The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-26

We learn by a despatch from Madrid that
the Constitutional Committee have adopted,
by large vote, an article granting religious
liberation in Spain. If we could feel that
this vote were decisive of the question it
would be gain to civil and religious liberty
throughout the world. In countries like
Spain, where monarchical parties are in the
ascendant, where they are strengthened by an
established church, standing army and
hereditary nobility, nothing is ever decided in
the way of legislation that does not safety
the claims of the monarchists and the Church.
The disheartening aspect of these controversies
is that they never can be decided without the
destruction Of one party or the other. The
Catholic Church in Spain has always been
aggressive, and at no time more so than since
the accession of Prince Alfonso. That Prince
came to the throne of his mother protesting
his desire to be constitutional monarch like
the Queen of England and to reorganize
Spain upon the English model. No sooner
had he reached Madrid than all the old reac-
tionary and clerical influences swarmed around
him. The army demanded the restoration of
system--pensions, promotions, opportunities
for plumber. The nobility insisted that the
ancient rights belonging to their rank should
be confirmed; that a grandee of Spain should
be of as much consequence as he was in the
time of Philip H. The Church was resolute
in its demands. 1t insisted that the subven-
ton formerly paid by the State to the priest
hood should be restored, and that it should
be specie, and consequently we had the spec
tacle of country like Spain, so poor that it
had to borrow money at the highest rates of
interest in every pawnbrokers shop of Europe
paying millions of dollars annually to sup
port Catholic priests. Not content with this,
it was demanded that all religious beliefs but
the Catholic should be prohibited; that Prot
estant papers should not be published in
Madrid; that the Protestant chapel should
not be opened; that Spain was a truly Catho
lie country In other words, the policy which
expelled the Moors and prosecuted the Jews
in the time of Ferdinand and Philip was
evoked in this nineteenth century.
The new Prince has been anxious to concil-
late the powerful influence of the Church.
He feels that the alienation of the Church
from Amadeus and the Republic was among
the causes of his downfall. He feels that any
attempt to return to the policy that formerly
governed Spain would be to unite against him
the combined influence of enlightened
Europe. This struggle has been bitter. 1t
has continued with much ferocity. We
have fears for the stability of the new
monarchy publicly expressed. The clericals
and the royalists threaten the new King that
unless their demands are granted they will
support Don Carlos. Carlism is no longer
local rebellion in Spain but a party with
adherents in every part of the country. Don
Carlos appeals to the royal and clerical senti-
ment. He represents monarchy in the
strictest sense, religion as taught by the ex-
IRENE Catholic theologians, absolute royalty
and an infallible faith. The concession of
religious liberation by the present dynasty
shows that liberalism in Spain is so potent that
it can compel even from king recognition
of the cardinal principles of liberal govern
ment. If the Spaniards can succeed in estab-
fishing real religious toleratiop they will
accomplish great work.