New-York tribune., 1907-06-22

When Dr. Lea sent forth the first volume of
his great study, reviewed in these columns last
-,aaT. il IVES evident that our literature was 70
be enriched with an historica, classic. THOROUGH
ness, fairness and reserve were combined with
q readable presentation of facts that might
only too easily have been made tediously dry.
The same character is maintained in the two
latest volumes which have since appeared In
tended for serious students of Spanish history
they avoid gloating over the horrors OF the
auto de fe-the stock in trade of the popular
historian-and pursue minute investigation of
the structure and procedure of the Inquisition
itself its relations TO the state religious bodies
and the people, and the manner in which that
gigantic engine of faitn and destruction built up
and maintained is power. Dr. Lea is therefore
obliged to take his readers through swarms Of
archives, account books and other dull docu-
ments; but the results gained by these occa-
sonally trying explorations make the trouble
worth while.
Not the least satisfactory feature Of the his
tory is its topical character DR.. Lea has stren-
uously avoided mere narrative, save in the first
part Of the first volume, where the origin and
establishment Of the Inquisition are recorded
Elsewhere he treats special aspects of the times
and the movement. TO bring out the full
force OF the feelings which made the Inquisition
possible and the ceYerness and political corrup-
ZION which made il prosper so remarka bly, In
the hrst volume the author has discussed the
condition of Spain prior the Inuuisition. show
ing the TWO great factors which made the later
ecclesiastical absolUtism possible. the utter
archy Of the land resulting from the break
down Of the feudal system and the marked
economic differences between the native Span
iards and their Semitic countrymen-the Jews
and the Moors. One of the striking points
brought out is that the religious fanaticism
which drove the torture wheels of the Inquisition
was not natural 10 the Spaniards. but was i'm
posed upon them by the Roman Church. which
saw its power over the peninsula crumblng
by the wearing wars and rising wealth of the
Jews and the Moors. During the days Of the
conquest Dr. Lea says, there was trace Of
pious frenzy: the NoOrs were respected by the
Casulians and Aragonians. and intermarriage,
even il war time, became so common that hardly
q Spanish family be found that has not
Semitic blood in II. Though these be the facts
however. We do not feel so sure that Dr. Lea s
contention can be safely maintained by them
he claims that there never was racial antag-
onisrn between Senaites and Spaniards until the
priests began 10 build up scandals about the un-
Christian character Of Moors and Jews. And
he also seeks TO show that intermarriage indi-
Gates the absence Of strong race feeling. Strong
as these arguments are. they are not conclusive.
for Z must be remembered that in the days of
Spanish CLlNalfE marriage went not Dy FAVOR
so much as by force, and up to the beginning of
the reconquest the Moors held the reins Of power
in politics, while the Jews, usual grasped
tightly the pursestrings OF the land. Further
more, the utter anarchy into which the Spanish
nation had fallen prevented the appearance Of
any widespread feeling OF any sort; so lawless
vas the country prior TO Ferdinand and Isabella
that men rsked their lives in passing from one
town 70 another; only marauders and strongly
guarded bands Of Jewish traders came and went.
Our ignorance OF the real feelings of the Span
3ards Of this period toward their alien country
men, then, is almost complete In view of later
events, therefore, II seems highly conjectural 10
assume that race feeling was absent. Neverthe-
less We may grant that II may not have been as
strong some historians have pictured IL.
After having shown how the Inqusition be-
gan. Dr.. Lea sketched in his first volume the
general relations borne by the institution to the
Spanish government In the second volume he
discloses the methods by which the Suprema,
the head Of the inquistorial system is called by
abbreviation, became absolutely autonomous.
The details OF its organization jurisdiction.
sources and court practice are investigated with
exceeding care and rninuteness. One Of the
most interesting points for the student Of
Church history is the manner in which the
naturally tyrannical Spanish mind improved
upon the papal system Of inquisitosial tribunals
and censorships The world has never seen
more elaborate. more easily self-maintaining
absolutism than that whose head was the
famous Suprema. It secured itself. not merely
diplomatic skill in the midst of land overrun
By robbers and independent Jetty lords. It
used al least three devices Of surprising eff
cGcy-surpassing, that IS, at least for a season
the commission system, class feeling and
secrecy. All officials were paid their salaries
out Of funds raised by confscating the property
Of condemned parties. This stimulated the off,
Gals. OF course, TO zeal most marvellous. Every
Official had TO be 'linpo," whose person
and family free from suspicion OF heresy
and Judaism This served admirably 10 incUl-
cate the strongest bigotry and intolerant superb
Gritty. Finally, by keeping both the court pro-
oeedings and the specific charges against it's
victims absolutely secret, the SupreYna managed
10 frighten everybody with its mysteriousness,
as well plot with devish cunning against
powerful and wealthy citizens With great
elaboration DR.. Lea traces the minutest
mechanism of these policies. II is hard 70
escape the impression that every important de-
tan Of inquisitorial administration and policy
has been here brought to light and placed in its
tight perspective.
The weak spot in the methods of the Suprema
was Of course, the rigor and selfish greed with
which its diplomacy put into practice. Had
the Grand Inquistors been blessed with a modi-
cum Of that business sense possessed by the
Roman College Of Cardinals. the revolution
might never have fared up IN their path and
cut them of from perpetual empire But Span
.sh impulsiveness could not have patience with
us own schemes. The absoutism which the
sDaniards had conceived failed at last simply
because the inquisitors did not have The tact TO
employ IL with that outward show OF mercy and
Justice which is often the mainstay OF a
.yEant The Spaniards could do nothing by
Asipes They threw self control TO the winds
ss Soon as they realized the opportunities for
private profit IN the InQuisition, and il was not
1Ohg before all religion and morality were for
sotten II the mad rush for wealth and power.