The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-11

The Madrid correspondent Of the London
Daily Ns1s writes, under date Of April II,
that the discussions In the Spanish Cortes on
the religious question have given q foretaste
Of the interest II will excite when articles 20,
81 and 90 Of the constitution are reached.
The clerical party have spoken out. Senior
MaDterola, the Canon Of vitorla, and Senior
Monescillo, the Bishop Of Jacn, In the gene
raj debate on the constitution, both made
powerful speeches, especially upon the viola
ton OF Catholic unity by the clauses permit
ting the exercise Of other religions. The
Ndlss' correspondent saysi ...E
"Thc Canon's speech was very long, and
very antl-Protestant but Il was not well
received by the House, and y drew forth
from the great Republican orator, Castelar,,
O reply which, do not hesitate to say, has
given blow to the power OF the priests In
Spain they will never get over. II electrified
the House 10 such an extent that when he
resumed his seat almost the whole OF the
deputies on both sides crowded around him,
embracing him, patting him, shaking his
hands, and even kissing him. Ministers,
majority, and even the President Rlycro,
were quite as enthusiastic In these express
sious OF approval as the Republicans. The
excitement has spread an over the country.
-Four or Eve columns Of the Diseussion and
the Lonaidad are filled daily with copies oil
congratulations and feiicitations sent to Senior
CASTELAR, by telegraph from all parts o. the
kingdom. Tho monarchical papers, which
hitherto have always moderated his speeches
and been most opposed to his principles,
have every one articles laudatory OF this
great effort. Even the Impartial aud the
Ibsrid-government orgnns-speak Of him
as being national glory The former
says that parts Of the speech surpass any
thing ever delivered by any orator Of ancient
or modern times.
''This is, perhaps, saying too much; but
certainly, In my own experience Of parlis'
mentary eloquence, have never listened Ia
anything more brilliant. One by ono Cas-
telar demolished every argument and every
assertion OF the Canon, until he left HIN
thoroughly and Enthusiastically beaten. lie
charged the Catholic Church and Its intol
erauce as having been the cause OF thu
backward position OF Spain In progress o.
every descrip tion. Especially was he yer,
powerful In his denunciations OF the edIc
which, at the instigation of the clergy, led
to the Punishment OF the Jews, which hat
net only deprived the country OF such ma
terial wealth, but also Of the honor OF being
the birthplace Of many eminent and illus
trlous men. The assertion that the Cath
Ollie Church never dealt in prosecutions,
never killed the heretics, but that the clyi
power did, he characterized as childish, ant
equivalent TO the assassin saying he did mol
kill his victim, but the dagger did. The In
QUESTION had been the dagger ofthe Church
"Castelar combated the boast tho Canor
had made about the founding Of unlversitlei
by the Catholic Church. He said she wal
once the centre of light In the midst of feud
alism and barbarism, and she would hardly
fall then to be In the van OF progress. But
compare any Of their great uniyersities-sal
amanca, for lnstance-with the foreign uni
versitics which sprung ont OF the ideas Of th I
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. How
was II that the Spanish universities had dc
generated II certainly was not because tn,
Spaniards were inferior In intelligence and
talent to the English or the Germans, bu
because those two great people had acquire'
before them the great treasure OF liberty o
Thought /, because they had, not like Spain
remained go long without light In the con
science, buried In the obscure depths OF tn,
Inquisition
"As said In the beginning, this spe0cl
has created an extraordinary sensation, anI
awokc an echo from all quarters. A sub
scription Is on foot for q national ovation +
CASTELAR,, who has made tremendous stride
In popular estimation, and proved himsel
the FIRST orator Of his country"