Current Topics. AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 44, 25 February 1887, Page 1

Current Topics. AT HOME AND ABROAD.

A writer in la Controverse of Sept. 15, gives a ANOTHER clear and inte t3ling account of the causes which falsehood in the 16th an. l !7th centuries led to the decline of EXPLODED. the kingdom of Spain. As the falhng-off in question is frequently laid to the charge of the Catholic Church and is one of the stock arguments every now and then advanced against her, we can hardly do better than summarize the very full and satisfactory explanation to which we refer.— ln the first place, then, the writer attributes the misfortune he deals with to the discovery of America and the events that followed — Spain, whose population was already insufficient, which in the preceding century had lost two thirds of its inhabitants by the black death, and had been also engaged in frequent wars with the inevitable results, could not afford the emigration that consequently took place. — The result again, of the abundance of gold and silver yielded by the New World was to increase the demand for manufactured goods and produce of all kinds and make it greater than the supply could meet, and therefore prices rose and with them the wages of the workmen. —But here the government stepped in and taxed the daily wages, at the same time that it taxed raw material and hindered exports while it left imports free—and this method of internal management lasted for nearly two hundred years, or from the reign of Charles V. to that of Philip T. Natnrally the manufactures of the country could not Burvive such a course of treatment as this, and thus one great source of the country's prosperity was destroyed. — Circumstances, meantime, had prevailed that hindered the prosecution or improvement of agricultural pursuits. — During the Moorish occupation the Spanish inhabitants had occupied themselves principally in breeding ana maintaining large flocks of sheep which could be removed from place to place as the necessity arose, and in which for the most part their wealth consisted. When, however, the Moors had been overcome it was the interest of wealthy and influential men still to retain wide pastures for the maintenance of their ftocks and to resist any attempt to encourage the adoption of agricuture instead of pastoral occupations. — A considerable part of the land of the kingdom besides reverted by entail to the heirs of noble houses, and they neglected its cultivation in an extreme degree. — In this respect also the clergy both regular and secular failed and fell short of what was commonly accomplished by them in other countries. — Their estates, indeed, were comparatively well managed, and the produce was made use of as elsewhere principally for charitable purposes. But as the land yielded sufficient for the immediate wants of the day, no pains were taken to render it more productive. Another cause of the decline alluded to was the contempt for industry and work of all kinds that was engendered generally among the Spanish people, and this also was a consequence of the Moorish occupation. During the time in question, the Spanish inhabitants had been divided into two classes, the hidalgis, who lived in the hills, and principally waged war against the invaders, and the jtccherts, who inhabited the plains, and followed peaceful industries so far as it was possible for them. When the Spanish cause, however, became victorious, the contempt of the hidalg*s fell heavily upon the pecheros and their employments, and the result was a desire on the part of the latter to identify themselves with the higher class, and to renounce all tokens of their inferiority in the industries they followed. A dislike for industry consequently became wide-spread throughout the nation. The writer speaks of the expulsion of the Jews also, andi warmly condemns the alternative offered of conversion to Christianity which, in many casei, had grievous results. He, nevertheless, denie ß that the continued residence of this people enjoying all their priviledges in the country ceuld have done anything to prevent the course of events described by him. He alludes as well to the similar treatment given to the Moriscos, but he quotes no less enlightenad an authority than that of Cervantes as a testimony against their character. This writer represents them as engaged exclusively in robbing the Spaniards, and Bpeaks of them as " vipere " whose presence formed a national danger. We see, therefore, how the decline of Spain occurred apart from all religious considerations, and

