The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-19
o THE SOUTH.
Judge speer Gives an Admirable sketch
Of Spanish Policy.

~ ~ ,f.
Judge Emory Speer made the closing
address Of the day. as follows:
Mr.. President. Ladies and Gentlemen
Spain had long been our dangerous
neighbor. Its people nave a degree OF
reverence almost superstitious for mon
archy and regard republican instftu-
ions with great disfavor. II has been
said OF Spain that some incurable vice
in her organization, or II may be In the
temper of her people. neutralizes ali
the advantages she ought to derive
from her sturdy hardihood. her nearly
perfect capacity for endurance n the
sombre genius for war. for art and for
literature, which has so often marked
her sons. While this seems to he true.
the Spaniard II not only a formidable
antagonist, but there is a wealth OF in
terest and character in his romantic
history which commands the admira-
ton OF a generous foeman. This must
be accorded, whether we contemplate
that ancient people as they alternately
resist the aggressions of Carthage and
Rome. the fierce cavalry of Hallyer. the
legions OF Scipio. of Pompey and OF
Caesar or In more recent times the
achievements OF their renowned infan-
try which broke to fragments the best
armies of Europe. or the Infatuated peo-
pie in arms against the hitherto un-
conquered veterans of Napoleon. or
but now rs with patient and logged
courage with flaming volleys they vain
ly strove TO hold the works OF Caney
and San Juan against the irresistible
n rushing valor OF the American SOL
der. In art the ~Spaniard has not been
less famous. In the royal collection OF
Madrid. in venerable cathedrals of Sc
vile. In the Louvre and In the london
National gallery. the lover of the beau
tiful may be charmed by the warmth OF
AaIA. sAA 80 sAaAl.A sAA
rounded outlines and sanity elevation
of Murillo. On the canvas Of Velas-
quez he may find delight in the most
realistic realism of one of the greatest
painters the world has ever known.
Many a quaint moralist. many a
stately poet. a a priestly chroni-
cler attest the genius of Spanish liter
allure. but IL these had not been Don
Quixote and Sancho Panza had been
its title to Immortality. The admirable
attributes OF Spanish character no.
where found warmer appreciation than
with our own countrymen.
Made Imperi.hsbie.
Indeed two OF our illustrious histor-
ians. to use the language OF Prescott,
determined ito embrace the gift of the
Spanish subject" The chronicles of
the polite Ferdinand and the pious Isa-
bella, the life and times OF hat Span
lard OF Spaniards." Philip the Second.
the daring Individual expeditions and
~conquests of the Spanish noblemen and
cavaliers. Of Cortez. Alvarado and Pi-
zarro. were rendered imperishable by
the vigorous style. pictorial capacity.
artistic historical instinct and lucid or
der OF that great American historian. |
What Prescott did for the statecraft
and stern martial renown of the Span
iards. Washington Irving with melod1-
Gus prose n gentle humor surpassed
In his kindly portrayal of Spanish char-
acter and In his charming romance the
Conquest of Granada" II Is perhaps
due to the drollery and Addisonian hu-
NOR OF that gifted American that we
have never been able to estimate the
Spaniard quite so seriously as ne esti-
mates himself. or indeed as his stern
and incorporating nature deserves.
The truth is. spanish policy has ever
been insidiously and persistently mimi
cal to the American people. and has
culminated in deeds more atrocious
than those which have rendered infa- |
the baleful memory of Pedro the
Cruel.
We all know now In 1892 His Holi-
ness. Alexander the Sixth. i'm order TO
prevent unseemly collisions between |
Christian principles. published a bull
by which he assigned to Spain all dis
coveries lying west of an imaginary
line drawn 300 leagues to the west
ward OF the Cape Verde islands All
discoveries to the east were confined
TO Portugal. An English parliament, |
Il Is true, treated ~irreverently the title
thus acquired. but with his high au-
thority the Spanish chivalry embarked
on a crusade more daring II less unset
fish than hat which carried the
k~nighthood of Christendom 10 the bat
Elements of Zion. And what n marvel !
lous colonial empire was added to the
Spanish crown by their combined hero
ism. avarice and religious zeal. More
than two centuries elapsed. All of her
continental possessions. save her pres |
ent territory. were gone. Her popula-
ton at home. 2 1000. 900 under the reign
OF Ferdinand and Isabella. was now on |
ly 5000. 900 or 1000. 600. She had expell-
ed 5000. 600 Hebrews because Of their
adherence to the faith OF eheir fathers.
In shameless violation OF their treaty
rights, on three days notice. Philip the
Third had driven the Moriscoes from
Industrial occupations. which the Span
iards have never replaced. and from
the farms and vineyards. whose artis-
tic culture had been the admiration of
Europe. but henceforward were to re-
main desolate and barren.
Condition Of spain.
Nor was the condition OF the
Spanish people themselves much
better. The mobiles and the cler-
gy were exempt from taxes. which
crushed the masses. The army once APP
parently invincible had been dlscredited
by the victories among their ferns and
swamps OF those brave Hollanders
whose heroic love OF country has been
recorded with the graceful periods and
charming style by Motley. II
Is not possible for the i'm
agination compass the wealth and
grandeur of the territorial possessions
which yet acknowledged the undisput-
ed dominion of Spain. All OF South
America. ave Brazil and the two Gui- |
anas all Central America. Mexico. the
entire territory west OF the Mississip-
ri, now embraced by the United States,
beautiful Cuba, from whose eastern
province of Santiago Ponce de Leon
across the lucent wave of the tropical