Chapter IX · EPILOGUE.

A FEW words in conclusion. Spain is far from being a worn-out country. On the contrary, both in the character and capacities of its varied populations, in the mineral riches of its soil, in its agricultural wealth, in industrial resources, and in the artistic taste of its workmen, it is capable of vast development.

Two things hinder this, and will probably hinder it for some time. These are the political separation of Spain and Portugal, so ill-adapted to the geographical conformation of the Peninsula. The great rivers of Spain run westward, but the benefit of these fluvial highways is entirely lost to the country through the intercalation of Portugal into the western sea-board, thus making useless to Spain her natural system of river transport, and cutting her off from her best and most direct Atlantic ports. It is Lisbon, and not Madrid, which should be the capital of the whole Peninsula. Scarcely less an evil to Spain is the possession of Gibraltar by the English, which, besides the expense of watching the fortress, and the loss to Spain of the advantage of the possession of the great port of call for the whole maritime traffic of the East, is a school of smuggling and contraband, and a focus of corruption for the whole of South-western Spain. Were the whole Atlantic and Mediterranean sea-board in sole possession of one nation, the expenses of the custom-house would be greatly lessened, while the smuggling on the Portuguese and British frontiers would wholly disappear. In no point was the effect of the narrow and jealous policy of Philip II. more disastrous, than in his failure even to attempt to attach the Portuguese to his rule when the kingdoms were temporarily united under his crown.

The second evil, and one of still graver proportions, is that of the exceedingly corrupt administration of the central government, and of almost every branch of public employment. It is difficult to exaggerate this mischief. It is not bad external political government, it is not a faulty constitution, but it is an administration in which corruption has become a tradition and the rule, that is the real evil in Spain. It is this which baffles every ministry that tries to do real good. Only a ministry, or succession of ministries, composed of men of thorough honesty, of iron will, and of competence in financial administration, supported by strong majorities, can hope to deal with this gigantic growth. Even then it must be a work of time. With an honest administration, and prudent and sagacious development of her resources, Spain would soon regain financial soundness and recover her place among the nations.

The contest between the opposite commercial systems of protection and free trade is not yet concluded, nor is likely to be, in Spain. As long as England, which has the greatest interest of any foreign power in the establishment of the latter system, maintains a tariff which unduly favours the wines of France in comparison with those of Spain free trade is not likely to be popular. From the varied character of her products, Spain is of all European countries naturally the most self-sufficing. Her north-western provinces furnish her with cattle in abundance; no finer wheat is grown than that on the central plateau, and it could easily be produced in quantity more than sufficient for her wants; wine, oil, and fruits she possesses in superfluity; even sugar is not wanting in the south; cotton, indeed, she has not; but wool of excellent quality is the produce of her numerous flocks, and it needs only the establishment of efficient manufactories for Spanish cloth and woollen stuffs to regain their ancient renown. All the most useful minerals abound, and are of the finest quality, especially the iron, and the development of the working of the Asturian and Andalusian coal-fields renders Spain yearly more and more independent of England in this respect. True it is that foreign capital is, and will for some time be necessary to assist in extracting this hidden wealth; but if the ordinary Spaniard of the educated classes, instead of seeking a bare, and too often a base, subsistence in petty government employment or in ill-paid professions—instead of seeking the barren honour of a university degree—would apply himself to scientific, industrial, or agricultural enterprise, he might soon obtain his legitimate share of the profits which now go mainly into the hands of foreign speculators and shareholders.