was the plain result of accident, misgovernment, and human frailty A less religious nation than the Spaniards, under like circumstances i would probably have fared still woise. As a final proof that the Catholic religion had A telling nothing to do with the decline of Spain, the write r contrast. in La Controverse contrasts the condition of the Basque provinces with that of the rest of the country. — The Basque provinces, he Bays, inhabited by the most religious population in the peninsula, never knew the misery that desolated the central districts. The mountains of Guipuecoa Biscay, neverthelesss, do not offer to the husbandman the same resources as the plains of Castile and the fertile soil of AndalusiaThe mortmain estates, besides, were as numerous there as elsewhere ; the Inquisition flourished and a special tribunal was in operation at Bstella. Whence then arose the difference of fortune t — The trns explanation is that the Basques, under shelter of their fuarot, Avoided the excessive taxes that harassed the Caatilians j and under shelter of their mountains had not to suffer like Catalonia the scourge of war. Attachment to their native land restrained within due limit* the desire for emigration ; and, finally, an industrious and chaste life assured to these bold mountaineers necessary resources, and the fruitfulness of families.

Arb we to witness before many months hare passed AN interest- another change in the government of France f If ing question we are to witness a war, at least, as is now threatened, such an event seems extremely likely The times are indeed threatening, and present a strange spectacle to the world. Mutual distrust and anger alone, without any disguise or pretence, between two great nations bid fair to provoke a contest that must needs prove gigantic and whose result would surely be to alter once more the map of Europe. Dismemberment must follow defeat in either case, and either France would see others of her provinces sharing the fate of Alsace and Lorraine, or the German Empire would lose something of its extent and strength. Perhaps, indeed, it would be wholly broken up and things restored to their former condition.

What the exact chances are at present of the outthe chances break of war it is impossible to say. The hour of OP WAB. revenge perhaps has come for France. The pamphlet, for example, that created so much stir about a year ago by stating that it was so and that the country w s fully prepared for the struggle, may have had a deeper meaning than that of creating a passing sensation and the spirit roused by it may last among the people. Germany may feel the impossibility of continuing to support the great armaments necessary in sight of the French determination to take revenge, backed up as it is by the resources of a richer and more productive country. France can prepare and delay with comparative ease, but delay accompanied by preparation means ruin for Germany.

In event of this war's occurrence, however, the the republic fortunes of the French Republic as such are what doomed. we are principally concerned about. — If France be conquered, or if Bhe prove victorious what will come to pass 1 It is no very wild suggestion to make that in either oase the Republic must fall. Perhaps, following |on victory over the Germans we should see the French again entering on a course of aggressive warfare. It is evident that the spirit of a nation that merely for the sake of taking revenge risks a doubtfnl and terrible struggle, which by a more moderate frame of mind it might easily avoid, is not to be depended on, and preserves all the elements that have ever mado it formidable. The desire for glory alone is not dead within it and the old halo, let it even be as it has been described that of burning straw— has not lost its power to dazzle. The sun of Austerlita has still warmth in its rays and neither Waterloo nor Sedan has made the heart of France impervious to them. A repetition of the Napoleonic wars, therefore, made under some other successful military dictator is not impossible, and so sure as history repeats itself in this manner so surely will it be met by a repetition of the combination that saw its final results in St, Helena and the Restoration.— But

before this termination occurred, France would almost certainly have JSSrin?-"- 11 t? the 5? 1 u Of a deS P Ot - Tfa e general who carried her victorious armies with him to Berlin would have become the arbiter of her fortunes. Would he have had the magnanimity to lay his laurels a* the feet of a President,- Ore vy, or Freycinet, or another, and to seek no higher honours for himself ?-Such a man there perhaps might be found, but let him be greeted as more chivalrous than Bayard, as more noble and disinterested than even Washington himself. The general, meantime, whom the day actually presents to us as the leader of the French armies is General Boulanger, and of him we may certainly say that the man is known ; the commander alone remains to be proved. But if he prove to be the conqueror of Germany we shall see Prance at the feet of a noted self••eker, a man who has no thought but that of his own interests and who Will etop at nothing to advance them. -France, as she was before, mil be at the disposal of one who is a great soldier but a small-souled being, capable of every ;hing that is base and mean, and characteristic of the tyrant.— Such would ba tha second Napoleon in truth— for we have no more to do with shadows or mere names-under whose weight first the Republic would fall a second time,and then France herself. But if, on the other hand, the Germans conquered, is it possible that Prince Bismarck would see with a favourable eye the continuance of a form of government, that in France is sure to be the source of anarchy and the breaking down of thrones and governments in all parts of Europe -France as she now exists is the plague spot of the civilized world out of her all manner of discontent and evil must proceed.— We do not suppose that it is for the love of the Catholic Church that Prince Bismarck has come to terms with Pope Leo XIII. He has withdrawn from the regulations of the KultxivUmpf because he saw that, with the decline of religion in Germany, conspiracy and every form of wickedness must increase.- Wo may ba persmdel he does nut look on with unconcern while a still more active war against religion is going oa , « T' aDd the Wh ° le P°P ulati ° Q ot that country is being deprived Of the Christianity that makes the safeguard of every civilised State. A corrupt France means a corrupt Europe, and Germany cannot wc*pe the general pollution.-Oae of the consequences, therefore, to? Which we might certainly look, were another Franco-German war to result in the defeat of the French, would be the overthrow of the Republic and the establishment of another form of governmental

