New-York tribune., 1899-05-26
EMILIO CASTELAR,.

The name Of Emilio CASTELAR, has long been
memory 1t has been a splendid memory, per
haps the most splendid of modern times III
Spain. But IL has been nothing more. FOR lhe
best part Of q quarter of century he has Deeh
spectator where he was once the foremost actor
an echoing voice where he was once puissant
decd For that he was not TO be blamed. lie
Ind done we'll He had deserved we'll OF his
country II that mercurial land turned from
him II left him steadfast on the heights ana II
self descended into the valley. 1t could not
realize his ideals and he would not stoOp from
them That Is why he has not for score or
wears been a considerable force in Spanish poll
tics That is why he was not in his later years
The admirable exponent of Spain and OF the in
terests OF Spain that he was in the years when
ne CORRESPONDENT of The Tribune he so lumi-
nouslv made the ancient kingdom known 10 the
people Of the young Republic But the fact that
his active career was short, and the time Of his
retirement long. will not be set down to his dis
credit.
Two dramatic incidents mark the Alpha and
Omega Of Castelars life work. One was his en-
try upon public life To paraphrase an historic
saving he rose to make speech and sat down
famous. That is literally true. He was un-
circle of friends when, without generalization
he sprang to his feet in great public gathering
and burst into a strain Of that eoquence Of
which the sonorous Castilian tongue Is so fne
vehicle. The next morning his name was fam-
lar TO every newspaper reader on the Continent
After that his career was not until the end, SEN
sationaI. He was Republican. But he was
not as were so many so-called Republicans in
| -, iota
| consprator He was a man of thought, but at
| the same time man OF action; and he was "a
man of progress and at the same time man OF
| peace Such combinations are not sufficiently
commonplace. in Spain or elsewhere. to he
passed by rnnotced. The second and final Incl
dent was even more impressive than the first.
| The wrctched, incompetent Cortes got things
into terrible mudde. Cuba was in revolt, the
| Carlists rampant, the realm topping on
the verge of anarchy. In one last spasm of in
| stlnct-not of reason. Il was incapable OF that
the Cortes made Castelar, Dictator and then OBJ
| liberated itself! And CASTELAR, saved Spain We
may say he violated his Republican principles
| and tyrannized over Cuba. and treated the
United States ungraciousy Yes. But not a
| Spanish statesman. any more than any one else
can make an omelet without breaking eggs. He
the right" he demanded. "to prefer my repu
tation to the salvation of my country There
have been few statesmen in any country II
any century who have taken more heroic atti
tude And lie fulfilled his words He SAVED
Spain The Cortes, resurrecting itself for mo
ment, cursed him and drove him from the Office
he had honored And then Don Manuel Pavii
finished the COrtes with bayonet's point.
Since that time, as we have said, CASTELAR, hai
been chiefly a memory. But posterity will not
as he with noble defiance declared it might, pro
nounce it's anathema against him. 1t will for
get his errors and immortaize his virtues. Th'
t former were few and slight The latter wer
many and Of noble proportions. II is not eas!
for men OF a calm cool, Northern Temperament
to sympathize with or 10 understand the fiery
mercurlal impulsive men Of the South. Bu
there were traits in Castelars character tina
! appeal TO universal humanity There wer
deeds In his career, even In that four months
Dictatorship, that cannot fail Of appreciation
wherever men have hearts IN their bodies an
brains in their skulls. The title great Is oftel
given 70 men with little discrimination. 1t vii
not be misapplied II given TO Emilio CASTELAR,
There has been no man more worthy Of 1t In tn