The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-12

American conceptions of Spain ant
the Spanish are in some respects mis-
conceptions. So says DR.. Henry NJ
Field, editor of the Evangelist, who i:
an experienced ex-traveler in the lanC
of the Dons. DR.. Fields study of "oul
friend, the enemy was made ten years
ago, when the same men who are now
at the helm were directing the course
of Spanish affairs. He is personally
acquainted with some of the most
prominent of the leaders, and has Wis
tied them at their homes; he listened to
the greatest speech ever delivered by
Prime Minister Sagasta, and has had
exceptional opportunities for studying
the character and sentiments of all
classes Of Spaniards.
THE BASQUE PROVINCES.
In the first place." says Mr.. Field,
'one must remember that there is a
greater difference between the inhabi-
tantS of different parts of Spain than is
exhibited by different sections of our
own country. In fact, the first people
one meets if he enters the peninsula
from the Pyrenees are not SpaniardS at
all, but Basques From the days of the
Romans to the present time they have
chung, like the Swiss, to their noun
tainS. with an unconquerable love of
liberty. Their country is a portion of
Spain, and yet they preserve a greater
degree of independence than any other
part Of the kingdom. They have always
enjoyed peculiar privileges, and even
to this day, under a monarchy, the
Basque provinces form what is virtu-
ally little republic, managing their
own affairs in their own way, and pay
ing the government 100000 per year as
the equivalent of all taxation 1t may
De mentioned as a. peculiar fact that
although the BaSques are more free
than any other portion of the people,
they are the sturdiest supporters Of
monarchy. and have been the chief re-
lance of Don Carlos in his wars for
the throne.
Further south one meets the real
SpaniardS, the MadrilenoS, the people
of CASTLE and AragOn and Leon. But
here are to be found many whose fea-
lures reveal their uninterrupted descent
from the old Moors, many who show
the admixture of Jewish blood, many
who would not look out of place on the
opposite shores of the Mediterranean,
in northern Africa
with so many different types and
classes it is difficult to draw a COM
pCsite pi cture Of the Spanish citizen.
Yet IL must not be supposed that Spain
is not a united nation. 1 fancy that If
one were in Spain now he would find
the people Of all classes rallying to the
support of the crown in the present
conflict. with no greater differences
among them than exist among our own
reoI lie on the same subject. Your Span
lard has an intense pride of country,
pride that is difficult to appreciate I'M
til one has seen its evidences.
'4of course. the line that separates the
oh
sharply drawn among the Spanish than
in cur own country, and perhaps this
fact adds to our difficulty in under
standing them
COMMON PEOPLE INDUSTRIOUS.
1--WE are apt to believe that all Span
iards are lazy; that they absolutely re-
fuse to work. This is not true. The
common people of Spain, those who till
the soil. are of the right stuff; simple
and honest, brave in war and industri-
Gus in peace. A friend, who, in a, resi-
dence of many years, has visited al
most every province, tells me that he
has found them kindly and truthful,
not disposed TO take advantage of a
stranger, but bidding him welcome to
their homes with genuine hospitality.
Strong in frame. they are tremendous
workers in the fields. Those VINO have
seen them in the long summers day,
toiling from sun to sun, will admit that
no country could have better husband
men. These are they who create
the wealth of Spain, and if their ranks
were not thinned by CONSUMPTION for
the army. and their substance eaten up
by taxes, they would. in another gene !
ration, create a degree Of prosperity /
such as has not been seen in Spain |
for these 200 years past.
"Of that other kind of Spaniard, who |
will not work, We have heard more. He /
is a cavalier; he belongs to the six !
teenth century. Don QuiXote still lives /
in Spain today. Castelar,, one of the |
brightest and strongest men in the ma |
ton, has called attention to the fact, |
and / noticed the same thing in the /
course of my wanderings in the sunny !
land If the knight-errant does not |
still ride abroad, his counterpart re-
mains at home. with the same spirit in
his breast; with a code of honor that !
makes him quick to resent an insult;
a brave, but somewhat choleric gen
whose temper takes fire at any
slight to his dignity, even though I'M
intended and who is as ready to at
tack unseen and imaginary enemies as
ever the real Don QuiXote was to
charge the windmills.
OLD CASTELAR, PRIDE.
"At the bottom of all this is an ex-
cessive and over-sensitive pride the
old Castilian pride, which has descend
ed in full force to the present genera
ton. When you are introduced to
gentleman of this country you must
that he is not merely a man
and a fellow creature, but, above all,
a Spaniard. He will treat you with
the utmost courtesy so long as you
show him what he considers proper
but the moment you
presume TO treat him lightly or to pat
ronize him, you must expect the see
the old Spanish hauteur show itself
in a way that viii make it much more
agreeable for you to get out of the
country.
But pride is a heavy load to carry,