Evening star., 1934-01-07
Mysticism Developed.

fuence which the evolution of contem-
porary Spanish thought and of the po-
litical and social institutions of the new
Spain may exert on America and the
whole world, it must be borne in mind
that it is not only the democratic re-
country that are challenged, but also
the foundations on which our gener-
alton bases its philosophy of life.
The reaction against the period of
doubt and confusion in which we were
thrown by the war is creating philoso-
phies of certainty which tend to build
inevitable, iron-clad frames for the
modern mind. The countries where the
new philosophy is dominant are de-
veloping an aggressive mysticism for
export. called, by some one, spiritual
imperialism"
But today it is not democracy and
capitalism alone that are in danger. 1t
is 1ntellectualiSm as opposed to passion;
reason as opposed to instinct; interna-
t1onalism to nationalism; it is criticism
menaced by intolerance; thought by
fanaticism; logic by mysticism. We
cannot but recognize that it is in Italy,
Russia and Germany that we can see
this vitality, this enthusiasm for a
cause and certainty as to principles,
contrasting so markedly with the
whitening Of Western democracies.
spain is mosaic. Each region, each
social fragment, is unbelievably differ
ent; the whole is brilliant, strongly
1berlan harmony. From place to place,
down through long line of centuries,
the people dress, drink, talk and think
differently.
These 1berian women who told their
Kings. Each of us is worth as much
as you and together We are worth more
Ihan you, Will say the same to the
President of a republic, a Duce.
Fuhrer or a Peoples Commissar.
They are not individualists by convic-
tion, but by birth and blood. Ro-
mantically fond of freedom, thev
handed down to Latin America not only
their uncompromising love of liberty,
but also their dominant traits of fear
lessness, instinct for struggle and con-
tempt Of life.
Ties More Iberian.
We Latin Americans are not Latin as
much as we ar Iberian. Our horror of
discipline, our concept of equality to
the King, not to the commoner, our
arrogant romantic anarchism are not
Latin. Latinism means order, discipline,
obedience, tact. A Spanish writer some
years ago said that the term Latin
American" was "an article of luxury
made in Paris" 1t is. Through the
French cultural literary influence, which
has always been and is today paramount
In our countries, the term came to be
widely used. But the fact remains that
our racial ties with Europe are much
more Iberian than Latin. That Celt-
1berian candidate for deputy from EX-
tremadura, who few weeks ago offered
Ito give back to Spain" the social or
ganization she had before the invasion
of the Roman barbarians who were al
ready Fasclsts was not so crazy after
all.
break was complete and final repudia-
ton. The revolutionary generation
learned and taught hatred of Spain.
Even in the middle of the nineteenth
century our thinkers and writers were
busy severing all literary, juridical and
cultural bonds with the motherland.
BY the middle of the century the
French influence was already predom-
inant. The French romanticists exerted
an influence not only on our writers,
but also on our Parliaments and states
men. The followers of Augusta Comte
formed positivist intellectual genera
ton which in Brazil and Chile became
strong enough to dominate the political
thought of the governments. 1t is a
smattering of utilitarian philosophy that
still finds SubconsciOuS expression IN
some of our countries and makes them
fruitful ground for the new social, ma
terialistic ideas.
Antagonism at Bottom.
The last decades of the past century
and all of the present marked a return
to Spain, prompted by affection and
0F collide ritu IF
not be said. though that Spanish
thought or culture has had any great
influence on our social or political out
look, nor does it seem to have now.
At the bottom of the Spanish situa-
ton today there is the definite antag-
onism between revolution and reaction.
The party combinations, the cabinets
and parliamentary groups are only
short-lived compromises, influenced by
old political habits. That is why the
parties which dominated the Cortes sup
porting AZana was swept away IN the
recent election.
They tried to be revolutionary and at
the same time to check revolution, ana
they lost the support of the two forces
between which the nation is vaclllatlng
reaction and revolution.
All the strength of Azana ana Largo
Caballero was shattered to pieces
against this decisive factor. Possibly
the same thing will happen to Lerroux
and Santiago Alba, who will try to
head reactionary government While
checking reaction.
The Spanish crisis has developed such
q sentimental zeal that it can no longer
be settled in parliamentary or cabinet
committees. It is going to be fought
out in the streets AS matter of fact,
it has been so fought for the last two
years, the government acting more as
q police force than as an organization
of leaders.
If there be any logic in the revolu-
tionary social geology Of Spain, the
Lerroux government will be one of tran
sition with a leaning toward the right