The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-02
CAsTELAR's ADDRESS.

Nothing finer has appeared or ia likely
TO appear in connection with the Worlds
Columbian Exposition than the address
to the American people by Senior Emilio
Castelar,. the Spanish Premier. published
In the Journal yesterday. Conceived in
q spirit of the highest Imagination, and
expressed in words that fairly glow with
intense feeling, it was at once q cordial
greeting TO the great Republic and an
eloquent tribute to the cause of liberty
throughout the world. Americans have
been accustomed to regard Spain as one
of the least progressive of European
countries, and the Spanish government
as one of the most illiberal and most
closely welded to monarchical ideas.
In the main this is true, and yet, even
dences that a great and subtle move
ment is quietly going on in the direction
of constitutional liberty. This paper of
Castelar's is one Of these indications, as
he. himself, is the most conspicuous
leader of the movement referred to,
cate of republicanism in Europe.
The press dispatch conveying Cas-
telar's address styled him general" A
military title rather detracts from than
adds to bis just renown. He is civilian
of civilians, and nothing if not a states
man. The only military operation in
which he ever took part was an at
tempted revolution in 1866, when he was
I condemned to death by the Spanish gov
eminent and barely escaped from the
country with his life. But he is far
more deserving of honor than the great
est soldier of Spain. For nearly forty
years he has been fighting in that coun-
try and throughout Europe, as far as he
could get the public ear, the battle of
human liberty and republican govern
ment. A powerful writer, an eloquent
orator. a fine lawyer. an erudite scholar,
an honored educator and an accom-
plished man of affairs, Emilio CASTELAR,
| has for fully generation past dedicated
all his influence and all his powers to
maintaining and propagatingrepublican
( ideas. AS professor of history and
| philosophy in the University of
Madrid. before he entered public life,
| he was noted for the earnestness
+ with which he promulgated his liberal
views. He left the professors chair to
| take part in revolution. Compelled
I more than once to leave Spain on ac-
count of his advocacy of republication,
A L. L. fo,1 Id 60 xrho H.,
way opened and to renew the fight.
| Much of the time he has been poll
tician without party, a leader without
! followers. In the midst of other pur-
| suits he has found time to write several
| strong pleas for democracy, numerous
| magazine articles, two or three novels,
| life OF Lord Byron, and a charming
| book which has been translated into
| English under the title of "Old Rome
and New Italy"
1t is q picturesque and pleasing in
cident Of the time that this brilliant
statesman and lifelong Republican.
who, twenty-five years ago, was arefuRee
from Spain under sentence of death,
and WHO is now at the head of the
Spanish Ministry, should become spokes-
man for European liberals in congratu-
lating the American people on the au-
spicous opening of the Worlds Column
bian Exposition. The first sentence
| of his address strikes the keynote of
the whole and shows how completely its
author sympathizes with the event and
the occasion. Hail." he says, "to the
American people in the solemn opening
of the exposition erected by free peo-
pie to creative labor" The entire ad-
dress is q magnificent tribute to the in
fiuence of republican government. 1t
reads as if the author felt that, for the first
time in his life. he had an audience who
could enter into his feelings and ap-
precate his words, and as if he were de-
termined, if it were the last act of his
life, to give expression to the full force
of his convictions.
Columbus, when he sailed through
trackless seas in search of unknown
lands, did not show greater heroism or
constancy than Emilio Castelar, has
done by his lifelong advocacy of re-
publicanism in monarchical Spain. The
fact that he is now Prime Minister of
the Spanish government shows that he
has not been labOring in vain. 1t may
not be long before he will see political
land ahead. He may prove to be q new
Columbus for the discovery of new