The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-16
ALFONSO XIII.


The festivities and functions of the
week in Madrid mean that after an in
terval of little more than sixteen
years Spain is to have a king. and the
nation is rejoicing in, or at least cele-
brating, the coronation of the little
Alfonso, the thirteenth of his name to
occupy the throne. Whether there is,
as a matter of fact, a great deal of
sincere rejoicing in the kingdom out
side of the royal circle is open to con-
lecture Things are very different now
from what they were when the other
Alfonsos We're crowned, and the frail
boy has so little to offer for the re-
building of the fallen fortunes of his
throne From his very birth he has
been a weak child physically, and no
claim of exceptional mental strength
has ever been made for him His father
before him was a weak man, and the
child seems to have inherited his frail-
ties
Alfonso in considerable degree APP
pears to reflect Spain in his person. In
ages past Spain was bold, strong, war
int lAidCAiAlAdBlCs 4ICIF WCAE llO III dNCA
or more daring soldiers than the
Spaniards. Their prowess built up the
largest empire the world had ever
known, on both sides of the ocean and
in the Far East. Their banners of
gold and blood" We're flung to every
breeze. And it was gold and blood"
that brought their decay as a nation.
When the gold began to pour into
Spain from her foreign possessions
the Spaniards cautiously imagined
themselves provided with perpetual
annuities sufficient for all purposes.
Home industries, especially agricul-
ture, langushed, and some of them
died. Whole provinces formerly fertile
went to waste The slaves and de-
pendents over the seas were looked to
to provide Spain's income; and to
force their contributions, in ever in
creasing quantities, bloodshed and I'M
speakable cruelties were employed.
Spanish cruelty became proverbal.
Finally the empire, Corroded with blood
and cursed by gold, began to crumble
and the process has gone on unremit-
tingly until now there is nothing left
of the once great empire but the home
territory that bears the name of
Spain. Even the Ever Faithful Isle"
has repudiated it's faith and achieved
its independence.
As Alfonso is but puny representa-
ton of what Spanish kings were in the
great days of the nations history, so
is the Spain over which he will rule
but shadow of that nation over
which they ruled The kings and the
country have degenerated together To
what extent is the curse of gold re-
sponsibe? In the history of Spain there
ought to be a valuable lesson for 9TH
er nations now strong and proud.
But there may be better things in
store for the nation and it's rulers. Be-
ing shorn of her colonies, Spain must
necessarily turn to the development of
her own resources. She is rich in min
erals, and her fields may be brought
once again to their former fertility.
Already there are signs of an indus
trial awakening. Railways are being
built, mines opened and factories estab.
lished. Having found that it is neces-
sary to lay aside the guitar and the
castanets and take up the hammer and
the hoe, it may be that Spain will re-
spond with her old-timed spirit and
determination, and work once more to
a leading place among the nations.
At all events, the nations of the
world, and none more heartily than
the United States, will say Long live
Alfonso Kill" and wish for King and
country peace and prosperity.