The record-union., 1897-01-03

antagonism TO the Moorish conquerors
In the sixteenth century 1t had grown TO
an enormous empire, with vast terrific
rieS in the richest portions of the New
World. Streams of wealth were con-
stantly pouring into its Golfers from
these conquered possessions. AT the
close OF the eighteenth, and the begin
ming of the nineteenth centuries. the
outlying portions OF this vast nation be-
gan one by one to sever all relations,
until at present 1t retains its hold upon
only two sections of any great import
ance-Cuba in the west, and the Phil
ippine Islands In the east. Judging by
the past century, and the loss to Spain
or every possession in both South and
North America, ii seems not unsafe TO
predict that the beginning Of the twen-
tieth century viii see it return once more
to the actual limits OF its possessions in
the fifteenth. Now. then, what causes
have operated to bring on such decay
OF prestige, while other European ma
tions. like Germany and England, Rus
sia and Italy, France and Austria, have
developed and in some measure kept
mental and moral? Briefly put, should
sum the causes up as a. Irreligious So
licitude for God; (2) Greed for gold; 60
The Grandee spirit; (4) A wrong colonial
policy; 20 Unprogressiveness. On only
two of these features shall have space
to dwell this week. The balance win be
referred to in my next.
Altogether Spain seems 10 have been
possessed of a demon of self-destruc-
ton, demon that has taken varied
forms in four centuries, but which
through them all, has been forcing
Spain steadily onward toward annl-
hilation. It's wars with the Moors
fostered a strong national spirit, and
because the wars were religious IN char
acter they tended also to make Spain
the stronghold of Catholicism So long
as there was fair fighting Spain was
strengthened by the conflict; for in GER
tain stages of human progress war,
with it's attendant horrors, seems to
have been, if not a necessary feature,
at any rate, an aid to civilization. But
Spain, when the conquest was practi-
cally complete, and the remaining
N1OOiS lLGANA pENLACN N&NefF A ~ SAES%
and to trade, burning with zeal for the
God of their bloody imaginings, called
in to aid in the complete determination
of every heresy that flendish device for
populating Heaven and saving souls,
THE Inquisition.'' Their conque5ts in
the new world also were in the begin
ming religious conQuests. Their ad-
venturers were to win vast glory for
the church, and so in the name Of
Almighty God most joyously did they
slay without compulctiOn.
The demon of Spain, burning with the
lust Of conquest, drunk with the blood
Of its best children, personified by Pt-
zarro in Peru, and Cortez in Mexico,
by treaohery and by superiority Of
army, by ambush and outrage, de-
stroyed the civilization of the Incas and
ravished the possessions OF MOntezuna.
Everywhere the thought was supreme
to win greater realm for the Catholic
faith. But as always with religion
lacking the true religious elements OF
unselfishness and mercy, it became
mere cloak for greed and wdckedness
indescribable.
1t is safe TO say that any nation that
places its hopes for perrnanency upon
a Tnisco1ception of Gods character, Is
building its structure upon the sands.
That strong royal pair, Ferdinand
and Isabella, combined in themselves
an intense greed for gold and a fierce
religious intolerance. When their coun-
try could produce such devoted SER
wants of God as Loyola and Saint
Theresa we must indeed believe there
was depth to the religious feeling. But
also when we consider the servant Of
Ferdinand and isabella the fierce Tor
quemada, we are compelled to realize
that with religion was q tremendous
admixture OF greed After the Inqui-
sition became thoroughly established it
was found SO easy to secretly dispose
Of men and women of wealth, that to
Ferdinand, eager for money, the
temptation was too overpowering. So,
while Isabella's fanatical soul was sat
isfed with the works of the Holy Office,
Ferdinand found solace to himself in
Ieplenishing his treasury The work
of the InQuisition became, in short. lit
tie else but robbery and murder in the
name of God. IF the walls of the Escu-
rial could speak, a cry Of vengeance,
long inaudible to human ears, would
stir the human heart With the same
spirit OF lust for wealth, the colonies
were always regarded as fair prey to
be mercilessly stripped Of everything
valuable. Precious metals became COM
mon in Spain, wealth was on every
side, luxury was all perverse. Yet IN
the midst of It's greatest material pros
perity the demon of self destruction
was unobtrusively at work. for any ma
ton that puts it's trust In material
wealth for permanency also builds it's
structure upon the sands.