The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-10
TUESDAY. AUGUST 10, 1869.
THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT AND
THE DLERGY

AFTER the expulsion of Isabella III the spanish
Provisional Government proved its own wis
dom and gave promise that a new era was in
deed to be inaugurated by guaranteeing re-
ligious liberty. Spain has for centuries been
the stronghold of clerical supremacy and
religious bigotry, and even in our day it
seemed as if it would be impossible to over
throw them Indeed, it yet remains to be
seen whether the victory is complete, and the
principal troubles of the newly organized
government appear to arise from the open as
well as the secret hostility of the Church
party. The ascendancy of the clergy in Spain
has been a problem for philosophers and
statesmen even more than for the
students of ecclesiasticism. Buckle,
who was perhaps better fitted
than any man of our day to give the subject
q fair, impartial and critical examination;
looking at it with the unprejudiced eyes of
cool, cautious, and unbiased philosopher;
weighing carefully each fact, and linking them
with judicial fairness into a strong link of
evidence, has given it as his deliberate
opinion that the decline of Spain from her
once proud position as the first power in
Europe was due principally, if not solely, to
the influence of the priesthood; and deducing
his opinion from the wide array of facts
which he brings together, he comes to the
conclusion that religious intolerance is in
grained in the very nature of the people, and
that consequently there is no hope that they
will ever rise above it, or ever wish to free
themselves from it. Whether this last
opinion is correct or not remains to be seen;
the problem is now in process of solution,
and the half reconstructed government is
already engaged in contest with the clergy,
and it is impossible to tell now which side
will ultimately get the upper hand.
The new constitution made a concession to
the clergy by recognizing the Catholic as the
national religion-an error that was perhaps
unavoidable, although it is likely that bolder
policy in the beginning would prevent trouble
in the future. Still, it was a tremendous
step in advance for such a country as Spain to
do this much; and in guaranteeing the free
dom of all forms of religion, the Roman
clergy will be obliged to contend for the SUI
premacy of their particular creed on some
thing like equal terms. Religious tyranny of
any kind, whether Protestant or Catholic is
the most onerous and degrading, as well as the
most difficult to overturn, that mankind has to
suffer under; and to overthrow the political
influence of the clergy is the first and most
important step in national progress and enligh-
tenment Austria took this stepwhen under the
guidance of the enlightened statesman who is
now placed at the head of her affairs the con-
cordat was revoked, and the interference of
- -, 40; co.
land took such step when she disestablished
the Irish Church in spite of the vigorous
opposition of her Episcopal hierarchy; and
that the English clergy are as intolorant,
bigoted, and opposed to liberal ideas as are
those of Rome, was sufficiently demonstrated
by their action in regard to this great measure
of reform. 1t is fair to presume that both in
England ard Austria permanent step in ad-
vance has been made, and that there will be
no retrogresson: the situation in Spain, how
ever, shows great experiment still III pro-
eress. with the result doubtful. 1t may be true
that revolutions never go backwards, but they
sometimes succumb, and although the inhu-
ences of the present overturning of old ideas
in Spain cannot fail to have great effect on
the future of the nation relapse into political
and religious despotism is neither impossible
nor altogether improbable.
The present government does not com
mand the respect of the people like one de
signed to be permanency, and the public
mind is consequently in a feverish state, i'm
patient to know what is to be done next ant
in condition eminently favorable to the
schemes of demagogues and intriguers of al
kinds The recent Carlist demonstration
was brought about by the clergy, and al
though the plot was promptly suppressed, i
shows plainly the danger that threatens the
new system. The government has shown it
appreciation of the real cause of the outbreal
by adopting a line ofpolicy towards the clerg
that will probably make them careful here
after how they commit themselves. Th
bishops are called upon to report what step
thev have taken to restrain disloyalty
and to furnish to the government tn
names of the conspirators, and the
are also required to issue thei
nostorals within eight days, requiring obed
ance to the laws. The cable informs us tina
the decree concerning the conduct Of tn
clergy gives general satisfaction, but that thu
far the bishops have maintained silence
the subject. The government has the upp(
hand at present, certainly, but the questio
is, How long will it maintain it? The Cort(
will assemble in October, and its prnclp
business will be to elect king. With
strong and liberal monarch on the thron
who will keep himself entirely free from
clerical influences, the liberties of Spain WI