 buy them. ssNor is the spiritual
power OF the priesthood SO great a. is
commonly believed. The constitution of
lS45s which was thatsoDder which Isa-
bella fHied, recognized the liberty OF re-
ligious opinion, Opt rot the freedom of
Worship but how likely the lastright is
70 be granted, may perhaps be Judged
from the fact that, 30 long ago IS 1855. q
motion 10 establish complete religious
toleration was lost by only four votes ip
q house of two hundred and two.
1t is promising circumstance, also,
that there has been for some years an