New-York tribune., 1896-09-27

fantry. hitherto nvncible, beaten and for
ever broken. Portuga! and her vast possessions
in three continents were lost in l64O. Naples re-
voted in 1913, under the famous fisherman
known to his comrades and on the operate stage
as Masanello. He assassinated by bravos
In the hire of Spain. and after long struggle the
rebellion was suppressed. But Spain's hold on
the two Sicilies, once loosened, was never so
strong again France seized the provinces north
of the Pyrences and Franche Comte. All au-
thority in the German States had long been lost
to SPAIN and the last Spanish king Of the Aus
trian dynasty, at the close of the seventeenth
century, saw his realm the prey Of whichever Of
the Great Powers could lay hands upon it most
readily. and left it unable to establish its own
sovereign without foreign aid.
Equally disastrous were those times in the col
onies The Dutch, French and English seized
foothold in the Guianas and then helped them
selves one after another. to the smaller ISLANDS
in the Caribbean Sea BY the time OF the Dutch
war of 1868 the pretensons Of Spain to universal
ownership in those regions were wholly ignored.
and there put into operation
..The good old rule-the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can
In that wear Cromwell's Englishmen seized ia
maica. The French first took Tortuga, and thence
spanish out Of Hayti-Hispaniola Little Spain
and made it a French province Even Havana
was attacked more than once. Drake had a fruit
less venture at it, Penn and Venables, who took
Jamaica tried TO take it but failed England did
storm the forts in 1850, and held the city few
wears then gave il back to Spain BY the end
of that century Trinidad too, was snatched away
and SPANS commerce with the American col
onies substantially destroyed England came to
her aid at home In the Napoleonic wars. and then
France in turn helped the wretched Ferdinand
VII to hold his throne.
THE PASSING OF AN EMPIRE.
In the early years Of the present century Span
ish misgovernment in the South American colo
nies. long-continued. began to bear Its certain
fruit. Secret societies were formed which had
for their object the throwing off of the Spanish
coke The chief founder and promoter Of these
was a Spanish Creole OF Venezuela. Francisco
Miranda by name He had served under Wash
ingtOn in the American Revolution, and had be-
come thoroughly imbued with the spirit of lib
erty and with the principles OF repubcanism.
What had been done in North America could. he
thought. be done in South America. He there
for, formed in London. since II could not safely
he done at Caracas. the Gran Reunion Amerl-
cana" Into this Bolivar and san Martin were
initiated For some years Miranda made occa-
sonal but futile attempts at revolution, in one OF
which he engaged the interest Of the great Dun
donald. Nothing Of Importance was achieved,
however. until April 10 1910 when Caracas
openly rose against its Spanish Governor Miriam
da and Bcli ar heading the revolt. Two years OF
conflict followed not promising FOR the insur-
gents Then came earthquake. 1t destroyed
Caracas killing number OF people The super
stitious troops Of the insurgents thought II was
an omen. threN down their arms, deserted or
surrendered and the rebellion was at an END
Miranda was captured, taken to Spain and died
In prison murdered. 1t may be surmised. Bolivar