The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-31

cruel and repressive. The people were
allowed no privileges. They were not
permitted to engage in manufacturing
nor to trade with any country except
Spain. The arts and sciences of all the
forms of industry except agriculture
and mining were discouraged, and the
export of the profitable crops and the
products of the mines were reserved as
a government monopoly. Every ounce
of metel and merchandise that was
sold paid tax of one-flfth its value to
the church and one-fifth 10 the king.
The people found II to their advantage
to raise no more than was actually
needed 60 supply their own wants.
Those who were so unfortunate as to
accumulate property were punished by
taxation and forced loans, and only
those who had nothing were left un-
inolested by the rapacioUs representa-
tiYes Of the government
"All the officials were imported from
Spain, and were usually impccunious
favorites of the court, who, after two
or three years of profitable exile, were
enabled to return with comfortable for
tunes. The people were kept in state
of the densest ignorance. There were
no schools outside the converts and
lllOndSItllGS, no DOOkS COulu pC lIil-
ported without the express permission
of the captain general and the priests,
and several of the colonies never saw
a printing press until after the revo-
luton. This policy prevailed every
where. as it had prevailed in the Span
ish West Indies, until the intelligent
people of the provinces became exas-
perated and raised the standard Of re-
bellion.
Great Britain never lost a colony
except the United States, because she
has given her subjects good govern
ment, and her statesmen confess today
that the examples of her American
colonies taught lesson that made that
famous morning drum beat possible.
Spain once owned nearly all the hemi-
sphere. and was the strongest nation
on earth. A hundred years ago her
possessions extended from Puget sound
to the Straits of Magellan. Now she
feebly clings to two small islands. which
are slowly slipping from her grasp.
SPAIN LOSING HER GRIP.
"By a curious coincidence the first
colony which Spain lost in America was
the only territory to which the great
discoverer gave his own name-the
island of st. Christopher, which dropped
into the hands of the British in 1923
The foot of the Spanish king remained
upon the soil of North America as late
as the birthday of Washington in 1919,
when Florida was ceded to the United
| States, and Louisiana, representing an
| area now occupied by fifteen flourish
| ing states and two territories, became
ours three years after it was sold to
| France.
But the Spanish policy never flour
! ished in a temperate zone. The men
| of Plymouth and jamestown would
never have tolerated the tyranny which
was tamely submitted to in the colonies
! of South America. The New England
town meeting, which was the essence
| of self-gQvernment. made such a policy
impossible, and 100 years before the
declaration of independence a French
| marquis, who visited Boston, reported
| to his sovereign that the people of the
| British colonies in North America Were
| so successful in managing their loca
| affairs that they would soon demand
| the right to administer their colonial
| and foreign affairs, which marks him
| as a man of uncommon foresight
! But the Spaniard in the new world
hasn't long to stay. His tenancy OF
American territory has almost ex.
| pired."
| Won MOlTKE WAS READY.