The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-03-14
sMisreAann.
Castelar,.

Wisfflla'iy.
! Castelar,.
The recent elections in Spain had at
least one happy result in the return to
public life Of the most eloquent of Span.
ish orators, and the foremost of the
Spanish Republicans, Emilio CASTELAR,.
Both the history and the character oi
this famous man have peculiar inter
est. He began life as student and a
scholar; and having graduated at the
University of Madrid, his destiny as q
quiet teacher seemed fixed, when at an
early day, he was appointed Professor OF
History in that Institution.
This was due to the high stand he had
taken as student and soon ne hsss..ls:s-!'
VERY popular as lecturer, bis lectures
being full Of learning and eloquence, and
his bearing toward the students being
that Of leader and friend
He was not destined to remain very
long, however, in the seclusion and quiet
of University life. e,s
From his earliest youth CASTELAR, had
been a very earnest politician. He was
q warm Republican while yet boy, and
it is said that when he was but sixteen
years old he made fiery Republican
speech to an excited crowd in the streets
OF Madrid. rel9ggSi Ea
4 When he became q professor, be was
known to still keep his interest in poll,
tics, and to be IS strong Republican az
ever; and while he taught the students
history, he did not neglect, also, to give
them some lessons ard hints in political
liberty, while at the same time he wrote
eloquent articles for the papers.
AT last it came his turn to act. as well
as speak. An insurrection broke out in
Madrid in 1866. aimed at the abolition
of the monarchy and the establishment
Of the Republic. In this rising CASTELAR,
took vigorous part. @
But it failed. and We next find the fiery
Professor Of History, instead of hold
ing forth from his desk, lying solitary in
prison. There were friends outside,
however, who resolved to aid his escape !;
and one morning the people of Madrid
awoke to hear that CASTELAR, had got out
Of prison, and had reached the frontier
without detection.
He remained out of town two. years,
returning when the rebellion Of 1868
had succeeded in driving Isabella from
the throne, and putting the supreme
power in the hands of Gen. Prim.
There was now fine opportunity for
Castelar's zeal and eloquenee. His BROTH
er Republicans welcomed him with wild
rejoicing and at the first election he was
chosen q deputy to the Cortes, as the
Spanish Parliament is called.
In that body he became at once the
leader of his party, and the splendid elo-
quence Of his speeches soon won him a.
world wide fame. He struggled on with
his party for two years, always seekina'
to persuade Spain to trust herself to 81
Republican government. At last be saw
his desires gratifed. The abdicatios OF
King Amadeus opened the way for Re-
public. which was founded with Figueras
for President, and CASTELAR, as Foreign
Secretary.
In due time CASTELAR, rose from Cab
met Office to be President of the Repub.
lie. But circumstances and events, rather
than any deficiency of his own, prevent
ed his success in this high place. He
had to deal with an ignorant and bigoted
people, and to contend with ambitious
Generals, and selfish, corrupt politicians.
One day the government was overturn-
ed by some troops under Gen. Pavia,
and CASTELAR, retired from public life, to
which be has just now returned again.
+. Castelar,, in personal appearance, is
rather below medium height, rather thick
set and solid of body. His face is round,
and is smooth. except that he wears
long black mustache;. his complexion is 1
of that handsome olive so often seen in
Spaniards; he has large, expressive dark
eyes; his head is very bald, with only q
rim of short black hair, passing round
telow the crown; while his forehead is
broad, high, and very finely shaped.
He dresses plainly, almost shabbily,
and lives, as he did when President, in |
the most modest way. He is a bachelor,
and resides with an older sister.
As an orator he il unequaled in Spain,
and may be considered as worthy to
rank with Gladstone and Gambet.a. His
speeches are full not only Of rare learn
ing, hut OF brilliant passages anG bold
flights of rhetoric His delivery is very
energetic and impassioned An. Ameri-
can who heard him speak says of him
s'There is something almos. superhuman
in his delivery. The whole man talks,
from his head to his feet"
CASTELAR, has always been warm friend
and admirer of the United States. He
has studied our Constitution and history,
and no European statesman is more fa-
miliar with all that relates to our system
and progress. In this country he sees
the example which he would like to see
Snain fO1lOw and adont