Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-01-05
)SPAIN'S DECADENCE.
HER POSSESSIONS DWINDLlNa AND
HER POWER VANISHING.

Once Her Army and Navy Wore Famous
For Their Prowess-N hAS She Has Lost
in Two Centuries-Whils Others Wore
Acquiring She Went Down Hill.
On his accession to the Spanish
throne Philip II. found himself ruler OF
the greatest empire the world had seen
since Rome was at the zenith OF It's
power. Its navies were famous for
their greatness and they ruled the
ocean, its armies were famous for
their prowess, she swayed the destin-
les of Europe, had possessions In all
the continents, and may be said to
have owned the Americas, North and
South. Samuel Johnson, writing as
recently as 1740, when complaining Of
the poor peoples hardships, said:
"Are there no regions yet unclaimed
by Spain7
Quick, let us rise, those happy lands
explore,
And bear oppresslon's insolence no
more"
The Spanish empire was the result Of
marriages, conquest and discoveries;
its decline and fall may be ascribed to
the ruthless character Of the Spanish
people. The Inquisition and bull fight
ing were evolutions from this char
acter; Torquemada and the matador
were no more cruel than the nature OF
the people required. Cardinals were
frequently prime ministers, and Tam
erlane never treated Central Asians
more mercilessly than Spain treated
the Indians of North America. When
Columbus discovered St. Domingo IL
had population of 100000; in 1880
this population had dwindled to $780,
900. Cortez in Mexico and Pizarro In
Peru were ideal Spanish conquerors.
In the latter part of Philips reign
Spain lost all, or nearly all, Of her de-
Tendencies in North Africa, and early
in the next reign Burgundy, Naples,
Sicily and the Milanese.
1609-The Netherlands.
162S-Malacca, Ceylon, Java and
other islands.
1640-Portugal.
164S-Spain renowned all claim to
Holland.
1648-Brabant and parts OF Flanders.
1649-Maestricht, Hertogenbosch,
Breda, Bergen-op-Zoom, and many
other fortresses in the Low Countries.
In this year also she tacitly surren-
dered supremacy on the seas to North
ern Europe.
1659-Rousillon and Cardague.
Those places were coded to France,
thus making the Pyrenees the bound
airy between the two countries.
166S-Other sections of Flanders
1672-Many towns and cities In Elan
ders.
1704-Gibraltar.
17O4-Majorca, Minorca and Ivizza.
1791-The Nootxa Sound settle
ments
1794-St. Domingo. !
1800-Louisiana.
1802-Trinidad.
1819-Florida.
1810-21-Mexico, Venezuela, Colom-
bia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chilli, Ar
gentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Patago-
ma, Guatemala, Honduras Nicaragua,
San Salvador, Haytl, San Domingo, be-
sides numerous islands retaining not
foot OF ground in America.
During all those years, while other
nations were discovering new regions
or capturing those discovered or con-
quered by Spain, the land Of the Cid
Campeador was going steadily down
the hill. The only time she stood
still for a moment was in 1860, when
Marshal O'Donnell took Tetuan and
Ceuta from the Moors.
In the heydey Of Morosco ascendant
cy Spain had a population OF 10000, 900,
in the time of Ferdinand and Isabella
100000, and in the beginning OF the
eighteenth century only 100000. The
present population 10 about 100000
1t may be said in conclusion that ed
ucation in Spain is limited to compare
lively few. Thirty or forty years ago
it was no disgrace for Spanish gran
dee not to be able 10 write his name.