Spaniards are commonly said to be cruel and bloodthirsty, with little regard for the sufferings of others or respect for human life; and undoubtedly there is some truth in this charge, but it does not apply to the whole Peninsula. Many of Spain's best writers deplore it, and inveigh strongly against it and against the bull-fights, which, in their present form, are not more than a century old. As a national sport, the modern bull-ring, with its professional torreadors and its hideous horse-slaughtering, differs from the pastime in which Charles V. and his nobles used to take part as much as a prizefight from a tournament. The appeals of Fernan Caballero to the clergy, the efforts of Tubino, Lastre, and others to arouse the public against this wanton cruelty have hitherto been of no avail. We can only hope in the future. On the other hand, it is unjust to shut our eyes to the noble charities of Spain. She was the first to care for lunatics. Many of her hospitals and asylums for the aged were conducted with a tenderness and consideration unknown in other lands. Even a beggar is treated with respect, and is relieved without contumely. The treatment of her prisoners and the condition of her prisons, which was long so foul a blot, is now being efficiently removed; she is at least making an earnest effort to attain the level of European civilization in this respect.

Intellectually, in science, and especially in literature, Spain is advancing rapidly. The historical treasures long buried in the archives of Simancas, and those of the Indies at Seville, are now thrown open to the world, and are eagerly consulted by native historians. Her literary and scientific men, though comparatively few in number, are full of zeal and intelligence. There needs only a larger and more appreciative audience to encourage them in their labours in order to bring the literature of Spain to a level with that of any European country of equal population.

APPENDIX I.

PROVINCES OF SPAIN AND THEIR POPULATION IN 1877.

Provinces.Inhabitants. Per square Kilometer.

Alava93,19130

Albacéte219,12214

Alicante408,15475

Alméria349,85441

Avila180,45723

Badajoz432,80919

Barcelona835,306108

Burgos332,46123

Cacéres306,59415

Cadiz430,15859

Castellon283,96145

Ciudad-Real260,64113

Cordova385,58228

Corunna595,58575

Cuenca237,49714

Gerona299,00251

Granada477,71937

Guadalajara201,28816

Guipúzcoa167,20788

Huelva210,64120

Huesca252,16517

Jaën422,97232

Leon350,21022

Lerida285,29723

Logroño174,42534

Lugo410,38742

Madrid593,77577

Malaga500,23168

Murcia451,61139

Navarre304,18429

Orense388,83555

Oviedo576,35254

Palencia180,78522

Pontevedra451,946100

Salamanca285,50023

Santander235,29944

Saragossa400,26623

Segovia149,96121

Seville505,29136

Soria153,65415

Tarragona330,10552

Teruel242,29617

Toledo334,74423

Valencia679,03060

Valladolid247,45331

Vizcaya189,95486

Zamora250,00423

16,053,96132

Balearic Isles289,03560

Canaries280,38837

16,623,38433

In area of surface Spain ranks the 5th of European States.

In number of population 7th "

In density of population to the square mile 14th "

In extent of colonies 5th "

Rates of women to men, 1044 to 1000.

The infantile mortality is said to be 24½ per cent. in first year.

Expectation of life at 2 years old is said to be 49 years; the average 41.

APPENDIX II.

PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF SPANISH HISTORY.

A.D.

Visigoth kings rule from414 to 711

Entry of Moors, battle of Guadelete, death of last Visigothic king31 July, 711

Reconquest begun by Pelayo at Covadonga in the Asturias719

Toledo captured by Alphonso VI.1085

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa1212

Final union of Leon and Castile1230

Alphonso X. (Law Codes: The Fuero Real and Las Siete Partidas)1252

Union of Aragon with Castile under Ferdinand and Isabella1474

Inquisition established (first Auto de Fé, 1488)1484

Conquest of Granada1492

Discovery of America1492

Expulsion of Moors from Castile, 1501; from Granada1502

Conquest of Naples and Sicily1504

Austrian Dynasty:—Philip I. and Joanna1504

Charles I. (Emperor of Germany, Charles V.)1516

War of Comunidades of Castile, Battle of Villalar1521

Battle of Pavia, Francis I. prisoner1525

Capture of Tunis1535

Abdication of Charles I.1556

Philip II.:—Greatest extension of Spanish monarchy, comprising Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, Milan, Roussillon, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Franche-Comté, Tunis, Oran, the Canaries, Fernando Po, St. Helena, The Americas, Philippine Isles, &c.

