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.
Per square
Provinces. Inhabitants. Kilometer.
Alava 93,191 30
Albacete 219,122 14
Alicante 408,154 75
Almeria 349,854 41
Avila 180,457 23
Badajoz 432,809 19
Barcelona 835,306 108
Burgos 332,461 23
Caceres 306,594 15
Cadiz 430,158 59
Castellon 283,961 45
Ciudad-Real 260,641 13
Cordova 385,582 28
Corunna 595,585 75
Cuenca 237,497 14
Gerona 299,002 51
Granada 477,719 37
Guadalajara 201,288 16
Guipuzcoa 167,207 88
Huelva 210,641 20
Huesca 252,165 17
Jaen 422,972 32
Leon 350,210 22
Lerida 285,297 23
Logrono 174,425 34
Lugo 410,387 42
Madrid 593,775 77
Malaga 500,231 68
Murcia 451,611 39
Navarre 304,184 29
Orense 388,835 55
Oviedo 576,352 54
Palencia 180,785 22
Pontevedra 451,946 100
Salamanca 285,500 23
Santander 235,299 44
Saragossa 400,266 23
Segovia 149,961 21
Seville 505,291 36
Soria 153,654 15
Tarragona 330,105 52
Teruel 242,296 17
Toledo 334,744 23
Valencia 679,030 60
Valladolid 247,453 31
Vizcaya 189,954 86
Zamora 250,004 23
---------- --
16,053,961 32
Balearic Isles 289,035 60
Canaries 280,388 37
---------- --
16,623,384 33
---------- --
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 24-1/2 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 from 414 to 711
Entry of Moors, battle of Guadelete, death of last
Visigothic king 31 July, 711
Reconquest begun by Pelayo at Covadonga in the Asturias 719
Toledo captured by Alphonso VI. 1085
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa 1212
Final union of Leon and Castile 1230
Alphonso X. (Law Codes: The Fuero Real and Las Siete
Partidas) 1252
Union of Aragon with Castile under Ferdinand and
Isabella 1474
Inquisition established (first Auto de Fe, 1488) 1484
Conquest of Granada 1492
Discovery of America 1492
Expulsion of Moors from Castile, 1501; from Granada 1502
Conquest of Naples and Sicily 1504
_Austrian Dynasty_:--Philip I. and Joanna 1504
Charles I. (Emperor of Germany, Charles V.) 1516
War of Comunidades of Castile, Battle of Villalar 1521
Battle of Pavia, Francis I. prisoner 1525
Capture of Tunis 1535
Abdication of Charles I. 1556
Philip II.:--Greatest extension of Spanish monarchy, comprising
Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia,
Milan, Roussillon, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg,
Franche-Comte, Tunis, Oran, the Canaries, Fernando
Po, St. Helena, The Americas, Philippine Isles, &c.
Insurrection of Low Countries 1566
First rebellion and expulsion of Moriscos 1568
Battle of Lepanto 1571
League of Provinces and independence of Holland, 25 Jan., 1579
Conquest of Portugal (1580-1640) 1580
Defeat of Armada 1588
Death of Philip II. 1598
Final expulsion of Moriscos 1609
Insurrection of Catalonia 1640
Loss of Portugal 1640
Battle of Rocroy 1643
Peace of the Pyrenees and marriage of Louis XIV. 1659
Death of Charles II., last of Austrian dynasty 29 Oct., 1700
_Bourbon Dynasty_:--War of Succession between Archduke
Charles and Philip V., 1701-13
Loss of Gibraltar 1704
Treaty of Utrecht 1713
Salic Law voted in Cortes 1713
Abolition of Constitution of Catalonia 1716
Charles III. 1759
Family Pact 1761
Expulsion of Jesuits 1767
Siege of Gibraltar 1782
Charles IV. 1788
Godoy, Prince of Peace 1795
Battle of Trafalgar 1805
Abdication of Charles IV. 1808
Ferdinand VII., Renunciation at Bayonne 1808
Joseph Bonaparte, King (1808-14)
Uprising of Spain 2 May, 1808
Peninsular War, 1808-14
Expulsion of French 1814
Cortes of Cadiz, suppression of Inquisition, of
Feudal Rights, and establishment of Constitution 1812
Return of Ferdinand VII., Inquisition re-established,
and Constitution abolished 1814
Insurrection of Riego, new Constitution (1820-23) 1820
Invasion of French, violation of Constitution 1823
Loss of American colonies. Buenos Ayres 1811
Chili 1818
Columbia 1819
Mexico 1821
Peru 1824
Absolutism till death of Ferdinand VII. (1823-33).
Birth of Isabella II., abolition of Salic Law, expulsion
of Don Carlos 1830
Death of Ferdinand VII. 1833
Regency of Christina, the queen-mother, 1833; expelled
1840 1833
First Carlist War, 1833-39.
Majority of Isabella II. 1844
War with Morocco 1860
Insurrection and expulsion of Isabella 1868
Provisional Government, 1868-70 1868
Amadeo I., November, 1870, to February, 1873 1870
Republic, Cantonalist insurrections 1873
Second Carlist War, 1873-76.
Alphonso XII. Dec., 1874
Don Carlos entered France, February, 1876 1876
Abolition of Basque Fueros 1876
Downfall of Canovas del Castillo 1881
APPENDIX III.
LIST OF BOOKS CHIEFLY MADE USE OF IN THE FOREGOING PAGES.
_Geography_:--
La Nouvelle Geographie Universelle, par Elisee 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 Geografica de Madrid, various years.
Introduccion a la Historia Natural y a la Geografica Fisica de
Espana, 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.
Etudes sur les Idiomes Pyreneenes, 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.
Resumen de Historia de Espana, por F. de Castro, 12th edition.
Madrid, 1878.
Compendio Razonado de Historia General, por Sales y Ferre, last
edition, 4 vols. Madrid, 1880.
History of Civilization, by Buckle, 3 vols. London.
_Particular Histories_:--
Investigaciones sobre la Historia de Espana, 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
Canovas 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 Espanoles, por M. Menendez Pelayo,
tomos i. and ii. (Tomo iii. not yet published.) Madrid, 1880.
_History of Property, &c._:--
Ensayo sobre la Historia del derecho de Propiedad y su Estado
actual en Europa, por G. de Azcarate. Tomos i. and ii. (Tomo iii.
not yet published.) Madrid, 1879-80.
Estudios filosoficos y politicos, por G. de Azcarate. Madrid, 1877.
La Constitucion Inglesa y la politica del Continente, por G. de
Azcarate. Madrid, 1878.
Ensayo sobre la Propiedad Territorial en Espana, per Cardenas, 2
vols. Madrid, 1875.
_Art_:--
Street's Gothic Architecture in Spain. Murray, 1865.
The Industrial Arts of Spain, by Juan F. Riano. London 1879.
Discurso de Recepcion, by Juan F. Riano. 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 Litterature 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.
Bardenas 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.
Canada, La, pass of, 5, 135.
Canals, 13, 16, 18, 133.
Canovas 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.
Cortes, 146, 162.
Cordova, mosque of, 124, 196, 198.
DEBT, public, 174.
Despena-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.
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