In Spain

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 4 June 1908, Page 9

In Spain

According to the April issue of the ' Messenger ', Spain seems to have been making great strides since it has been relieved of its uncomfortable insular possessions, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, and has had time to recover from the results of its long series of exhausting dynastic wars. ' The ' Messenger.! quotes as follows, in part support of its statements, from the non-Catholic ' Quarterly ' : ' There is now an excellent system of elementary education and of secondary schools with colleges for the training of teachers in every part of the land. Indeed, in the very darkest of her days, Spain never lost her place in art and letters, • but with the new era her painters, sculptors, poets, .and writers have sprung into fresh activity, and are taking a high place in the literary and artistic world. Under' her learned societies, the interesting records of her past art are daily being brought to light, while her critical historians are throwing light on hitherto obscure problems. Electrical science is perhaps in a more forward state than with us ; at all events it is more widely diffused ; and it -is no uncommon thing to find a remote country village lighted by electricity. The telegraph system is better organised in the isolated country districts of Spain than it is in England. Railways now connect every portion of the kingdom with Madrid, and with the seaport towns with which Spain is so richly provided. Universities, schools of science, libraries, artistic and learned societies abound. Maura has revolutionized Spain ; but as he always insisted"' it should be done, he has revolutionized it from the top. His energy is tireless ; opposition falls before him. He is cleverness personified, but - his cleverness never takes the place of justice. He has a horror of a wrong. He is a lover of the people, talks with them, studies them, and looks upon them as the only prop of the monarchy. Spain is proud of -him and is repeating what -one of Maura's sons has said : " Our day is coming, and we are going "to work till it does." All friends of Spain will rejoice in this resurrection.'