New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-14
THE Future OF SPAIN.

There need be no pretcnce OF sympathy
with Spain which is not felt. Beyond dispute
the actions Of that country for many years, and
especially in this present eventful year. have
tended not only TO ALLEVIATE and 10 forbid sym
pa1hy. but actually to arouse certain feeling
of yindlctivcncss and OF satisfaction in seeing
her punished for her misdeeds. We have con-
sistently avoided any Indulgence in this latter
feeling and have endeavored to keep in mind
the vast difference between this Nation and
Spain in temperament and tradition. and the
vast difference consequently, between their
points of view and their way Of regarding
things or course we are constrained to reck-
on our pojnt of view the better one. But that
should not prevent the making Of due allow
ance for the Spanish point Of view, or the tax
ING of a certain interest, at least historic ana
academic in the future Of the Spanish king
dom 1t Is one of the great historic kingdoms
of the world rich In romance and all that APP
pcals to the Imagination. and by no means
Door in achievements which have influenced
the course OF events throughout the civilized
world. To-day it stands on the threshold, or
lust within II, of new era in its history.
Surely the Nation which. at It's own provoca-
ton. forced it into such place must take more
than passing interest In its fate.
1t is now exactly two hundred years since
William III and Louis XIV made treaty for
the partition of Spain. But Spain is not yet
partitjoned In these two centuries she has
met with vast misfortunes. Her colonies have
been lost to her. and the partition or subjuga-
ton of the peninsula itself has been attempted
by the veteran armies and most expert lieu
tenants of the greatest despoier of nations the
Npt hoQ
held her own with an invincble persistence
unsurpassed in history. and it is n singular and
noteworthy fact that, Of all the nations of Con-
tnental Europe, she and Portugal alone retain
their old boundaries. unchanged by the Napo-
leonic cataclysm or by any Of the subsequent
wars and revolutions that have so changed the
map Of Europe. But deadlier foe than Soult
or Massena now menaces her. Saragossa could
resist Lannes to the death; but Lannes was
from without. The foe to-day is within the
walls, and will prove UNNECESSARILY harder to
overcome II is against her own evil tendencies
that Spain must fight; tendencies that would
if unrestrained. betray her into alien hands as
surely as the nfamies Of Godoy betrayed her
into the clutches Of Bonaparte. And II Is to
the same allen hands that they would betray
her. For to-day, just as two hundred years
ago. it Is France and England, and especially
France, that are interested In the possible par
tlton Of the Iberian Kingdom; and there Is an
omnous recalling of the boast of Louis XIV
that there shall be no more Pyrenees.
The interest Of Great Britain in the case may
for the present be passed by. She Is concerned
chiefly in the maintenance OF Gibraltar and the
protection Of Portugal. But the interests OF
France are greater and more varied For one
thing. the Spanish debt is largely due TO
France. and II Ii to France alone that Spain
can look for further loans. We may be sure
that II further loans are sought France will
presently require lien upon Spanish territory
or some control Of Spanish Administration to