The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-16
CASTELAR,.
The Grrut Spanish Orntor on American Re
pubIcapicm.

MADRID, Oct IL, 1S69-Messrs. Editors: -
The many letters l have received from diffe-
rent portions of Germany, felicitating me
upon my speeches IN the Assembly upon reli-
gion and monarchy, the great questions of
our epoch, are very gratifying, and through
you l reply to them. Your periodical was
the first to notice, in a happy translation, my
discourse against monarchy. Accept my warm
thanks. In the physical struggle which en-
sued upon our Parliamentary debates the
champions of the republic were in the mino-
rity. A vigorous resistance is usually made
by society to every innovation upon re-
ceived ideas Once, however, that the
public mind becomes imbued with new doc
trine, it bursts into revolution, as the air,
when charged with electricity eliminates in
tempest. Most political misfortunes arise
from resort to temporizing expedients
rather than to abstract right, which should be
the true governing principle. The Spanish
character is the most original among those of
the Latin nations. 1t inherits from the an
cient German races gravity and patience, and
from its Greek and Latin ancestors inspra-
tion and breadth. The Spaniard forms the
meridian line between Teutonic individual
ism and Latin socialism. Equality is as vital
in Spanish customs as in French laws, and,
having ever preserved, through the march of
centuries the sentiment of personal dignity,
liberty boasts in Spain of traditions as glo-
rious and roots as profound as exist among
the nations of Germany. With all these quail
ties, the Spanish nation has opposed for CEN
turies the inroads of modern thought. At the
dawn of modern civilization we concluded in
Europe and commenced in America q crusade
for Catholicism. No sooner did we vanquish
the Arabs than we called the Indians
to baptism. From that enthusiasm was en-
gendered our furious struggle against German
refomatory thought, against the Dutch Re-
public, against the political freedom of Eng
L., oYI OF oil hot ,4o1 IL
spread of modern liberalism. How much
were our consciences contaminated by contact
with the giant corpse of the Catholic system
of politics! We have paid dearly for our
ransom from its contact and for indoctrina-
tion into the modern ideas. To-day we are
among the first of those great nations of
Europe who, since 1852, in the latest histori-
cal period, have begun, moved by their innate
conscience, popular revolution as a substi-
tute for the governmental and diplomatic
revolutions realized in Piedmont and Prussia.
On mournful days l announced to you, with
certainty, that all these evolutions in politics
would end in republcanism; because no
forces, however powerful, could overcome or
turn aside the current of necessity. The
cause of liberty and of national independence
is involved in that of a republic. The king
that our reactionaries offer us will be crea-
tion racked by intrigue and cabals, who, as an
abortive and artificial being will be bar to the
solution of grand political questions and of
all great ideas. The Republican party has
already inscribed its formulas upon the sum-
NIT of the Spanish tribune As modern So
ciety must essentially be one of humanity,
we have first affirmed that the essential facul-
ties of our nature should be unfolded, as the
/ fundamental basis of our political system.
Over our opinions, we recognize no jurisdic-
fion by the State. The two principles which
have appeared antagonistic, those of indi-
vidualism and socialism, find their synthesis
in democracy, which recognizes the power
Y and authority of the nation in all that does
not infringe upon the rights of the individual
Thus it is that the organization laid down for
7 The Spanish democracy in the Assembly is the
most simple and the most in harmony with
human nature. By respecting individual
rights we shall obtain complete manhood
for our citizens and the development of their
I faculties. Once recognizing the sovereignty
of the individual, we shall then
recognize the sovereignty of the
n citizen. The first social entity, follow
IA ing upon those of the individual and the
family, is that of the municipality. Without
that it is impossible to organize democracy.
The history q Fberty is also that of the mu-
nicipaality.. IL was through the association Of
men in cities that the divine fire of inspra-
tion was kindled in their veins; it was
among the Germans, united in tribes, that
sprung the germs of individual liberty which
II gave birth to modern civilization; it was
Al through the corporations of Spain that a
race of heroes was created; and it was the
republic of Italy that gave rise to a race of
artists from the chaos of the middle ages.
The French revolution subsidized into dicta-
torship, because it had neglected to create
municipalities. The true law of social group.
ing opposes no obstacle to individuality. The
municipality is an autonomy, the canton OF
county is an autonomy, and the State is an
autonomy In saying this give the theory
of federal republic, form of government
that realizes the grand theory of the universe
and of the soul. In the law Of unity is com
pretended variety. When great nation re
allies that ideal, when all its inhabitants
become citizens, when municipalities consis
of freemen, cantons of free municipal
ties and States Of free cantons
when the central power be
comes an emanation from all that il
responsible to all, the hour will then have
sounded for that nation to invite the found
ing of the United States of Europe, which
moulding the aggregated nations in the sam
universal spirit of justice, yet, allowing then
to preserve their respective autonomies, vii
ensure variety in their several aptitudes AM
richness to their civilization. In this wa
alone we realize the great ends of moderl
politics, the complete secularization of tn
State from all alliance with the Church; tn
transformation of standing armies into a ma
tional militia for preserving internal security
The abolition of war, a scourge inherited fror
barbarous days. decentralization, both polit
cal and administrative and the existence G
Eelf-government in each community. In thi
Xvav can we realize the confederation of Fr