New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-28

Americans should take special interest il
the development Of the Spanish nation, say.
the New York Post Spain takes from us be
tween $50 900 and 200, 900 bales of cotton every
year, and we take in return fruits, cork wood,
wine, and lead. She possesses Cuba and Porte
Rico, at our very doors, and the equally rict
Philippines in the Indian Ocean. During the
| fiscal year ending June 80, 1870, our imports
| from Cuba and Porto Rico alone amounted to
$62, 900, 900, while our exports thither reached
SIG 100000, and our re,exports -, 600
The Philippines had shipped to us this year. OF
! the llth Of September, 10000 tons of sugar
and 1900 tons Of hemp. Of our most i'm
portant article of importation, sugar, Cuba
alone furnished US 100000 tons in 1870. when
our consumption, without counting Louisiana
sugar and maple, amounted to 600 tons; in
other words, we drew sixty-six per cent oil
Our foreign sugar from that island.
A steady growth Of population is the best
sign OF healthy development, and we note with
pleasure that Spain is rapidly recovering from
q prostration of industry which, except in
Catalonia, has lasted nearly two centuries, and
that she has gained six millions of inhabitants
within the last twenty years.
1t 10 interesting to review the fluctuations
through which the population of Spain has
passed statistican of great merit, Osorio
Redin, writing towards the close of the seven
teenth century, endeavored to prove that long
before the Roman conquest Spain counted
nearly $4,000. goo inhabitants, aud at the time
Of julius Cesar, $4,000, 900; while others,
equally trustworthy, place it at 10000, 900.
Tarragona counted 2. 500, 900 souls, and Merida
was gsrrisoned by $4,000 infantry and 10, 900
cavalry. The population declined but little
under the Cloths. 1t fell rapidly, however,
during the eight centuries, in which part of
the country was occupied by the Moors, except
IN those districts which were recovered by the
Christians, and into which constant stream
OF warriors poured from France and Germany,
to join the banner of the Cross against the
Inidels
But even under Moorish rule Granada recoy
cred, and at one time had $50, 900 inhabitants
and 10, 200 houses, furnishing so 600 soldiers ;
and the Kingdom had population of 8 0OO, 900.
At the time of Ferdinand aud Isabella a care.
ful census was taken and Spain proved to be
Inhabited by 10000, 900 people, notwithstand.
ing the departure of many Moorish families.
period then followed during which Spanish
captains and soldiers were to be found fighting
in all parts of the world, imbued with that
spirit OF adventure which chung to the nation
on account Of the long warfare against the
Moors. While distant conquest tempted
abroad the flower Of youth, never to return.
the mother country was covered with ruins,
which number even now l ,l4l. Under the
Moorish kings of Cordova there were twelve
hundred villages on the banks of the Guadal-
culver there are only two hundred now The
lnquisition covered the country with pail of
mourning, and forced many to emigrate to dis
tant colonies. The decline of population be-
came very rapid. In 1858 it was only IL, O0O,-
600, and in 1900 it had fallen to 100000 A
gradual increase followed, carrying it to 9.OOO,-
600 in l768, and to 10, 600, 600 i'm 1898 :
II Zoo, 900 in 1920, and Ia, 100000 in 1928.
1t receded to 100000 in 1887 and to III, :
10000 in 1850. In 1870, the census showed
that Spain had 1000, 900 inhabitants
Ii We inquire into the causes of the slow
recovery from 100000 in 100 to only H.
OOO, 900 in 1850, we conclude that the suicidal
fiscal policy of Spain has been the cause of all
her misfortunes. Her capital has Stunned all
industrial undertakings and it is only since
the exile Of Isabella and the priests that the
nation has begun to cast off the financial tram
meis of three centuries, and there is even yet
no sign that her colonies are soon to profit by
the change.