The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-10
FEDERATION IN SPAIN.
Absolute Social Equality-No Distin
ton of Glass.


ton of Class.
The most remarkable thing about Mad
rid is not so much its intellectual activity
as the absolute liberty with which scien-
tiilc inquiry is carried on. This liberty
is not merely the result of the vigorous
democratic laws which insure it. but also
of the deeply rooted customs of every
grade of Spanish society. There are free
nations, such as the English, amongst
whom belief in the ancient liturgy and
respect Tor time-honored social conyen-
tons exercise so great restraint that
any new ideas are altogether inadmis-
sible, especially If they trench at all either
on the Anglican faith or on the constitn-
tional monarchy, and no one can give ex-
preston to them without losing caste. 1t
IS really piteous, to note all the precan-
lions with which the worthy Max Muller
has to hedge himself about in order tn
develop his notions on the philosophy of
religions without wounding the religious
susceptibilities of the English. And ye1
greater Is the distavor with which an able
orator and statesman, such as Charles
Dixie, has had to contend, on account of
his brilliant speeches with regard to tile
British civil list, and his advanced oDin-
ions DIS to the best and most suitable form
OF government. Whereas in Spain. in the
classic land of the Inquisition, no one is
thought tho worse OF whatever his new
subject of religious dogma, philosophy.
or politics.
Even more than for its wide tolerance
in intellectual matters is Madrid distin
guished for the natural, sincere and con-
slant respect shown amongst its citizens
for the principle of equality. Never
could an inhabitant of Madrid be ipdnced
to entertain for moment the notion
prevalent amongst so many other people
OF privileged class, enjoying a lofty and
solitary social position, or of aristocrstic
quarters, resembling cemeteries in their
dreary seclusion, set apart for the exclu-
sive use of what may be characterized az
the mere ghosts OF ancient royal Chi
meras. At Madrid there are no distinc-
tons of class, CT if there are, every one
meets on equal terms. When the Ouch
ess of Medinaceli. or the Duke of Fernan
himself, holds reception, the first ner-
son to be invited is the Alcalde of their
quarter, and he is always an artisan.
Beneath gilded ceilings, and amongst
the portraits of kings and viceroys re-
lated TO the illustrious owners of tho
house, and blazoned coat of arms sur
mounted by crowns of cleaning gold. ON
the soft carpets of splendid salons and
galleries, you meet the noble and
the plebeian, the Catholic and the ma
terialist, the actor and the General. the
nuncio and the Arch bishop besprinkled
with holy water, the atheist whose
lips are vibrating with the asser-
ton that infinite space, void of intel
ligence, is abandoned to the forces
of nature. Nothing, in fact, can exceed
the political, religious and social toler-
ance or the absolute social equal
ity of Spain. This does not
mean that the Spanish are stran-
gers to religious exaltation, that thew
cannot be moved to a noble zeal
for goodness and truth, or reused
slider their just rights. One thing
is certain, in the strange city of Madrid,
side by side with court petrified in the
traditions of it's ancient history, dwells
democracy thoroughly imbued with the
modern spirit Emilio CASTELAR,, in Har-
per's Weekly.