The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-05

NIX years have passed since the ap-
pearance of Fernald's book en-
titled, The Spaniard in History"
That there has been no reply to the
book does not indicate that we are a
people of slight historical knowledge
and sentiment, or that that colossal
character in human history, the Spar
lard. has no friends among us. Per-
haps the book has been taken simply
as campaign tract. natural enough in
war time, when all things are deemed
fair. But we are now at peace: and
let us not for moment allow an ex
parte tract like this to be taken as an
expression of American thought and
feeling. For by our judgment of others
we place Judgment upon ourselves.
To one who sees only the vices and
follies of mankind, the whole human
race must seem like detestabie vermin.
Dean Swifts disgust for humanity
grew from year to year, until 1t eul-
minated in his portraiture of the Yahoos
In "Gulliver's Travels" Such a view OF
men is morbid and degrading. Like all
other ancient lands, Spain has had her
long struggle with kingcraft and with
priestcraft. Standing at the doorway
Of Europe, she has. had to fight in
vaders on the threshold. The hand of
fate has been laid heavily upon her.
But does not this call for even greater
wonder at her achievements?
Prof. Mathews used to remind us
that while iron is iron In all it's forms,
yet the carbonate of iron is still diff
ferent from the sulphate of iron, and
Al = tot IO0
very different from the BroWnate Of
history. Could not an equally dis
gusting presentation be made of the
Frenchman In history, of the English
man In history-yes, and even of the
American in history, despite the brew
ity OF our annals thus far? Take, IL
you will. the anti-slavery tracts Of the
'fifties," and the story Of the slave
trade. Add the Century Of Dishon-
or" regarding the American Indians.
Tell the story of Mormonlsm In Utah.
Throw in an account Of the prison pen
at AndersonviIle. Include the terrific
arraignment of the liquor traffic by
fervid prohibitionists. Tell OF the
Salem witchcraft. Rehearse the elec-
toral fraud of 1875, and the recent
burning Of negroes at the stake. In
clude a campaign tract of 1882 on the
life and character Of Andrew Jackson,
or of Henry Clay. OF all these make a
composite picture of the typical
American, for the deIectation of our
foesi Suppose every individual alle-
cation in all the mass to be true. Is,
then, the picture true one? Come,
now, let us reason together!
What nation Of Europe had the en-
10 "a
Of Columbus, and exercised iberality
Of thought to admit the possibility of
the rotundity of the earth, despite the
contrary teachings of a mistaken the
oIogy? What but Spain?
What people carried the banner of
discovery around the Cape of Good
Hope and thus opened a second way
to India? Was it not a people Of the
Spanish peninsula, the Spaniard's half
brother?
Go back centuries further. What
people fought as no other to save Eu-
rope from the curse of Mohammedan-
ism-fought not ignorant Turks, but
highly civilized and marvelously pow
erful Saracens-fought not four
years war, nor a thirty years war,
but a 700 years war? Think of war
OF 700 years! Was it not the Spanish
people?
Go back again for centuries. What
people gave the Roman empire the
great Trajan, who was called Opti-
mus (the best)? What people gave
Seneca, the moralist, whose writings,
like as OF inspiration itself, have
taught all succeeding generations how
to live Alright; Seneca, the dramatist,
who gave us the only Latin tragedies
that we possess? What nation gave
Quintilian Martial, and so many 9TH
ers of the noblest men of antiquity? It
was Spain.
If we admire colonial empire build
ing in British India and in the Philip
pines, let US remember what nation it
was that conquered Mexico and the
gulf coast, Peru and nearly all Of South
America except Brazil, which 1t turn
ed over voluntarily to its kindred