The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08
SPANISH TEMPERAMENT
1T POSSESSES PECULIAR PRIDE,
BRAVERY AND CALLoUsNEss.
An Artistic Sense and a Dignity Com
den Root OF IneGiciency.
London Spectator.

Two qualities, and only two, certainly
dinerentiate Spaniards from the other
Southern races Of Europe, but they are
qualities displayed in such excess that they
appear to constitute an entirely separate
national character, which in hundreds Of
years has never changed either in fact or in
the impression which 1t makes upon the re-
mainder of mankind. One of these ouali-
ties is a peculiar kind of pride and the other
Is a steely callousness. Spaniards are about
as brave as the other Latin races-that is.
they are perfectly brave with a certain liza
biLty TO panic, and a reluctance to go on
when victory seems not to be attainable
They were supposed in their best period TO
be Drawer than FrenchMen or Italians, and
their picked adventures certainly showed
in the new world audacity Of really won
derful kind. audacity in fact to which odds
made nok difference, and which suggested
that they thought themselves specially ia
vored Of heaven; but we do not know that
their history quite confirms this claim. The
Romans defeated them and the Moors de-
feated them. and in their long conflict with
France they never attained any serious or
permanent advantage They did not sue
coed against the men Of the Low Countries
they were defeated by British sailors and
they did not triumph in their struggle in
Mexico against inferior numbers of Amer
leans. That they are brave is certain, and
they are probably more self-confident than
either F-enchlaen or Italians; but we should
not describe their courage as differentiating
them from any other people OF Southern
Europe.
We do not know that they are more re-
vengeful, though they attribute that quail
ity 10 themselves, and owing to the absence
OF good legislation, rely for vengeance more
on their own efforts; nor are they in reality
more passionate. They stab as readily as
Italians, but not more readily, and though
they assassinate more often than French
men, it must be remembered that French
men have lived for ages under much more
effective laws. The Highlander Eof Great
Britain is to-day hardly ever an assassin,
but he used to stick his foe with a knife
which he called dirk very readily indeed
The Spaniard, again, is supposed to be spe-
cially superstitious; but we fancy some at
least of that idea concerning him arises
from the fact that his superstition takes
the direction usually of strong Catholicism.
Those who really understand either French
men or Italians do not think them free
from superstition, though in both instances
the quality is found combined with great
disposition to irreigion, skeptical irreigion
among Frenchmen, secuarist or pagan ir-
religion among Italians.
As TO truthfulness, there is not much to
choose between the races, though they
speak truth, or neglect truth, upon some
what different impulses. The Frenchman
has mathematical side to his head, rarely
ever 1t is obviously inexpedient in the
sense of being contrary to utility, to tell
lies. The Spaniard tells the truth whenever
the contrary would seem to himself to be
dlscreditable, and therefore tells it or de-
cllhes 10 tell 1t at unexpected moments and
IN ways that surprise the northerner while
the Italian tells it whenever it will not
roughen path which he thinks it his clear
business to make smooth. He will utter
IaISehood Tor your comfort as readily as
Tor his own, a thing which the F'renchman
never dGes unless he has an epigram to be
delivered of, and the Spaniard very seldom.
PROOFS OF AN ARTISTIC SENSE.
The Spaniard, too, must have somewhere
IN him keen artistic sense. His language
and the way he uses it show that as well
as the things ne has built and the pictures
he has painted. His is, perhaps. the most
beautiful architecture in Europe, and even
In the new world, where he was in hurry
nothing that he built has the want of charm
and picturesqueness which distinguishes ev-
erything built on that continent by the An
gio-SaXon. In literature he is as great a
humorist DIS the Frenchman, though his
humor IS more sardonic He has the capa.
city OF being great dramatist; and in all
eIdVer prouuctlons as In all public utter
ances, he hasa special gift for rather full
mouthed eloquence. The ignorance of the
Inree peoples is about equal, though the
tTenchmans seems the less because he
wants to know whatever he thinks paws
nm nm IN any way; and there is no great diff
the SpaniaTd carries it furthest because he
Is so indifferent to the quality of his food
out a capacity for continuous Self-denial
distinguishes all three, though as they are
not equally industrious the capacity en-
Ilches the ETenchman, while it leaves the
Italian poor and the Spaniard almost beg
gar.
1t is his quality of pride which distin-
cuisines the Spaniard alike from the Italian
ana the Frenchman. A personal dignity
quite apart from mere vanity. appears to
oe as essential to him as freedom to the
ieeHng shows itself in his dress, In his
bearing, in his language, in all his acts
pubic and private, He cannot cringe, he
cannot brook a slight, he cannot suppress
himself when self-effacement would be con-
Nenlent. He must be acknowledged as gen.
teman on ali occas ions as the condition
witheul which business cannot be done.
ara he usually adds to the word gentleman
the word Spaniard. He is a gentleman of
anything. our own Highlander has precise
~ the same quality in the same degree, and
f M d IVCeHt peIIod ne also dressed the part.
= mere Is something very impressive about
thls feeling, particularly when it leads. as
u often does, to the endurance of immense
SskS, ana II Is a little perpleXing to know
from what root it ultimately springs. 1t is
a matter of race some say; but there is no
Lnship of race between the Highlander,
who is Celt. a little crossed with Norseman
and the Iberian, who comes probably from
the same stock as the Mongol-it remains
pure In Biscay--deeply crossed with the
Nisigoth and with trace. Varying in guam
Lty IN each province of Semitic blood. - is
las history, say OthelSi but though the Span
lard has a great history we do. not know
That II IS greater than that of the French
man or the Englshman, while it is not so
great as that of the Italian. 1t does not
come from pride of pedigree, for the com
mon Spaniard does not know his pedigree
any more than his rival in any other nation,
and 1t does not come from pride of career,
Tor 1t shows 1t just as much. perhaps more,
II ne has done nothing but loaf
our own theory is that it springs from
EQldlcrship; that the Spaniard like the
Highlander, after lighting perpetCally for
centuries past, has got the soldier charac-
ttrlsucS fairly into his blood-the love of
appearing dignified. the tendency TO indo-
renee when off duty, the instructive touchi-
ness about grade the personal pride as of
the man who faces death while other men
only live. Certainly the Spaniard has il,
ana IL makes him on occasion one of the
most 10 be respected. and on occasion one
OF the most irrational OF Gods creatures.
He seems when his pride is moved TO act
on emotion merely. and will put aside the
greatest temptation, or act with the great
est folly, according to the proVocation.
PRIDE AND CALLOUSNESS.
1t is. we believe of his pride, united to
his other and worse quality, callousness.
that the Spaniard's reputation for cruelty.
which has run down through all the ages
has been born. 1t may be doubted If he
hurts anybody for the sake of hurting.