Insurrection of Low Countries1566

First rebellion and expulsion of Moriscos1568

Battle of Lepanto1571

League of Provinces and independence of Holland,25 Jan., 1579

Conquest of Portugal (1580-1640)1580

Defeat of Armada1588

Death of Philip II.1598

Final expulsion of Moriscos1609

Insurrection of Catalonia1640

Loss of Portugal1640

Battle of Rocroy1643

Peace of the Pyrenees and marriage of Louis XIV.1659

Death of Charles II., last of Austrian dynasty29 Oct., 1700

Bourbon Dynasty:—War of Succession between Archduke Charles and Philip V., 1701-13

Loss of Gibraltar1704

Treaty of Utrecht1713

Salic Law voted in Cortes1713

Abolition of Constitution of Catalonia1716

Charles III.1759

Family Pact1761

Expulsion of Jesuits1767

Siege of Gibraltar1782

Charles IV.1788

Godoy, Prince of Peace1795

Battle of Trafalgar1805

Abdication of Charles IV.1808

Ferdinand VII., Renunciation at Bayonne1808

Joseph Bonaparte, King (1808-14)

Uprising of Spain2 May, 1808

Peninsular War, 1808-14

Expulsion of French1814

Cortés of Cadiz, suppression of Inquisition, of Feudal Rights, and establishment of Constitution1812

Return of Ferdinand VII., Inquisition re-established, and Constitution abolished1814

Insurrection of Riego, new Constitution (1820-23)1820

Invasion of French, violation of Constitution1823

Loss of American colonies.

Buenos Ayres1811

Chili1818

Columbia1819

Mexico1821

Peru1824

Absolutism till death of Ferdinand VII. (1823-33).

Birth of Isabella II., abolition of Salic Law, expulsion of Don Carlos1830

Death of Ferdinand VII.1833

Regency of Christina, the queen-mother, 1833; expelled 18401833

First Carlist War, 1833-39.

Majority of Isabella II.1844

War with Morocco1860

Insurrection and expulsion of Isabella1868

Provisional Government, 1868-701868

Amadeo I., November, 1870, to February, 18731870

Republic, Cantonalist insurrections1873

Second Carlist War, 1873-76.

Alphonso XII.Dec., 1874

Don Carlos entered France, February, 18761876

Abolition of Basque Fueros1876

Downfall of Cánovas del Castillo1881

APPENDIX III.

LIST OF BOOKS CHIEFLY MADE USE OF IN THE FOREGOING PAGES.

Geography:—

La Nouvelle Géographie Universelle, par Elisée Reclus, series 5 and 6. Hachette, Paris, 1876.

Spanien und die Balearen. Willkomm, Berlin, 1879.

The Balearic Isles, by T. Bidwell. London.

Boletin de la Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid, various years.

Introduccion à la Historia Natural y à la Geográfica Fisica de España, por Don Guillermo Bowles. Madrid, 1775.

Espagne, Algerie, et Tunisie, par P. de Tchikatchef. Paris, 1880.

Libro de Agricultura, por Abu Zaccaria. Spanish translation Seville, 1878.

Meteorology:—

Reports of the Meteorological Society of Madrid, various years.

Revista Contemporanea, tomo xxx. 4. December, 1880.

Philology:—

Grammaire des Langues Romaines, par F. Diez, 2nd German edition. French translation, Paris.

Études sur les Idiomes Pyrénéenes, par A. Luchaire. Paris, 1879.

Various articles in Spanish Literary and Provincial Journals.

History, General:—

Dunham's History of Spain and Portugal, 5 vols. Lardner's Cabinet Encyclopaedia.

Resúmen de Historia de España, por F. de Castro, 12th edition. Madrid, 1878.

Compendio Razonado de História General, por Sales y Ferré, last edition, 4 vols. Madrid, 1880.

