The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10


his bodily self-indulgence made him mere cipher
In the hands Of his second wife Elizabeth Farneee,
who In order 10 provide for her children thrones
In Italy drained the treasury. and checked
the industrial revival Of Spain Nevertheless,
even during Philips reign the intellectual and
material progress OF tho country was Temarka-
bic Nor can II be disputed that Elizabeth Farnese
trumphed In the great object Of her life. OF her
three sons, one became King Of Naples, another,
Duke OF Parma, while the third was made Cardi-
nal She kept the Spaniards poor and Europe
In enervescencc for years, but she had her way;
the persistence Of ono woman reestablishcd Span
ish influence In Italy, and lifted Spain once more
10 leading place in the councils OF the world.
II must also be conceded that Philip V. and Eliza
beth were lavish patrons OF the arts. and encour-
aged Spanish literature actively and iudiciously.
Under their successor, Ferdinand VI, the Mar
outs do Ensenada, a banker and commercial man
originally, recreated the Spanish navy, and gave
tremendous impulse TO Spanish commerce.
10 him was due the rcopening oil the Spanish
mines. the promotion OF Irrigation canals, the I'M
provement OF roads and the subsidizing OF manu-
facturcs. To such an extent did he extend the
national industry OF silk weaving that The number
OF looms had increased In 1881 TO 600 in addition
TO the royal factory at Talavera The increase
OF the homo revenues between l742 and l76o was
I'VE millions OF ducats annually. The revenues
drawn from the Indies, which had ranged from
about three to four millions OF ducats, rose under
Ensenada TO six millions yearly. His great
achievements wero the application TO Castillo OF
the financial reforms previously adopted in Val
encia the abolition OF tax farming and the initia
ton Of project for suppressing tho hateful tax
upon meat and other articles OF food.
Under Charles Ill and his enlightened ministers,
Amanda and Floridablanca. the advancemnt
oil Spain was still more rapid. The "alcabala
and the millions, which had killed Spanish
industry were reduced from IA per cent TO per
cent in CASTLE, and suspended altogether in the
CASE Of goods or produce sold in the place OF origin;
the d ificit was made up by per cent tax
ON incomes from land, and 2 or 3 per cent on
the rents paid by tenants Funds were procured
TO pay of loans by the establishment OF the national
bank OF San Carlos and the issue OF interest bear
ing government bonds, which were freely cir
culnted at par Vast tracts OF land which had
been abandond and left waste were equitably
divided amongst the inhabitants OF neighboring
villages, the poorer people being first considered
Inc export and import oil grain were allowed un-
DER certain restrictions with regard To the price
oil food in the homo markets Agriculture re-
vived as IL by magic government registry
for titles and mortgages made the transfer OF
land easy and cheap; the coinage was reformed
and unified: prohibitive protective duties were
placed upon calicocs, muslins and other foreign
textiles, to tho encouragement OF the home pro-
Queer Raw material was freed from duties,
operatives were brought from abroad In great
numbers TO teach Spaniards industrial processes
In iactor1es suosidized by government and an
attempt was made In l7'3 by royal decree to break
down Casulian pride by announcing that it was
no degradation Tor hidalEos to engage in handi-
crafts Inc famous glass factory oil Granja,
the products oil which wed with those oil Venice,
'he porceialns OF the buen fenro, the cotton vel
VeH Oh AVua' the me lea'hers OF oevulc ana
oorooVa' he machinery ana watches, optical
instruments ana fancy gooas OF Madrid' all be
came celebrated under the patronage OF Charles
Ill Canals and splendid roads which are sihl
d source OF Just compiaoency 10 Spaniards, were
CONSTRUCTED from one END OF Inc country 10 the
olher' marshes were drained the postal service
throughout spain was ORGANIZED, diiigences ran
regularly on the new highways and even the
oeserls OF inc Slerra Moreha were popped by
baVanan immigrants planted In thirteen new
villages Inc ponce regulations Tor the preserva-
tion oil decency and order were minute and severe
'hey completely transformed Spanish urban
society," suppressing license, discouraglng vaga-
bondage ana promoting industry ana thrift
Euuoauon' taken from the hands oil the Jesuits,
was nauonaiized anu secuidrized; the universi-
ues were purged and rendered. elective and the
lnquisiuon was TOLD once Tor all that civil offences
must DO uied before civil Tribunals There was, In
uuth no phase oil pubic welfare that did not receive
aHenton from Charles Ill and his able minis
ters Hospitals, asylums, poor houses and free
SCHOOLS sprahg up all over spain THANKS TO the
INITIATIVE oil the monarch Savings hanks ben
en' societies and philanthropic institutions were
es'aoishcd' whist mendcancy was put
down with stern hand. Charles Ill was
In ruth the only good, great and patriotic
king that Providence has vouchsated 10 Spain
In modern times His answer TO the bishop who
bie enoniea roreoIa tho ,,.o,.,i,,;,r 81 ,h ror
How should I wait for this pass before forpiv-
ing them" he said: they were all forgiven the
moment after the offence" En,ichtencd r.n.
erous and Just; sleeplcss in his vigilance for the
GOOD of his people he did much 1, tho t,Scntv
nine years Of his reign 10 repnir the calamity and
misery which the errors of his predecessors had
brought upon his country. With . strong and
wise successor. Spain might have continued