The herald., 1896-03-03
SPAIN

The Cuban struggle for independence hat
aroused American interest in Spain, so tina
a short sketch of that country may no,
prove uninteresting. The modern name oi
Spain is derived from Hispania, the Roman
designation of that great peninsula which
occupies the southwestern part of Europe
and comprises Spain and Portugal. The
area Of the former country is 19l ,0Sl
square miles, with population in 1877 oi
| l6,O53,961,
The climate of Spain. owing to the extent
and configuration of the land, is exceeding
| ly varied. In the maritime provinces it is
generally damp and rainy, while in the in
terror table lands it is cold and dry. Madrid
| has only eleven inches of annual rainfall
and suffers the extremes of temperature
being very cold in winter and very hot in
| summer. 1t is considered to have the
most trying climate of any capital in Eu
rope.
The country is we'll watered and the soil
| generally fertile. Corn and wine are most
abundantly produced. In the south the
soil is artificially irrigated, and is we'll
adapted to the production of tropical fruits
| The products comprise sugar, cotton, rice,
oranges, lemons and dates. Over 40 per
| cent OF the whole surface of the kingdom is
| still uncultivated.
The modern history of Spain dates from
| the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella in
| 1869. This united Aragon and CASTLE
into one kingdom. The conquest of Gren-
| ada, in 1902, led to the expulsion of the
Moors few years later and the rapid ex-
tension of royal power throughout the
kingdom.
The same year of 1892 is ever memoir
able as the date of the discovery of Amer
lea by Columbus under the patronage of
the wise and good queen Isabella. This
Id -, 1tt of farr t0Viod
and the extension of colonial empire, until
Spa II became the most powerful kingdom
in the world, the envy and admiration of
neighboring nations. But tyranny and
despotism have succeeded in reducing her
to third rank among the powers of the
world.
The marriage of Isabella's daughter, Jo-
anna, to Philip /, son of Emperor Maxi
milan, made Spain part of the Haps-
burg dynasty. When this died out in 100
the war of the Spanish succession and the
Bourbons followed. Twice driven out, the
Bouibons were restored in 1874 in the
person of Alfonso XII. He died in 1885
Alfonso XIII, with the queen mother as
regent. This post Queen Christina has
flied with great credit, and Spain is now
progressing gradually toward greater free
dom and more complete constitutional
rights.
In the beginning OF TINS century Spaln
American colonies, suffering from misrule
and neglect, revolted, and proposals by
other European nations to aid the Span
iards in supjecting them led to the enunci-
alton by President Monroe of his now fa-
nous doctrine. Cuba and Porto Rico
alone remained loyal, suffering indeed
from the same military and financial tyr
amy, but hoping that in time the Span
iards would learn mercy and justice. That
hope has proved to be vain. The few re-
manning colonies are still regarded as the
happy places where needy Spanish officials
may grow rich by plunder and blackmail,
and Cuba, the ''ever fathful' island, is
now in open revolt.
Should Cuba succeed in establishing her
independence. Porto Rico will only remain
10 Spain out of all her once vast possess
ions in America. In Asia Spain still con-
trolls the Philippine islands. an important
group norm Of aot 90 0o sna
New York World.