History of Civilization, by Buckle, 3 vols. London.

Particular Histories:—

Investigaciones sobre la História de España, por Dozy, Spanish translation, 2 vols. Seville, 1877.

Los Mudejares de Castillo, por Fernandez Gonzalez. Madrid, 1866.

Vida de la Princesa Eboli, by G. Muro, with introductory letter by Cánovas del Castillo. Madrid, 1877.

Text of various Fueros, and of the Constitutions since 1812.

Espagne Contemporaine, par F. Garrido. Bruxelles, 1865.

Ecclesiastical History:—

Die Kirchengeschichte von Spanien, von P. B. Gams, 5 vols. Berlin, 1879.

Historia de los Heterodoxos Españoles, por M. Menendez Pelayo, tomos i. and ii. (Tomo iii. not yet published.) Madrid, 1880.

History of Property, &c.:—

Ensayo sobre la História del derecho de Propiedad y su Estado actual en Europa, por G. de Azcárate. Tomos i. and ii. (Tomo iii. not yet published.) Madrid, 1879-80.

Estudios filosóficos y politicos, por G. de Azcárate. Madrid, 1877.

La Constitucion Inglesa y la politica del Continente, por G. de Azcárate. Madrid, 1878.

Ensayo sobre la Propiedad Territorial en España, per Cardénas, 2 vols. Madrid, 1875.

Art:—

Street's Gothic Architecture in Spain. Murray, 1865.

The Industrial Arts of Spain, by Juan F. Riaño. London 1879.

Discurso de Recepcion, by Juan F. Riaño. Madrid, 1880.

Numerous articles in Spanish Periodicals.

Literature:—

Ticknor's History of Spanish Literature, 4 vols. London, 1845.

Sismondi's Literature of the South of Europe. Bohn, London, 1846.

Hubbard's Littérature Contemporaine en Espagne. Paris, 1876.

Guide-Books:—

Ford's last edition, and O'Shea's Guide to Spain, with numerous Spanish general and local guides, and particular descriptions of towns, provinces, &c.

Tourist Books in Spanish, German, French, and English. The only ones needing mention, as going out of the common round are—

Untrodden Spain, by J. H. Rose. Bentley, 1875.

Among the Spanish People, by J. H. Rose. Bentley, 1877.

Government and Consular reports too numerous to specify; but we must except Phipps' masterly Report on Spanish Finance to the close of 1876.

INDEX.

