Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-28
dead, and lethargic indifference crept
over the inhabitants.

over the inhabitants.
This state of affairs was somewhat
mitigated with the accession of Ferdinand
and Isabella by whose union the king
doms of Aragon and CASTLE became
united. During their reign Spain had IFS
renaissance, its golden age of prosperity,
the glory of which was, however. OBJ
secured by the bigotry of the sovereigns.
by whose authority the horrors of the
inuuisition were sanctioned. Through all
OF the centuries since the Roman usurp-
alton the Spanish had bowed rather TO
the mandates of Rome than to those of
the state The inter was elevated above
the crown. Both Ferdinand and Isabella
were bigots. There was a riot of blood
thirstiness. and an auto do fe gave a
pious believer as much pleasure as a bull
fight. The history of the inquisition is
the blacklist blot upon SPANS besmirch-
ed escutcheon
Notwithstanding these drawbacks,
Spain's fortunes in the Fifteenth cen
fury were most brilliant. and her rank
as one of the great powers Of the world
was fully established. She was at this
time one of the most picturesque figures
in Europe
1t was during the sovereignty of Fer
dinand and Isabella that Columbus dis
covered America. which ranks as one of
the most splendid achievements in his
tory. The luster of this conquest was,
however dlmmed by the rapacty and
thirst for lucre displayed by the rapacious
conquerers. In the West Indies, Mexico
and South and Central. America, the ban
ner of Aragon and CASTLE fioated. The
cruel policy of determination pursued
against the uhoffending savages and their
so-called conversion at the point of the
sword fill one of the darkest pages in the
annals of old Spain.
The new world became the treasure
chest of Spain. her empty Golfers being
replenished with American gold.
Under Philip II the religious wars in
the Netherlands were instituted. The
Dutch finally won their freedom in the
Seventeenth century, the Portuguese also
threw off the hated dominion of Spain,
while France wrenched away the prov
inees on her border. The dismember-
ment of the kingdom was complete
During the Moorish ascendency the popu
lation had numbered 20000,00o. 1t had
now dwndled TO 100000.
The star of conquest set, to rise no
more. The glory of Spain was thing
of the past Ore by one the splendid
occidental jewels dropped from the
crown. and only Cuba the Philippines
and a few inconsequental islands re-
manned. The possessions in Mexico,
Florida and Louisiana were wrested from
the mother country. too weak longer to
hold them in leash, The nation which
had once inaugurated an aggressive
nolicv was forced TO accept peace
In the Eighteenth century Bourbon
king was seated upon the throne, only
to be overturned by Napoleon Bona
parte who drove the Bourbons out and
enthroned his brother Joseph in their
stead. The proud Spanish mobiles III
brookea the plebian usurper, whose
reign was of short duration. With his
overthrow the Bourbon line again as
serted its supremacy.
The French regime had less effect upon
Spain than any of the other foreign occu-
pations. Ever since the reign of IN up IL
Spain's Importance as a nation has been