The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-02
TOlERATlON IN SPAIN.
The Modern Spirit of Freedom That al
Present Prevails.

Present Prevails
The most remarka BILE thing about
Madrid is not so much its intellectual
activity as the absolute liberty with
which scientific inquiry is carried on.
| This liberty is not merely the result of
the vigorous democratic laws which in
sure it, but also of the deeply rooted
customs of every grade of Spanish So
ciett. There are free nations, such as
the English, amongst whom belief in
| the ancient liturgy and respect for
time honored social conventions exer-
else so great a restraint that any new
ideas are altogether inadmissable es-
pecially if they trench At all either on
the Anglican faith or on the constitu-
tiOnal monarchy, and no one can give
expression to them without losing caste.
1t is really piteous to note all the pre-
cautions with which the worthy Max
Muller has to hedge himself about in
order TO develop his notions on the
philosophy of religions without wound
ing the religious susceptibilities of the
English. And yet greater is the dis
favor with which an able orator and
statesman, such as Sir Charles Dixie,
has had to contend, on account of his
brilliant speeches with regard 10 the
British civil list. and his advanced
opinions as TO the best and most suit
able form of government Whereas III
Spain, in the classic land of the lnqui-
sition, no one is thought the worse of
whatev his new and progressive ideas,
whether on the subject of religious
dogma, philosophy or politics.
Even more than for its wide toler-
ance in intellectual matters is Madrid
distinguished for the natural, sincere
and constant respect shown amongst
its citizens for the principle of equal
ity Never could an inha bitant of Mad
rid be induced to entertain for a mo-
ment the notion prevalent amongst so
many other people of privileged
class. enjoying a lofty and soli-
7 tary social position, or of aristocratic
quarters. resembling cemeteries in their
dreary secluSiOn. set apart for the eN
elusive use of what NAV be character
lied as the mere ghosts of ancient royal
chimeras. At Madrid there are no dis
tinctions of class or, if there are. every
one uiStIS On equal bcfii4H- W non INC
duchess of Medinaceli, or the duke of
Fernan himself, holds a reception, the
first person to be invited is the alcaide
of their quarter, and he is always an
artisan. Beneath gilded ceilings, and
amongst the portraits of kings and
viceroys related to the illustrious own
ers of the house. and blaZoned coat of
arms surmounted by crowns of gleam-
ing gold, on the soft carpets of splendid
salons and galleries, you meet the noble
and the pie beian. the Catholic and the
ma terialist the actor and the general,
the nuncio and the archbishop re
atheist whose lips are vibrating with
the assertion that infinite space. void
of intelligence. is abandoned to the
forces of nature. Nothing, in fact can
exceed the political, religious and social
tolerance or the absolute social equality
of Spain. This does not mean that the
Spanish are strangers TO religious ex-
altation. that they cannot be moved
to a noble zeal for goodness and truth,
or reused energeticallY TO defend what
they consider their just rights One
thing is certain. in the strange city If
Madrid. side by side with court petri-
fed in the traditions Of its ancient his
tory. dweils Il democracy thoroughly
i'm bued with the modern spirit.-EnilIs
CASTELAR,. in Harper's Weekly.