Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-01-14
1 SpaBis5 Orator,

1t would be strange if the Spanish Reyolu-
ton had not produced at least one great ora
tor. Great national commissions Of that
kind, great uprisings Of the people in the
cause Of liberty and justice, are always
fruitful of eloquence. The tyranny Of kings
and priests had 50 crushed out the energies
and the spirit Of the people, and had 50 cor
rupted true education in Spain, that previous
to the Revolution of September oratory was
a rare and an uncultivated requirement.
But the overthrow of the Bourbon dynasty.
and the consequent freedom Of speech, fur
nished the occasion for eloquence, Of which
the Revolution itself was at once the theme
and the inspiration. At once there appeared
in the Cortes an orator the equal Of any
which the world has ever seen, Senior CAS-
telar. Before the Revolution he was pro-
fessor of history in one Of the universities, -
that ofZaragoza we believe, "a quiet studious
person, known only as a scholar and an up
right man. Though he had never been a
politician, the crisis Of lS6S called him out
and the TWO Republican cities Of Lerida and
Zaragoza sent him to Madrid as then deputy.
la the Cortes he at once won a reputation
for elo1uence aud courage lie advocated
the most liberal democratic doctrines, and
denounced with equal holiness the dethroned
Isabella and the monarchical schemes Of Pnm.
He opposed the regency Of Serrano and
pleaded earnestly for Republic; and
though Prim and his party carried the day
at the elections, the silver tongued orator
startled them with his eloquent denuncia-
lions. No man has a greater power over his 1
audiences, and the delegates in the Constitu |
ent CJrtes weep and laugh and tremble at /
the pathos, the wit and the invec:ive Of an /
orator, whose sentiments they are neyerthe- /
less afraid to adopt
\ correspondent of the London Times says |
that Castelar, has without doubt the keenest .
wit, the fercest inyectiye, the readiest and /
most extensive erudition, the strongest and |
most musical voice, the most imposing pres
ence, of any orator ancient or modern. he /
is earnest, imprisoned, and resistless in his
speeches His elOquence Is a torrent which |
bears the orator along, and sweeps down all /
before it. Patriotism gives him inspiration,
his imagination beauties his rhetoric, his
learning ornaments and illustrates the ele-
gance and force of his diction. What De
mosthenes was to Greece, Cicero to Rome.
Pvm to the Long Parliament, Mrabeau TO the /
France of 80 and Patrick Henry 70 the .
American Revolution, CASTELAR, is to Spain /
an earnest, patriotic unselfish citizen. OF the /
most enthusiastic ndicalism, and most |
wonderful power Of oratory.
CASTELAR, was of course opposed to the .
candidature of the Duke Of Genoa for the .
Spanish throne this would follow from bis /
well known preference for a republic But /
be is especially hostile to the young Italian. /
and directs towards him the swiftest shafts |
of his sarcasm. Said he, in splendid ora
ton delivered in the Cortes early in Deem (
Der: There finally you announced the 1
question of questions, the advent of king, |
member Of family which has been the eter-
nal enemy of our country, who twice-oDce 1
at the foot of the bed Of Carlos H.. and 4
again in the dying moments of Felipe v.
were lying in wait for the instant of taking |
piece from the Spanish crown-tlat crown /
which now you throw, as if it were frar- |
lie toy, to boy king destitute of moral .
stature to understand our revolution and - /
represent our glorious liberties ~ lie is ar.
raigning the ministry for their policy, and he |
then proceeds to take up in detail the differ
ent acts Of the Regency and thoroughly an |
alyze them. Elsewhere we present a few |
brief extracts from this last great speech. |
Short as they are, and necessarily weakened
BY translation, they will yet suffice to show
the burning eloqaence of the man.