Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-14
Mr.. Stevens Lecture.

The opening lecture of the Temple course was
givea last evening, at Meonian Hall, to good au-
diencc, by Hon. John l.. Stevens of this city. The
subject of the lecture was "South America" an
idea of its value may be obtained from the synopsis
which we able to present to our readers this
morning. We are at the same time aware that the
abstract hardly does justice to the able lecture so
full OF instruction and interest.
A leading aim of the lecture is to show the
moral and political causes which have produced
the present people of South American. Mr.. Ste.
vens said that three hundred and fifty years ago
four men dictated the affairs of Europe-Charles
of Spain Francis LIST of France, the Pope of Rome,
and Solyman the head of the Ottoman Power
combination of events and his remarkable talents
served to make Charles the Fifth, of Spain and
Germany, the most powerful monarch Of Christen-
dom. BY the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella
and the consequent union of Aragon and CASTLE,
and the final overthrow OF the Moorish power by
the conquest of Grenada, Spain was united, and
soon was enabled to spring into commanding pc.
ston in the worlds affairs In 1906, Charles, then
six years Of age, became heir presumptive to the
entire possession OF the house of Hapsburg, in Ger
many. and TO the sovereignty of burgundy, after
wards termed the Spanish Netherlands. By the
death Of his maternal grandfather in l5lG he inner.
tied the kingdom Of Spain, of Naples, and of the
lantic seas. On his arriv al at manhood he had in
possession the population, soldiers, extent of do
main, revenues, and maratme resources what
rendered him the wealthiest and most powerful
ruler in the world. The great cardinal and states
man. Ximines, perhaps the abest public man of
his time had carefully prepared for him the pedes.
tai of power, and Charles himself proved equal to
the opportunity and the occasion. The Pope him.
self strongly he then was entrenched in the be.
liefs and kingdoms of the world, the proud mon
arch of France as well as the mighty Turk, were
compelled to play subordinate parts to the Spanish
King and German Emperor united in the grandson
of Ferdinand and Isabella. Phillip the End, sue.
ceeded to most of his fathers abdicatcd thrones,
and none of the Spanish pretensions were dimin.
ished. Though by his narrow bigotry and the
bloody rule of the Duke of Alva, Holland was driv-
on into successful revolt Phillip annexed Portugal
to his dominions. From his cabinet rooms at the
Escural he fixed the fate of nations in both hemi.
spheres and sought to regulate the private
of men throughout his vast domains, ON which
his father had boosted the sun never set. Yet in
spite of the vast priesty, political, and military
power of Charles and Phillip during their rcigns,
there arose in the hearts Of men in Germany, In
England, and in the Netherlands, power which
they could no more control than they could the I'M
seen currents OF heavent the power Of free thought
of individual conscience and faith-the Protes
tant power of the Reformation. The influences
welded by Charles and Phillip and those of the
Reformation, crossed the ocean TO wrestle for the
mastery in the new world. The former succeeded
in obtaining universal sway In South America
The discovery of Columbus had not only infamed
the spirit of avarce in foreign countries but the