The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-23
From the Philadelphia Record.

the peninsula. Then Naples was annex
ed to Aragon. The genius of Isabella
was one of conquest and discovery.
In 1879 the Canary Islands were Sc
cured, and 13 years later Columbus dis
covered America
This discovery was quickly followed
by the act of Pope Alexander w, who
issued a gull granting Spain all of the
New World west Of the Azores. In
1893 Spain declared the annexation of
South America, and her armies under
Ponce de Leon, Balboa ana Cortez
traversed Florida, Central America and
Mexico. In the powerful name Of
Spain Balboa took possession of the
Pacific, all its islands and all lands on
it's shores. Thus, from the claim of
tho entire Western Hemisphere, as ac-
knowledged by the Pope, has retribu-
ton visited the Spanish nation, until
today it does not own or claim a square
foot of Western mainland and its puny
island possessions are fast being torn
away.
SPANISH COLONIZATION.
The budding Spanish nation started
the colonization of the United States.
These settlers builded cities opened
churches, schools and universities.
There have been Spanish schools in
America since 1924. Before New Eng
lands first newspaper there was q sew
enteenth century attempt ut one in
Mexico. BY 1875, nearly a century be-
fore there was printing press In Eng
lish America, books in IL different In
dian languages had been printed in
Spanish America, and three Spanish
A universities in America were complet-
their first century when Harvard
s founded
In Europe the name of Spain was
cared. The nation was built in a
ay. With its strong foundation, set
by Ferdinand and Isabella, and it's vast
territorial acquisitions, it was in a
position to become the virtual director
OF the world. Spain was at the height
OF her glory TN Ter Charles /, who was
also emperor of Germany under the
style of Charles V, and King of Naples
and ruler of Netherlands. He succeed
ed to the Spanish throne In 1916, when
he was but sixteen years of age. His
home was in Client. in the Netherlands,
at the time, but he visited Spain in
1517.
THE JUDGE OF LUTHER.
Perhaps more clearly will Spain's
power be realized when it is recalled
that 1t was before Charles that Mar.
tin Luther pleaded his cause at Worms
and that it was under Charles that
was begun the Reformation. 1t was at
this time that Spain's monarch de.
feated Francis l., king of France, and
imprisoned him at Madrid. Francis T
Flanders and Artois and restored the
Duchy of Burgundy to Charles. Then
Charles married Isabella, the sister OF
the King of Portugal. Thus it appears
that about this time the Spanish king
was practically lord over all of Chris
tian Europe.
Aroused by the Spanish kings con-
quests, Pope Clement VII. headed an
opposition of Italian states, but this
was at once avenged by the sack of
Rome. Charles had his brother, Fer
dinand, elected king of the Romans
though opposed by the Protestants, on
whom Charles was severe.
SPAIN'S CONQUESTS IN AFRICA.
Even Africa was forced to bow to this
strong Spanish nation. Barbarossa had
made himself Dey of Algiers. His do
mains nearly coincided with modern
Algeria. Tunis was on his east and
Fee and Morocco on his west. To crush
this power Charles, with a fleet of SOC
vessels and 10000 troops, invaded the
country, pillaged Tunis and returned to
Europe with 10000 Christians whom he
had freed, This King of Spain de-
feated and captured the Elector OF
SaXony. But soon he fell. Maurice
whom he put at the head of SaXony
turned against him. Then sprung up
rebellions, and shortly after he alb
dicated his throne to his son.
The despotism of Charles was fol-
lowed by the tyranny of Philip H.,
VINO, with the aid of the Inquisition,
undertook to root out Professionalism,
ana he, with his no less despotc and
lntolerant successors, succeeded i'm
bringing to a close before the eigh-
teenth century the brilliant period of
Spanish history. In the civilization of
America the Spaniards had displayed
an amazing supply of courage, enter
prise ana endurance, as well as indif-
ference to the sufferings of inferior
races, but the sudden acquisition of
colonial wealth developed the Spanish
avariciousness. That is the keynote TO
the nations decay.
THE WASTE OF A KINGDOM.
The attention of the people had been
diverted to Improbable war. The once
invincible soldier of Spain lost prestige
in Holland. Enormous taxes, from
which the clergy and mobiles were eX-
empt, fell with crushing severity upon
the productive class, until the life-bl
or commerce and trade was sapped TO
pay for the trappings of royalty. Por-
tugal was won, but the great Armada,
that had boldly sailed to conquer Eng
land, was lost.
The exhaustion of the country was
inevitably followed by the degeneracy
OF its ruler, Philip III, to whom de-
votions constituted the proper admin
istration of government, determined to
expel the Moors. They were the main
stay of trade, manufacture and indus
try Philip expelled them, but 1t was
the ruin of Spain proper. The indolent
Spaniards had neither inclination nor
ability to take up the pursuits the
Moors had been obliged to relinquish.
SPANS commercial disintegration was
but a consequence.
POSSESSIONS IN AMERICA.
The present century has been a period
or decadence for Spain, though ii has
been the most peaceful and least event
ful or her life. In 1900 Spain owned
two-thirds of the United States, or all
land west of the Mississippi, Mexico,
Central America, nearly all of the West
Indies, all of South America except
Brazil In less than a quarter of a
century all had been lost.