Another question that is also of much interest AY IMPORTANT presents itself to us among the rumours of impendCONSIDERATION.ing war that now prevail. It is as to the part to be taken by Italy in the co- flict should it becom c general. Not, however, that we are particularly interested in the kingdom of Italy as afc present constituted, or that we feel any particular doubt as to how it must fare in the event of its being engaged in war. Its fortunes must be simply those of a country •Iready overburdened and obliged to incur fresh obligations of a serious nature. The population already taxed beyond all bounds must suffer the penalty of not being able to bear fresh taxation, and misery, and want, and hardship, must result that no victory could relieve, and no glory could conceal. But how would it thrive with the Holy Father should the Italian Government become involved in the conflict? The situation of the Pope has not by any means Improved of late. His dauntless aspect, his firm determination to Uphold the rights of the Church, and to provide for the wants of religion even in the stronghold of the enemy, has exasperated his opponents and filled them afresh with rage. The restoration of all their former privileges to the Society of Jesus particularly has been made the excuse for renewed outbursts of fury and menaces, and it is trident that fear of the consequences alone prevents violence from following close upon these threats. Should a war break out, therefore, in which Italy would be engaged, a great deal would depend on the temper of the Powers with which she was allied. Were they hostile to the Pope, the malcontents would have licence to work their will. Rome would be no longer a safe place for the Holy Father to remain in, and he would be obliged to take refuge elsewhere. But what would the Eternal City become were it delivered up wholly into the hands of the enemies of the Papacy ? It would become all that unbridled hatred could make it-for even now the more candid among these enemies admit that it is not -ood policy nor fitness of any kind that makes them insist so resolutely upon preserving Rome as the capital of the new kingdom, but only hatred of t , Puholie Churcb.-Wo have seen what Vandals inspired by h-ueU, but still held within bounds can dohow they hare, in a great degree disfigured and spoiled the monumenteof ages or wholly swept them away .-All cultured Europe already complains of the havoc that has been wrought, and many of those who beheld the Piedmontese invasion with approval are punished by what they now behold with indignation and disgust.— But Rome in the hands of a mob before whose violence the Pope was obliged to fly, and supported by forces hostile to the Papacy would become, so far as Christian monuments, or even monuments associated in anjr way with Christian traditions, we associated, a rubbish heap

and a scandal to the world.— Pagan hatred still left us some venerable rel.es of Christian ages in the tombs and underground resorts of the saints, but the hatred of the apostate sects would not leave one vestige undestroyed.— ln any case, the situation of the Pope would be one of anxiety and danger. Even were the allies of the Italians friendly to him, among the vicissitudes of war it might not always be found easy to control the movements of an excited mob— and if under such circumstances a defeat were sustained the results might be no less serious than the course of events that must ensue should an alliance hostile to the Holy Father be formed in the first place.— Among the questions, therefore, that demand grave consideration now when the times appear so threatening the opportunities to arise either from defeat or victory to the levolu. tionista from the part taken by Italy are not the least important.