, 1873-03-23

These States are to comprise tho modern prov
inccs which compose what were once tho aepa
ratio kingdoms and ancient divisions Of CASTLE
Aragon, Leon, Navarro, Grenada, Cataloais
A2dalusia, Valencia 1lurcia, Asturias, with tn
American dependencies. organized as intcgru
States. All this reads very we'll theoretically
but, unfortunately, it is only 3 theory in Spain
Tho moro advanced Republicans accept th
! United States Us n model, and regard our geo
graphical division into States as tho strengthen
ing power, forgetting that, after Ill, republi
is only government OF written law, dc2endin;
| to law on tho part Of tho people. These essen
! tials to Republic seem to be wholly wanting il
Spain. if, indeed, they not foreign to the edu
cation, thought, and natural disposition of tht
people. The population of Spain may be classed
under threo general heads: /. Tho Nobl-
ity, the proudcst, most arrogant, and
| wealtlic5t in Europe, md numerous enough to
constitute one-iltcenth Of tho whole people.
exacting, as opposed to popular government. md
as rich, es tho nobility. They, with their depend
ants, form . large body OF the population. These
two classes own, or hcld and control, the produc-
tive lands Of Spain. 8. Tho Commonality, which
has several grades, but, as i whole, is as low in
educational and intellectual culture rs is con-
eistcat with civilization The power Of the To-
LiIity and Of the Church over the mass Of the
people lins alwa:s been supreme. Tho ncrcan-
tile Or trading classes may form liberal govern
mentB, but, with tho coasorTatism Of commerce,
prefer peace. There has mover been SUCCESS
full revolution in Spain, except when it has been
accomplished by division among the nobility
such revolutions have never been in the interest
Of popular liberty, but, b; portion Of the priyl
eyed classes, ir favor OK ono 1bsolutist aganstan
other. Thetempora1y success orexis.enco, OF tho
Republic is due not to my respect or fear OF the
existing Government, but to tho intense rivalry
between tho Royal claimants. It YES truo that
four years ago IsabellG WAS expelled, but that
WIS accomplished as much by the arta and secret
support OF the friends Of rival Gon2rchists as it
was By those who Gought liberalization OF tho
Government Liberalism in Spain means greater
privileges md power to the nobility and to the
Church it goes no further. Any King who seeks
to control these noble aud ecclesiastical chiefs,
must do 50 at tho cost of civil war, and. as the
boon aospotic in tho fullest senso of the term,
popular liberty has been placed as if between the
upper and neither milstonc-:lo Crown and tho
Aristocracy.
The union Of Spain under ono monarchy dates
with tho reign Of Ferdinand and Isabella, aud is
with tho discovery OF America
u 1492- Their daughter (Jane the InEane)
married Philip Of Austria, and they gavo to the
world tho famous Emperor, Charles the Fifth. !
Under him and his son, Philip H., and tho sue
ossors Philip III. and Philip ", Spain
reached and maintained imperial power, coz
rolling not onlJ many OF tho States Of Europo, |
tut tho greater part Of the American continent,
nd large possessions in Aaia and Africa With !
he death Of Philip ". tho Austrian limo ended,
nd tho introduction OF tho French Bourbons fol-
rived in the person of Philip Y, grandson Of
louis XIV. Of Franco, Who, in the long struggle
OF tho succession, WAS stripped Of many Of his
'uropcau possessions. He was succeeded By his
ons, Ferdinand ". and Charles Ill, the latter
ying in 17S5. Charles ". succeeded his father,
nd with him begins tho rivalry that is main-
aimed to this day Us to tho rightful succession
, the throne.
Charles ~. with his oldoat Eon Ferdinand, were
ompellod to abdicate by Napoleon, vho placed
osoph Bonapar:e on tho Throne OF Spain. In
314, Ferdinand VII, to tho exclusion Of his
!ther, Was recognized By the allies az King. He
as one of the worst Of the many de5pots the
ourbon family has produced. During his whole
ign he WAS at war with his Mobiles. The latter
ID no objection to despotism, but the King in~
nded them among his victims. Tho King had
ur wives, the Inst, Christina OF Nsplos, alone
aring him children. These were Isabella, |
I'm in $780, and Maria Louiea, born in 1882.
hen Charles ". died he left surviving him, be-
les Ferdinand, two other sons, Charles, and
aucis Do Paula The Salic law excluding fe- I
a1es prevailed in Spain. When near his death. ,
tho procurement Of Christina, Ferdinand
'olahed the Sa1ic lar in favor Of his daughters.
ereby excluding his brothers from the succes-
IN. Notwithstanding this, upon the death OF
. King, in 1883, Charles claimed the :
a1one. and civil war. accompanied By