The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
CASTELAR'S FINE TALENTS.
SPAIN'S GREAT ST4TESMAN DESCRIBE
ED BY 4 PERSONAL FRIEND.

acknowledgements ORR toricaI Powers
There is probably no man in this country so
we'll qualified to describe the character and
personality OF Senior CASTELAR,. the dead leader
OF the Republican party In Spain. as DR.. Henry
NJ. Field. personal acquaintance. begun
many years ago. was kept up by long corre-
srondcnce. DR.. Field loved the great Spaniard
as man and admired him as a statesman. He
regards CASTELAR, us one OF the great men :. .--S
generation. and says Of him:
My acquaintance with CASTELAR, began after
his second return to Spain. when he was q
member of the Cortes from Madrid My first
view OF him was disappointing. as he had not
tho figure which we are accustomed TO assoc
ciate with grand orator. He was short thick
set and broad shouldered with the neck and
breast OF a bull. lie was bald. and his dome-
like head seemed massive in its proportions.
His voice was low and pleasant. his manner
deliberate. This was the orator in repose, but
when stirred to the depths of feeling In great
speech he made different impression.
heard him mako such speech in December,
1884. after the revolt OF that year. OF which he
had disapprOved. He had been accused by the
Monaichists OF supporting tho rebellion and
by his own associates OF lukewarmness In fail-
ing to support 1t. He made this speech to exc
plain his position.
shall never forget the impression he made
then. As the fire kinded within him his voice
rose. The words came faster and faster till the
stream became torrent and the breozo
swelled to the war OF q tempest His gestures
answered to his voice his right arm. quiverinR
as though with electricity. pointed wherever
he wlled that the lightning should strike. Al
times no used gesture l had never seen in
any other speaker. He would clasp his hands
or double his fists. raise them above his head
and then throw them violently out in front Of
him as though he had taken red-hot ball out
OF his fiery brain to dash It at his enemies.
His oratory was not all thunder and light
ming. There were flashes OF wit. touches OF
pathos and strains OF humor. With the hand
OF master he touched every note in the scale
OF human feeling. l understood Spanish but
imperiectiy, yet / was never more moved by
any speech in my life. 1t was impossible not
to feel tho power and enthusiasm OF the man
behind the words. 1t was human finger that
touched US as we'll as human voice that
thrilled us.
AS talker CASTELAR, was no less gifted than
as speaker He was one Of the most brilliant
conversationsts l ever met. and recall
many pleasant hours passed in his very mod
est Madrid house when he ran on from one
subject to another-books. art. music. litera.
ture. history men. nations-,every topic that
can attract the intel lectual man. The first
time met him he spoke in eloquent terms OF
his admiration for our own. country From
this the talk ranged naturally to the cause OF
world. As he talked on and on he became more
enthusiastic and kept moving closer to me as
hold Of the lapels OF my coat at the climax q
some point he, had been leading up to- aud
truth home to me in such way that eouId
Sim arly in walking along the street have
known him to- pause and deliver a regular
epeech. with all the infections and gestures
that he employed in the chamber. It was sim
a N n n al Of tha htoI,
carried him entirely out of himself That was
the basis Of his wonderful power as an orator.
father had been forced to leave the country to
literal m9vcments Like Canovas. sagasta.
and Costello. this youth who was to become
way in the world. He early displayed his in
tnllectnal nowers. and by the time he was 10
sstance his relatives were able able, to give to him
and his own earnings from journalistic writ
S h9 a6s to go to the
an educational career. Soon after he had fln-
ished his work as student an examination
philosophy in the university. He carried of
the prize over the heads Of all Of his older com.
petitOrs and became a ful-hedged professor In
one Gf the Oldest universities in Europe at the
Like almost every change in his career,
Castear's first appearance in public life was
made under DRAMATIC circumstances. He had
fheatrs del 0rente At that Tins time he had had
never made a speech in his life and did NOT
meeting progressed. he became SO excited that
he rushed to the tribune and delivered an ad-
h st s Rs ms5 ws With
him to himself. It led to bis empoymsnt on
Two years later he founded paper OF his own.
to bring about the revolution OF 1866. When
that failed his paper was suppressed and ho
ing. however. in time to. escape into Swtzer-
land, Two years later he returned to become
young leaders who have since play ed important
parts in their c0nntry's history we're included
sagasta and Msrtos IL one Of the most power we
full speeches he ever made l heard CASTELAR,
refer 70 this fact. and he pointed out as show
sagasta was at that moment the Prime Minis
ter Of the country.
was already doomed. IL any man gould have
saved 1t he would you'd h ah done 80: He did save
prevented it from being torn to pieces before
he was second tine driven IPo exile by shc
AISas
was never plotter or extremist; He would
psrty tao there Was an
this IL the recent war Twenty thousand Re.
AMI take the oath among the Monarchlsts.
periences had convinced him that no. republic
could stand until the people had mastered the
principles OF liberty and freedom. As he said
to me once. he believed that the republic would
come. not only in Spain hut all over Europe.
But he added it will como by ovo ution. not
byrevolution.' His formula for popular govern.
ment was:
60 Educate the people. give them universal
suffrage then let them decide for themselves
n slow but n sure process
"AmeriCans especially may well Join with
the people OF Spain in mourning the loss Of the
great, statesman. For American institutions
had the Greatest regard and warmest admira:
ti.Gn. lie spoke 81 u as. as the great country,
He was one OF, the best informed men in Eu-
rope on the history and institutions Of the
United States. | haye heard him speak with
great longing; as though It was one o; the
dreams Of his life. AZ his wish to visit coun-
try and to sec for himself and face TO face the
people who had wrought outSuch algreat work
In tn" western continent
Ono" in his life Castelar, was instrumental
in aVrrtiuG war between his country and the
United States. That was in 1874. when he
was President ~ Spain and Minister OF Foreign
Affairs. The ship Nrginus was taken of the
coast Of Cuba while conveying party Of Amer
II N nf