The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-10

Inv upPatehtiy SUCCESSFUL revolution In
Spain has naturally directed public stten.
tlon to that country, and there Is conse.
quently growing desire to know more Of
its Internal affairs. Tho American people
have not the time, If they had the dlsposl-
ton, TO wade through volumes or to make
protraoted researches into history TO nnd out
what they may wish to know respecting the
immediate past or the present situation OF
that country hence few words upon this
topic may not DO amlss.
Tho old monarchy has met Its downfall,
and 1t may DO hoped that, with the passing
away of the old Bourbon dynasty, Spain will
witness change In Its material, social, edu-
cational and political condition. II is dcsir.
able that this change may be for the better (;
II can hardly be for tho worse.
Spain now has population Of something
over sixteen millions, and Of this number 1t
Is stated that only about three millions can
read and write. Spain has no common
schools, and she has no common roads.
There are few railroads, and these were
chiefly built by French capital. These roads
furnish lines OF travel and communication to
and with Madrid. There are three points on
the coast and two on the French frontier
which these railways reach, but the country
through which these thoroughfares pass has
no common roads connecting with the rail.
ways which bring business, and hence there
is no impetus given to trade and business
along these lines. They cannot therefore be
to any extent promotive Of the industrial de-
velopment of the country at large, nor do
they, as in this country and in England, in.
crease production. They answer for the rich
and for royalty to journey upon, but that
is all.
The commerce Of the country Is almost
nothing away from the sea coast. The
principal modes of transportation are what
they were in the middle ages. All freight is
transported on the backs of asses. All sorts
Of fuel Is scarce, and coal, which Is subject
to duty of from 25 to so per cent, is carried
In panniers. In all these developments OF
material prosperity, as In almost everything
else that tends to build up and make peo-
pie, Spain is at least hundred years behind
any other country III Europe.
There is one thing of modern growth
which, II 1t be blessing, Spain can boast OF,
and that is, high protective tariff. Duties
under the monarchy were levied on seven
hundred and thirty-six articles, and the Gus.
tom-house regulations were vexatious and
oppressive in the extreme. It is q slgnln-
cant fact that with all this protection Spain
did not grow great or rich. A commission
recently appointed by the provisional gov
eminent to examine into this matter have
reported in favor Of q gradual reduction of
the tariff to a maximum of % per cent. The
time recommended in which this reduction
is to take place 10 three years.
The financial condition of the Spanish
Government at this time or at the time of
the overthrow Of the monarchy was not very
hopeful. The national debt is one thousand
million dollars, and there was an average
annual excess in expenditures over income
Of more than eleven million dollars.
The new Government, 1t will be seen, did
not Inherit a coveted treasure, 40 far as the
national debt is concerned. They have had
and will still have many serious difficulties
in graphing with these financial questions
and they may give them trouble.
Spain needs the school aud the schoolmas-
ter; II needs railroads and common roads,
and it needs free government, that develop.
ment may begin and that all industrial pur.
suits may become thriving and prosperous.
Education, intellectual and moral enlght.
cument Is the deSiderdtum for Spain.