The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-04

came naturally by his liberal principles
His father had been forced 10 teave the
country to escape a sentence of death for
participating in liberal movements. Like
Canovas, Sagasta and Costello this you'll
who was to become the tribune of the peo-
pie had to make his Own way in the
world. He early displayed his inAliectual
powers and by the time he was eighteen
had written two novels. Then, with what
assistance his relatives were abe 10 give
him and his own earnings from journal
istic writing, he was able to go TO the Uni
versity of Madrid.
The young man prepared himself for
an educational career. Soon after he had
finished his work as a student an exam
ination was held TO fill the professorship
of history and philosophy in the UNIVERSE
~. He carried oft the prize over the heads
of all his older competitors, and became a
fuli-hedged professor in one of the Oldest
universities in Europe at the age of 70.
Like almost every change in his career
Castelar's first appearance In public life
was made under dramatic crcums tances.
He had gone to attend a Liberal meeting
In the Theater del Oriente. At that time
he had never made a speech in his life,
did not know that he could make one.
But, as the meeting progressed, he lie
came so excited that he rushed 10 the tri-
bune and delivered an address which sent
the audience wild with enthusiasm.
That event made CASTELAR, well known
man. and, more important, it revealed him
TO himself. 1t led to his employment on
The most important Liberal paper in Mad
drid. Two years later he founded a paper
of his own, La Democracia.
By his speeches and writings CASTELAR,
helped to bring about the revolution of
1866. When that failed, his paper was
suppressed and he was condemned to
death. He received warning however in
time to escape into Switzerland. Two
years later he returned to become the
leader of the Republican party.
Two other young leaders, who have since
played important parts In their country 5
history. were included under the same ban
with Castelar, They were Sagasta and
Martos. In one of the most powerful
speeches he ever made I heard Castelar,
refer TO this fact. and he pointed out as
showing the progress of liberal principles
that Senior sagasta was at that moment
the prime minis ter of the country.
Castelar, became President when the
republic was already doomed If any man
could have saved it he would have done so
He did save the country from civil aud
| foreign war and prevented it from being
torn TO pieces before he was a second time
driven into exile by the placing of Alfonso
XII on the throne.
Though Castelar, was a thorough-going
Republican he was never a plotter or ex-
tremist. He would never consent to turn
his country's difficulties to party advau-
tages. There was an example of this IN
the recent war. Twenty thousand Repub-
llcans signed an address pledging him
their support if he would declare a re
public. Castelars answer was to so into
the Cortes and take the oath among the
mOnarchists.
Castelar's studies, as well as his earlier
| experiences, 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 be-
lieved that the republic would come, not
only in Spain, but all over Europe. But, "
he added, sit will come by evolution not
by revolution"
His formula for popular government
was; Educate the people, give them uni
versal suffrage; then let them decide for
themselves slow but a sure process"
Americans especially may well join with
the people of Spain in mourning the loss OF
the great statesman. For American in
stitutions and for the American people
CASTELAR, always had the greatest regard
and warmest admiration. He spoke of il
as the great country" "the land OF free
DOM the champion of peace" He was
one of the best informed men in Europe
on the history and institutions of The
United States. 1 have heard him speak
with great longing, as though it was
one of the dreams of his life, of his wish
TO visit our country, and to see for him
self and face to face the people who had
wrought out such a great work in the
Western continent.
Once in his life Castelar, was instru-
mental in averting war between his coun-
try and the United States. That was In
1874 when he was President of Spain and
minister of foreign affairs. The ship Vir-
giuius was taken off the coast of Cuba
while conveying a party of American fill
busters to the island. Some of these were
summarily executed by the Spanish au-
thorities. Those of us who have passed
middle age remember well what an up
roar the affair caused. The newspapers
denounced the outrage. Public speakers
clamored for war. Gen. Sickles, the Amer
lean minister to Spain was ready to de-
mand his passports.
In Spain the feeling was scarcely less
intense. The Americans had been caught
in an attempt to aid the Cuban insurgents
and there was popular demand that they
should suffer for ii. Every one of Cas-
telar's ministers held this attitude, bu,
neither clamor nor influence caused him
to lose his head. He promptly disavowcd
the act of the Spanish commander and
ordered that full reparation be made.
This act, coming at a critical moment
and Drawing popular disapproval, entities
Castelar, to recognition, as a discerning
statesman who had his country's welfare,
rather than his own popularity at heart.
Castelar, was a statesman in an his acts,
in nothing the demagogue. He loved lib
erty and desired ii. not for his country
alone, but for the oppressed of every land
and cline. His mind was broad, his mo-
tives pure, and his character upright Aft
err life spent in the public service and
having had at one time all the resources
of the government in his hands, he died
a poor man.
Hogs are fond of snakes as an item OF