The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-02-03
The SPANISH INQUISITION.
Another Historical Sketch from the Pen
Of Henry Wolf.
DOWNFALL OF THE SPANISH NATION.
Fanatlclsm and Religious Intolerance, has
Brought the Once Proud Monarchy to En-.
dure the 0dlum Of the Civilized World.


ing from the effects of previous
torture, more dead than alive
no one to sympathize with him
(for that would endanger their
own llves)-the wretched victim
was dragged through the streets
of the city to the place of execu.
ton.
Forming the procession a body
of cavalry took the lead; next
came the Grand Inqulsitor and
the many officers of the inqulsi-
tion in their sober, awe-inspiring
regalia; then the executloners
with the victim in their midst,
and in the rear another troop of
cavalry. 1t should have been a
solemn, funeral-like procession
but that it was not to be: instead
of giving the victim occasion to
imagine himself a hero, and so
cause others to initiate him, they
made a carnlval-a ridiculous
show and an entertainment for
the debased element of the popu.
lation out of it.
Having arrived at the place of
execution, the victim was fasten-
to a post, in a hanging position
for few had strength enough left
by this time to stand upon their
feet the soldiers formed an en-.
closed circle to protect, if neces-
sary, this hellish proceeding,
then the torch was applied to the
pile of brushwood and as the
flames would envelope and con-
sumo the already half dead VIC
tim, an appointed officer of the
inquisition would, with face turn
ed toward heaven, call out, Glory
to the holy virgin and her son for
the purifcatlon of the holy
church on earth: may every her.
etc and rebel be consumed by
tire-as is this accursed dog
Amen.
Thus we catch glimpse how
this institution operated in Spain,
and especially in Granada. 1t
struck such terror into the
hearts and minds of the Moors
that in the year 1909 no less than
100000 men, women and children
left their native land forever and
took up their abode in Africa, to
again fall back into barbarism,
living a Bedouln life or becoming
bandits in the mountains, or pi-
rates along the African coast.
We can safely say that the re-
suits of the lnquisition have made
Spain what 1t Is to-day. The rich
est nation in the world at one
time, possessing more foreign de-
Tendencies than any other nation
IN Europe, com mandlng the high
seas with it's navy, having the lar
gest and most feared army com
manded by the brayest OF gener-
als,-it lost one province after an
other through misrule, was fore.
ed to keep large armies for the
sole purpose of keeping down re-
bellion-yet never succeeding,
for monk rule will prosper no
more in any land for they still
possess the very spirit of the in.
QUESTION, and their teaching
darkens and benumbs the facul-
ties of the soul as We'll as those of
the body, 1t seems that in their
. presence no intellectual uprising
is possible, no inventive genius
appreciated or suffered, no knowl.
edge or culture for the masses
desired, freedom and liberty ban
hed,-but ignorance and super
stition welcomed.
But we all know how Spain
treated Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippine Islands how the Uni.
ted States. as a neighbor, had to
protect these ill-governed people
against unfeeling Spain we well
= remember the Maine" and how
this Republic cleared the Ameri
can continent of Spanish rule in
such manner that 1t has no par
alIel in history. Again, how the
monks (friars) behaved in the
Philippines, contriving through
their cunning aud craft to pu1
themselves into the possession o
the best farming lands IN the is