Year: 1868

The Madrid correspondent of the London
Times writes on the 2eth ult:-


1t seems clear to me that not only in Spain,
but IN all European countries, the religious
question requires different solution from that
mere federation which, tc certain extent, has
been for many years admitted in Rome itself.
Religious freedom must be a right, not favor.
Without unbounded freedom of faith and wor-
ship there can be no other freedom. Such Is
the principle unanimously put forward by the
Spanish people, as represented by all the inter-
pretcrs OF public opinion on the very outbreak
Of the revolutionary movement. l do not
know how far that principle may be followed
up to its utmost consequences; but think that,
without its full development, the whole scheme
of national emancipation is likely TO turn out a
cbimera. Whatever Spain is, the priests have
made it. II Spain is TO be anything different
the work of the priests must be undone; men
must be allowed full freedom to undo the
priests work. There must be not only freedom
of conscience and freedom of worship, out free
dom of inquiry, freedom of propagandism,
freedom of proselytism All creeds must rest
on a footing of perfect equality. Spain has
sunk too low in her abject superstition to be
saved by any such compromises as have been
adopted in France, Belgium, or Italy. We must
not be surprised If there are men here who cry
for religious liberty it exists in the United
States OF America, or at least for liberty as in
England.


Can this country bear so much light out of so
much darkness? The Junta of Barcelona has
intimated to the Archbishop that, as freedom of
worship has been proclaimed, every religious
ceremony out of doors must be discontinued; !;
every sect and denomination must perform its
rites within the buildings destined to its special
uses. In Madrid and other cities the images at
the street corners, with the oil lamps dmly
burning before them night and day, are fast
disappearing. 1t may be mere accident, but
have not for nearly month met the Holy
Sacrament, with bell, and book, and candle. on
my way along the Madrid thorougfaies. 1t is
not long since the tinkling of that bell used to
throw whole neghborhood into CONSERVATION,
when the words "Pdsa Djos!n were the signal
for every man to get out of the way, those who
tarred behind being compelled to in
terrupt all business and traffic, to
PROSTATE themselves on the ground and
even to alight from their carriages, give
up their seats to the priests. and follow on foot,
Such were, up to yesterday, the rights and
privileges of the dominant Church. Are we
going to change all that? Are Spaniards willing
to give up all the pageantries of their process
Sons and the gorgeous trappings OF the Corpus
DOmiai? And is the work of demolition thus
time going far as TO preclude all possibility of
reconstruction? There is no doubt that the
decree providing for the suppression of monastic
orders is nowhere suffered to remain dead
letter. There are $4,000 workmen in the en-
ployment OF the Madrid municipality at the
present moment, and few of them have any
other task than levelling the old nests of monks
and nuns with the ground TIE work OF de-
struction is not altogether unsparing and indis-
crminate, but it will be so thorough as to pre-
vent the possibility of the old eddce again rising
from its ruins.