AGRICULTURE, 41. Alhambra, 113, 198. Alphonso XII., 160. Amadeo I., 138, 168. Andorra, republic of, 100. Arabs, 75. Architecture, Roman, 194; Arab, 195; Mudejar, 200; Renaissance, 202; Churrigueresque, 203. Army, 167. Art, Visigothic, 195; Arabic, 196; Christian, 205; industrial, 210. BALEARIC ISLES, 141. Bardeñas Reales, 13, 97. Basque language, 71, 77, 78. Behetria, 145. Bidassoa, 12, 56. Budgets, 175. Bulls and bull-fighting, 121, 234. CABALLERO, Fernan, 223. Calderon, 216. Camel breeds in Spain, 34, 65. Cañada, La, pass of, 5, 135. Canals, 13, 16, 18, 133. Cánovas del Castillo, 161, 228. Carlists, 155, 159. Castelar, 158, 159, 228. Cerro de San Felipe, 6, 133. Cervantes, 215, 217. Charles I., 13, 150. Charles III., 13, 152. Chuetas of Balearic Isles, 90, 143. Church, councils of, 75, 187; furniture and art, 205. Clergy, 82, 191. Coal-mines, 65, 94, 101, 122, 234. Colleges, British, 141, 183. Comunidades of Aragon, 40, 99. Congress of deputies, 162. Constitutions of Spain, 153, 162. Contrabandistas, 90. Cortés, 146, 162. Cordova, mosque of, 124, 196, 198. DEBT, public, 174. Despeña-Perros, pass of, 3, 125. Despoblados and Destierros, 7, 111, 130. Douro, 15, 139. EBRO, 12, 97, 99. Escorial, 36, 132, 203. Esparto grass, 43, 107, 111. Exports and imports, 177. FAUNA, 52. Ferdinand VII., 153. Finance, 174. Fiords or Friths in Galicia, 3, 31, 92. Fisheries, 56, 93, 118. Flora, greatly exotic, 41, 42; herbaceous aromatic, 45; African, 108. Fueros, 146, 147, 150, 158, 161. Funds, 175. GATA, Cabo de, 2, 9, 109. Gibraltar, 9, 119. Guadalaviar and irrigation, 24, 104. Guadalquiver and affluents, 20, 109. Guadarrama, range of, 6, 129, 135. Guadiana and affluents, 19. Guardias civiles, 156. Guisando, Toros de, 71, 134, 194. HISTORICAL school in Spain, 220, 226. Hospitals, 171. Hurdes, 90, 138. IBERI, 70. Imports and exports, 177. Inquisition, 149, 188. Irrigation of Llobregat, 26; Esla, 17; Henares, 18, 19, 193; in Valencia and Murcia, 24, 25, 104, 106, 107. Isabella II., 154. JEWS of Balearic Isles, 77, 143. Justice, administration of, 169. KELT and Keltiberi, 70, 76. LACE, 211. Lakes, 19, 26, 105, 108. Laya, Basque tool, 40. Lead-mines, 64, 125. Lemosin dialects, 77. Locusts, 48, 53. Lunatic asylums, 171, 235. MAJOLICA ware, 105, 144, 211. Manufactures, cotton, 81, 82, 102. Maragatos, 105, 144, 211. Marismas of Guadalquiver, 22, 121. Merino sheep, 54. Mesta, 47, 83, 84, 156. Mineral springs, 28. Minho, 11, 93. Mining districts, 64, 94, 95, 102, 107, 110, 111, 122, 125, 140. Monkeys at Gibraltar, 52, 120. Mudejar art, 201. Municipal administration, 164. Mules, 55. Murillo, 120, 206, 207, 209. NAVY, 168. Nevada, Sierra, 8, 109, 115. OLIVES, 33, 47, 59, 101, 109, 116. Orange cultivation, 39, 43, 46, 105, 109. PAINTING, schools of, 206, 209. Palms, 33, 44, 106. Passiegos of Bilbao, 90. Philip II., 132, 232. Population, census of, 80, 82; diverse of Spain, 69, 85; occupations of, 81. Post and letters, 172. Pottery and porcelain, 105, 144, 211. Prisons, 170, 234. Professors, salary of, 182. Property, distribution of, 83, 153; Church, sale of, 83, 154, 191. Provinces, administration of, 164. Provincial literature, 228. RAILWAYS, 172. Rainfall, 10, 28, 31. Republic of Andora, 100. Rice cultivation, 42, 44, 105. Rivers, comparative table of, 28. Romans in Spain, 17, 41, 76, 93, 102, 108, 194. SALINAS, 22, 26, 29, 108, 109, 118. Salt-mine, 63, 100. Schools and schoolmasters, 184. Sea-board of Spain, 2. Seguro, sierra and rivers, 8, 24, 107. Silk, 17. Sugar, 42, 44, 115. TAGUS and its affluents, 17. Taxes, 176. Telegraphs, 173. Tobacco factories, 121, 176. Toleration, early religious, 147, 165, 188. UNIVERSITIES, 182. VISIGOTHS, 74, 187, 195. WATER, names connected with, 27. Wines of Galicia, 38, 93; Riojas, 33, 96; Navarre and Aragon, 33; Catalonia, 33, 102; Valencia, 104; La Mancha, 127; Malaga 116; Andalusia sherries, 118, 119, 124.

LONDON: PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.