Middletown transcript., 1898-07-02

There is all Spanish history in this
scene, superb pretense, downright folly
and final defeat. England, under
Elizabeth, had aided and abetted the
Dutch in their revolt against Spain.
Add to this that Philip II was piqued
at not becoming Elizabeth's husband.
1t was the arrogant grandee as always
utterly foiled. The 1872 vessels of the
"invincible armada" were met in the
English Channel by an English fleet
under Howard and Drake and worsted.
Then storm of the Hebrides destroyed
what British seamanship and soldier
ship left. The Spaniards were incom-
petent. They could not then. as to-
day, use their guns. Bravery without
the exercise Of disciplined reason is
most destructive of ones interests.
In the war of the Spanish succession
in 1903 England captured Gibraltar; in
vain the Spaniards tried to regain it.
In 1919 the United States established
les rights to Florida in exchange for
the Texas claims. Florida had been
ceded to England in 1853 in exchange
for Havana, but regained by Spain at
the end of her war with England in
1779.
From the start the policy of Spain
toward her American colonies had
been altogether deplorable. With every
possibility for territorial expansion and
self-enrichment she failed completely.
AS Spain never succeeded in keeping
Portugal, which has been indispensable
to her safety, it is not to be expected
that she could re tain her colonial pos
sessions. The true history Of the di-
vorce of the American colonies from
Spain has never been told, but its gen.
eral character can be briefly suggested.
The Spanish provinces were Mexico,
Central America and South America
two vice-royalties, comprising the
countries now known as Peru. Ecua-
dor, Venezuela, Costa Rica, the Guis-
mas and Buenos Ayres, which included
the Argentine Republic, Uruguay,
Chilli, Paraguay, Bolivia and virtually
Patagonia. For three centuries the
rule of Spain did not vary from that of
Philip II and his Alva. The Jesuits
and the inquisition held full sway.
Spanish wares alone could be imported,
and the produce went only to Spain.
Offices in church and state were held
exclusively by Spaniards born in the
peninsula. The violence and eXtOrtiOn
in which the superior officers INDUCED
recalled the days of the pro-consuls of
Rome. Such was the Spanish grinding
machine. The juntas that were form
ed, as in the case of Cuba, learned the
possibility of self-government, and as
the mother country refused to grant
the colonies equal rights with herself
and freedom to trade, the American
possessions asserted their independ-
ence.
In 1910 the Priest Hidalgo with some
followers, started an insurrection
against Spain in Mexico. In 1921 Stur-
bide, a descendant Of old Mexican
kings, declared the independence of the
country. and came to be known as the
Napoleon of Mexico. In the same
year the independence of Central
America was declared. The liberation
of the northwestern South America is
chiefly associated with the name of
very remarkable man, Boliver, rich
Venezuelan creole, the "Washington
of Columbia" Repeatedly beaten
and banished from firm land he per-
sistently returned and fought savagely.
He became dictator, liberator, almost
emperor, and be had shone in many a
gay Paririan salon, this Simon Bolivar
truly. as Carlyle said, "a Ulysses
whose history were worth its ink had
the Homer who could do it made his
appearance"
OF all the American States Peru had
the severest struggle for liberty. Chill
secured her freedom through the ef-
forts of an English admiral, Cochrane,
brave, adventurous spirit. After the
independence of Chile was assured,
Cochrane. with Bolivar, went to the
assistance of Peru. France wished to
establish Bourbon Kingdoms in South
America, but as England gaind much
commercially through the independ-
euee Of the States, she refused to al
low European Intervention, and in 1925
she recognized the independence Of
Spain's old colonies.
Without venturing prophecy it ould
seem as if Spain were on the point of
her last monumental failure. Bereft
of her colonial possessions, she may see
that she must depend on herself in the
struggle for existence, she may grow
introspective and self-critical and feel
a desire to exhibit common sense.
Though much disguised there are some
signs Of an exercise of dawDing intelli-
gence in the present governmet of
Spain. Inefficiency means elimination
of life; success is survival. If Spain
is to survive, the Spaniard must con-
sent to change his character.
scrofuIa, hip disease. salt rheum, dys-
pepsia and other diseases due to impure
blood are cured by Hoods Sarsaparilla.