Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-02
THE sPANIsT CORTEs.
Constitution and Characteristics OF
This Parliamentary Body.

(St Louis Globe-Democrat Rep)
| The Cortes are not, as generally sup
posed, merely the lower house of Spain's
Parliament, but comprise both chambers.
the literal translation of the word "Cor-
| tes' meaning "the courts" They may be
| said to owe their origin TO King Joseph
Bonaparte, who. in 1872. first provided
the lberian Peninsula with a constitu-
ton modelled on that OF imperial France.
Repealed on the Bourbon restoration,
then revived again, suspended once more,
and then recalled into vigor, it received
It's present form in 1876, on the restora-
ton to the throne of the late King AL
fonso. The lower house Is elected by
what is practically universal suffrage,
ana In the proportion Of one deputy to
every $1,000 male Inhabitants. the quail
ncation as voter being held by every
male Spaniard who is % years OF age,
who is in the enjoyment of his civil
rights, and who has been a citizen of a
municipality or rural community for two
years.
me lower house is composed OF about
800 deputies, who, unlike their fellow
legislators i'm every other country of Eu-
rope, save England, receive no salary,
and are debarred by the terms Of the
Constitution from holding government
ONCE or drawing pensions. the only ex-
ceptlon being made that in the case OF
the members Of the Cabinet 1t need not,
from this, be imagined that the mem
bers of the lower house are prompted
by purely patriotic motives to concede
thelr time and their energy to the SER
vice of the nation. There are many pick
lngs and prerogatives; besides which.
legislative influence is quite as profitable
an article of barter and sale in Spain as
In other more enlightened countries In
deed, the vast majority of the members
OF the lower house are men who have
gone into politics solely with the object
OF spoils i'm view
The upper chamber, or Senate, Is infin-
itely more representative of the nation
than the lower house, although 1t can
scarcely be described as owing its origin
10 the SURFACES of the people. 1t is com
posed or three classes-namely, the SEN
ators by their own right, that Is to say.
9enadores de Derecho Proprio." who
must not exceed eighty I'm number: Sc |
condly, 100 life senator's, nominated by 1
the Crown, and. thirdly $50 senators |
elected by the so-called corporations of |
state, that is to say, by the communal |
and provincial assemblies, by the Church, |
the universities the academies. etc The |
number the life senators nominated by 4
the Crown and the senators by their |
own right put together. The "Senadores 1
de Derecho PropiO" are composed of the /
heir-apparent to the throne, II he happen |
TO be man, the sons Of the sovereign
and members of the grandezza, titled or
untitled, who can prove that they pos
sess an annual income derived from land
of at least $4,000
1
In their own right to members of the |
reigning family and TO the great land
owners of the old aristocracy, that is to
say, 10 people who may be regarded az |
having big material interests at stake |
ana who are In no sense Of the word |
'arpet-bag politicians, as are most of
he members OF the lower house. The
second class of senator's who owe their
TO the Crown are the cap
iains-general of the army the admirals
)f the navy. the cardinals and archbish-
BPS. the presidents of the Council OF |
state, OF the Supreme Tribunal Of the
Tribunal of Cuentas del RsinO. of the
supreme councils Of War and OF Marine |
md or such other dignitaries OF the |
iingdom as the sovereign may appoint |
With the consent OF the Cabinet OF the |
lay. The other half OF the Senate. that
$ to say, those who owe their seat in |
ne upper chamber TO election must be |
enewed by one half every five years.
md by totally every time that the mon
rich dissolves that particular part Of |
he Cortes.
Let me state, I'm conclusion, that the
'ortes are, in one sense of the word, the
lost characteristic of all Spanish insti-
ltlons. The oratory is superb. Indeed.
may be doubted whether there is any | ,
eople In the world that is possessed
such magnificent and soul-strrlng
loquence as that of Spain. But 1t is not 1
tactical To parody the old French
aging; 1T is magnificent, but It is not
usiness." Words take the place OF deeds.
tournaments Of speech cause the people |
lose sight Of the practical objects AT
lake. and, to such an extent are the |
ebates in both chambers Of the Cortes '
cademical, and regarded I'm the light of {
dramatic performance rather than
,tual business. that those who listen 10 | {
lie speakers, no matter whether from ; b
lie seats OF the members or from the | 4
illerles, actually lose sight Of the real
sues which are being discussed More
yer, the effects OF these streaks OF elo- !
renee, OF these fights of oratory. are a
erely OF a transient nature. {