New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-23

"a colossal criminal before whom all other
criminals may hide their diminished heads.
Alva sailed from Cartagena May 10,
1867. His army consisted of $1,000 picked
veterans, seasoned in hundred battles,
and fit servants for such y master. they
were perfectly equipped, and in order to
prevent those disorders so prejudiciaf to
military discipline. corps of 1000 of the
demi- monde, regularly enlisted and paid,
accompanied them on their march France
| having refused passage through her terri
| tories Alva proceeded to Genoa and from
| thence made his way over the Alps through
| Savoy burgundy and Lon raine, and entered
| the Netherlands without opposition. In
| that unhappy country there was but one
| man who knew what was coming. William
| of Orange cOmprehended the mission of
| Alva, and being powerless to offer effective
| opposition retired into Germany. Before
| his departure he urged Egmont and Horn,
| his associates in resistance to Spanish rule,
| to leave the place which was soon to be-
| come an immense slaughter pen. They
| could not and would not believe there was
| any real danger, or that their monarch in
| tended any harm to those who still consid-
! cred themselves his faithful subjects Will
liam begged implored and prayed them to
| fly before it was too late. They refused
| and so walked blindfold to their doom.
The regent soon found that, though not
| formally superseded, the supreme authority
| had been transferred to Aiva. and after
| many useless protests to Philip retired from
| office and made room for the viceroy,
who had brought with him hundreds Of
death warrants which the king had signed
in blank and left him the pleasant duty of
filing up. His first work was to establish
in Brussels what he called The Council Of
Troubles" but what the world has called
from that day 10 this, 1.-The Council OF
Blood" The whole judiciary of the Neither
lands was engaged in this one tribunal. Its
members were appointed by Alva, he him
self was president, and all Its edicts re-
quired his sanction. He sanctioned every
edict which carried death and con!scation
of property with it: he vetoed every edict
which released a prisoner who had ever
raised his voice against the 1nquisitiOn, or
who was rich enough to be worth robbing
and numbering.
Catholics as well as Pro5estants were
brought before the Council of Blood, and,
without scarcely the form of trial, dis
missed to the scaffOld or the stake. They
were not condemned singly, but in droves
of twenty, fifty and hundred. The names
were read over, the charges stated, and tie
verdict rendered. So regular was the
routine Of butchery that it is said one of
the Judges, the infamous Eessel, used to go
sound asleep while the court was in session,
and when awakened to give his vote on
case which he had never heard. would
always exclaim: ITO the gallows to the
gallows"' Egmont and Horn were among
the first to taste the ten jer lnerclas of the
prince who prided himself upon being ever
mild, benignant and placable." Philip
had given Alva special orders to Sci 70 these
leaders at the earliest opportunity and
execute them whenever it was most con-
yenient.
They were invited to banquet n Brus-
sells. EgmOnt was arrested whiI5 walh4lg
arm in arm with Alva. and Horn a few
minutes later in another apartment of the
palace. Both were beheaded in the grand
square of the city, June ), l56S-Alva look
ing on from neighboring window, ard as
soon as the ak had fallen dispatching a
courier to Madrid with the welcome tidings
that two brave and honest nOblemen, whose |
only crime was devotion to the cause of q |
down trodden people, had been SUITABLY |
punished for their ininuitous behavior"
When EgmOnt and Horn ha been dis |
missed the machinery Of massacre re- |
the remOtest towns and Tillages OF the |
Netherlands with instructions to brin,, all |
persons-that is. heretics, rebels |
and The ricii-at once to Brussels. There |
the Blood Council took charge o. them
Vargas accused: old Hessel shouted To
the galOws." Alva said, - men, ~ and they
were swept out Of sight by the hands OF the
executi0ner. 1t is estimated that during
he six years of Alvas rule over 1900
men. women and children were hung.
burned aid beheaGed. This does not in
,iude the thousands upon thousands who
we're slaughtered by his 5old.ecs.
In the battles and sieges which he con
,uctet in person or by his lieutenanta, no
quarter was ever shown. I e beaten army
vas exterminate,i, the captured cities ven
Up to fire and sword. Women were publicly
-iolated: children hacked into piece IN
orn infants torn from the maternal womb
nd flung TO the dogs or to he Ete. Al
he sick of Harlem 300 cit ems were
led back to back in couples AID .hcowa
lto the lake: at the sack OF Eutphen sea
loIe were fastened in the same manner aEJ
rOwned in the river.
We have not the space to even mention
alt the horrors perpetrated by this demon |
l human shape, with the sanction of the
raster demon, who. in the cloisters o. the
scOrial, spent his days and nights in die J
ltng and experimenting the internal
ork. Philip was worthy OF Alva, and {
Iva worthy of Philip. Drenched in treach-
y and blood both are plioried in history, $
id as long as grass grows and water runs S
Ell will wonder why the good GOD allowed
lch monsters ss these t. curse bis foot
DOL. a
Alya retired from TIE government of the =
etherlands November l., 1913. His fare
ell advice to the king was to destroy every a
u in the revolted provinces except two or !
rec to serve as garrisons, and by 10 | a
cans to relax the Christian chastsement"
hich he had so happily commenced. A a
ort time after his return to Spain he in I
rred the displeasure OF Philip on account
some misconduct Of his son. He was in g
isoned and banished. but in 1880 was en- Il
Dyed in the conquest Of Portugal which ;.
stored him to royal favor 50 that he !,
Md die peacefully in his bed January Il, n
So W
Leaving a name to other tnes \
Linked with no virtue and million crimes." u
80. LOujS RcVDbiiGaa .