The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-25
Fall Of the Greatest Empire Ever
Seen on Earth.
INSTRUCTIVE BIT OF HISTORY
Wealth and Extent Of the Spanish State
During the Days Of Charles v. and
Philip II.-Aow the Vast Do.
miuiou Has Collapsed.
From the Globe-Democrat.

Spain OF Philip IL. with the Spain or
today. AS II Ia known To us. no country
In Europe Is of less consequence in the
worlds afiairs. Little Portugal. that
once acknowledged the dominion or
Spain and formed q province In the
Spanish empire. Is now Of more import
apce. The Balkan states, which arose
but yesterday out of the ruins or the
Ottoman empire, are Infinitely more po-
tential. Even Greece ana Denmafk,
both once great empires, and now, with
Spain. in eclipse, cut a larger figure In
the worlds affairs, for each, py its
geographical position, Is able to com
mand q respect that 1t not SHOWN 10
Spain. The time was when the analrs
of Europe and the world were directed
from Madrid, but now, when the pow
ers meet In conference to settle ques-
tions Of mighty import, Madrid SENDS
no representative to the congress, Tor
Spain has no influence, Is not consulted,
and SO far as appears on the records,
is'not even thought of by the diplomats
of the powers that now control the
affairs Of the eastern hemisphere. From
a position of supreme authority, Spain
has sunk so low as to be utterly disre-
Harded in the worlds politics and ig-
nored In the worlds movements.
THE SPANISH EMPIRE.
Wneu .ue 80, a.. .a,,,n,,,harsd
ii Is difficult to realize that only three
centuries ago Spain ruled the world.
1t was the Emperor Charles V. who
first made the proud boast that on his
dominions the sun never set. nor was IL
an idle word, but a plain statement OF
fact. At it's greatest extent the span
ish empire spread so far beyond the
limits VI Tie S.., ..n,a In
pouhu"iie' v, a.1.a.,,n,, Tha
CLOSED itS sniahest possessn. ~.
sway or Charles was aeknowieoseu' ~, uUe
only over Spaih. OF wnich ne was .. .m
hereditary monarch, puu III iaise D., pa,
or southern itaiy, IN SHNy, III
gal and In the Netherlands wnne as
emperor ne ruled over cohsluelaple
portion OF the present possessions Vi
Austria and all the smaii states, wi,sn'
almost from the dawn OF authen.ic ms
tory, nave peen grouped uhaer the ssn
eral named or Germany IN A,heiIca
the spanish power was acknomi.ussu s,u
,n,gbtiest % II "mnires @ Of antiquity seem
contemplate by comparison. Charles
claimed for his own the 100000 square
miles Of North America and the 7,OOO,-
900 of South America, a grand total or
$4,000, 900 square miles on this side or
the Atlantic, while his possessions in
Africa, Asia and the innumerable is-
lands that, in every sea, acknowledged
allegiance to the Spanish throne,
brought up, with the European states.
the area of the empire to a grand total
of not less, and perhaps more, than
l., ,OOO 900 square miles. Never before
nor since has so vast a territory been
governed by one man. The Gear of
Russia rules a. territory q little more
than half the size of that which owned
the sway of Charles; the British flag
noats over inucn less than two-thirds
that area; the Roman eagles, IN the
golden days of Trajan. were honored
over territory only One-sixth as large
aa the dominion of Charles, while the
empires Of Greece. and Assyria, and
Babylon, and the great states. founded
by the Moguls and Gcnghis Khan. were
petty by comparison with the Spanish
dominions. over 100 different political
commonwealths have been carved out
of the Spanish empire, and still the
process Is going on.
co,,p.prooN
ooMr NN'"oN'
The overshadowing supremacy or
Spain can be better understood Dy
glancing at the relative positions held
by other states orr Europe that nave
grown while Spain was declining. When
Spain was at her best, France was
hardly more than vassal state.
Hemmed in on every side by her power
full neighbor, the territory OF France
was much more limited than at pres
ent. while the crushing defeats Of the
French arms at the hands OF the dread
ed Spanish house caused. In Spain. the
same contempt for France that IL now
felt In the latter country for Spain.
Germany and German states of Aus
tria were u part OF the empire. while to
the southeast. the Hungartans were so
constantly engaged in battling with
the Turk as to find no time for other
occupation. The states of Italy not un-
der control OF the Spanish empire were
under its political influence. while to
the east OF Germany. the kingdom OF
Poland. when not divided by civil strife
among Its nobility, was alternately
waging war against the Turks to the
south and the savage tribes In the
great steppes which extended to the
base of the Ural range, Russia was
Europe than ga Ghina is at ~ nrssent ,rs as hs,na
regarded as a savage state. while Den
marx ana sweden were hardly more
ssteemeo tnan Russia. Even England
had not, at that time. come to be recog-
nized as first-class power, and, al
though Charles and Henry VIII. met on
terms or equality as reigning sover-
eisns. 1t was regarded at the time as q
special condescension on the part OF the
FORMER that he, the ruler of the world,
should snow such courtesy to the king
or petty group or Islands north of the
channel. The English colonial period
had not begun, and nothing was known
OF the marvellous ability of the English
people as colonists In a new country;
the English commerce and manufac-
lures and banking institutions were all
IN the future; there was no standing
army on the islands; Few top-heavy
ships. more dangerous 10 the sailors on