West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-07-07

mean, but their Notifications are now iu
decay. 30 little attention having been
paid TO them since tho wars of the
French revolution that, with the exoep.
tion Of few modern batteries horo and
there. they are not worthy Of considera.
ton. During the wars with Napoleon
every port of Spain was put in thor
ough state Of defense by English money,
but since the Spaniards have boen left
to their own devices the fortifioations
have been neglected. and even forts and
batteries of modern style are mounted
with old fashioned smoothbore guns,
utterly ineffective IN modern warfare.
At the entrance of the Mediterranean
are two points which IL properly forti-
fed could be held against the naval
powers of the world--Tarifa on tho
Spanish side and Ceuta ON the opposite
ooast of Africa. Tarifa IL, in the judg-
ment Of military critics, capable of be-
ing made as inynlnerablo as Gibraltar.
All the seaports of Spain have stron-
ger Notifications on their land side than
on that townrd the sea. This odd cir
cums;ance is a relic OF the French inya-
sion in the early yenrs of this century,
and also significant OF the turbulent
condition OF the country ever since, for
the cities Of Spain arc. in tho judgment
Of the government, in more danger from
the Spaniards themselves than from "A
foreign enemy. On the bay OF Biscay,
CoruDa and Ferrol are the principal
fortressea. while at Vigo there are two
sinall forts TO protect the entrance Of
the harlIor, and San Sebastian, the royal
residence during the summer, Is guarded
by medieval castle aud two or three
water batteries Coruna and Ferrol are
situated on the same bay, about 90
miles apart, and the latter is the site Of
the largest navy yard and marine arsenal
In Spain.
Spanish characteristics.
The story Of Spain from great Charles
V 20 little Alfonso XIII has no parallel
In the history OF the world. Historians
and philosophers explain the phenom.
enon according TO their individual ideas.
Protestants attribute the fall of Spain 10
religious bigotry and the suppression Of
independent thought by the inquisition.
One Catholic writer, on the other hand,
maintains that leniency ia dealing with
heresy marked the beginning of ma
tional decay. Had Charles beon duly
diligent In stamping out the reforma-
tion in Germany, says this writer Spain
would never have deteriorated The DO.
litical economist teaches that the enor-
nous wealth brought from Amorioa in
stead Of onriohing really impoverished
Spain, since It induced neglect Of home
industries and generated an extraya-
gance which became the ruin Of the ma
tion. Buckle finds, or thinks he dBds
the cause. partly at least. in The super
stitious reverence for authority which
kept tho spaniards faithful 20 church
and state, even while they knew the ono
to be corrupt and the other incompetent
Pride of character and an arrogance that
excited the hatred Of all foreigners aud
the antagonism OF oil foreign states
tho warliko habifs of the Spanish people
confirmed BY eight centuries Of constant
conflict with the Moors, draining the
country of its best men and leaving only
tho weakly and infrm--oacb and every
one Of these causes, together with IN.
numerabie others. has boon upheld BY