The National tribune., 1893-01-26

oNso XIII
cities. Schools are likewise much more COM
mon and better administered. The Queen,
who is an Austrian By birth, is but following
the footsteps of her husband and continuing
the policy adopted by him.
The royal palace in Madrid is something
magnificent, and is about the only one used by
the royal family. 1t is situated in the heart
OF the city, and has been built about century
and a half. The first floor alone contains 30
, salons. magnifcently furnished, and with fine
frescoed ceilings by noted artists. Everything
is on the princely scale usual in Spanish
palaces The first cost about 900;
besides nearly every occupant has had more or
less improvements made. 1t is a square 500
feet on each side and surrounds a beautiful
open court. The finest of marble is used in its
construction, and still more precious materials
in its ornamentation.
curious thing | have noticed in these
Spanish royal palaces is the large number OF
clocks. Turn your eyes anywhere and they
sure TO fall on one of them. Every hall
appears to contain three and some have six or
| eight. They are of all kinds and sizes from
| the little chimney piece ornament to the old
| fashioned stately grandfathers clocks. One
! would think that Spanish royalty would always
| be punctual Yet it is proverbially always the
| other way. The reason given is that no two of
| these clocks keep the same time.
| The stables and coach houses are especially
| fine. The finest horses and mules in the King
dom are found here. Aud in coaches no coun-
| try excels Spain. They of all sizes, from
| baby Victorias to awkward state carriages.
| There is one Of the latter that cost 100000,
another $4,000, and so on, the number being
above l00 Many were presents from other
royalty.
1
! but they are seldom occupied Yet they are
very fine, with magnificent gardens, especially
| the one at AranjueZ. 1t seems rather out Of
repair and shows great signs Of neglect The
other one is at La Granja and was built at the
| caprice of King who wished to rival the
| famous French palaces. a subsequent King
built one feature, sort of NEUROLOGICAL scene
| After he had finished he said: " 1t cost me
three millions, but it amused me five minutes
That is about the feeling these Kings had in
| reference to their palaces. However, the
people always had to pay for these things, and
were little the better for the royal extrava-
gance
Spain has at last, should think, fairly en-
tered on the path of progress. And yet that
| statement may be saying too much. The trouble
with the country is finance. This has always
been the great s,umbing-block with the
country. How happy nations would be if there
was no balance-sheet to be presented / have
been told that there is great deal Of money in
the country. If so, cannot see the evidences
OF it, All public works proceed slowly, because
of lack of funds. Railways and other improve
ments have been constructed by the aid of
foreign capital. The biggest mines in a country
rich in mineral wealth are operated by English
capital. Manufactures are few and only for
articles of home consumption Spain has
magnificent ports, and from her situation might
n ar 90 RI nf he fraH Df
world. But, no. with the exception of coasting
boats the mercantile fleet is small.
| The Government is poor. Everything avail
able is taxed much possible. Steamboat
tickets are taxed, likewise thester tickets, re-
ceipts, posted advertisements, etc, ETC. These
are in addition to the regular modes of taxation
| and raising revenue
Import duties heavy These cannot be
called protective duties, for Spanish labor is az
cheap as any country know of; but they are
purely and simply for revenue. All articles o!
clothing and III fact nearly everything, bears
an import duty. Besides, Spanish money is at q
discount. For goods worth in London OF New
York 81, the Spaniard must pay $l.i6. That u.s.
he must pay is per cent. premium. So this, in
connection with duties, makes all imported
goods very high. SO, until Spanish money will
pass at par and little better legislation is en-
acted, things will never be really prosperous.
The Government is Indifferent. Crises are
|
of office. This unsettes business, and espe.
cially shakes foreign credit Scandals have
been frequently unearthed in one quarter OF
another. 1t is not the fault of the reignne
family, but the Ministers, who are not always
trustworthy.
The public debt is very large, yet it would
not be so if the country was as prosperous as il
ought to be. France, but little larger, easily
carries debt many times greater. Spain is &
rich country for agriculture. Its mnera
wealth is great, but needs developing. In fact
, the whole country needs good shaking up al
around.
The country ought to recover its one tim,
prosperity. The people are capable of being
, great commercial nation. Spain is a country
{ for which we nearly all have lingering love
There Is something romantic about the Spanish
nature which IS attractive. II may be il
strange history in connection with the Ameri
cas-. At any rate, am sure we all will gladly
hail the day when Spain once more asserts heI
{ position in the front rank of nations.
e There is in Spain at the present time stron
}. republican party. Barcelona, the greatest com
G mercial center OF the country, is a center 0
g repnblicansm also Numerous pronuncia
r meDtos have been issued from there. In fact
d there has already been one Republic about q
i years ago. However, bad set of men seem
TO have been at the head of it, and it wa
shOrtliyed- Their acts were very unpopular
c The sentiment in favor of Republic seem
G now on the increase. France and other coun
Is tries have become so prosperous under tina
b form that it is bearing fruit in this country
II The present dynasty is not so very firmly estab
e lished, and there is also pretender to til
n throne so it would not be a surprising thing
d the result before long time in the future woul
d be the establishment Of Republic That
b the tendency everywhere now and especiall
in this peninsula known as Spain.
N. D. WINTER
10 ------o-----------
IF Cheap Trip to California.
i. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company al
nnEuces q spccial trim 10 San Erauciscn and oilt