DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47347#0111
THE SPANISH SUCCESSION.
95
than once united to defend right when attacked, will put an
end to an atrocious and destructive warfare, which is drench-
ing with blood a country called by nature to the happiest
destinies.
We shall abstain from appealing to other sympathies than
those arising from the evidence of right and the love of
justice. We will nevertheless remind Germany, we will
remind Europe, that they will only be discharging an old
debt by contributing to restore domestic peace to Spain, at
a moment when, rent by the ever increasing animosities of
a cruel civil war, she seems incapable of reconquering her
lost tranquillity by her own efforts. Need we here call to
mind what Spain did, from 1808 to 1814, for the con-
solidation of thrones and the independence of nations, when
almost the entire continent was bowed under the yoke of
the mightiest despot that ever the world beheld, of a despot
whose iron hand grasped at the far North, while the
South lay trampled beneath his feet? Is it forgotten what
the Spanish nation achieved by its indomitable courage for
the political freedom of Europe, at a time when not a voice
was raised among the legitimate rulers of the rest of the con-
tinent in behalf of independence ? Is it forgotten how effec-
tively the weight of Spain was thrown into the balance, when
at length that league of princes was formed, which under
Providence hurled the despotic oppressor from his throne,
and guaranteed anew the independence of nations, regained
by such severe sacrifices, and the sovereignty of their princes,
by proclaiming the principle of legitimacy ? Most assuredly
that Spain, which set an example to all Europe in the
glorious struggle for independence and legitimacy—which
found, in unshaken adherence to its fundamental laws and to
its royal house, the motive of that chivalrous courage which
first showed to Europe the possibility of victory over the
veteran armies of the French empire—that country has a
95
than once united to defend right when attacked, will put an
end to an atrocious and destructive warfare, which is drench-
ing with blood a country called by nature to the happiest
destinies.
We shall abstain from appealing to other sympathies than
those arising from the evidence of right and the love of
justice. We will nevertheless remind Germany, we will
remind Europe, that they will only be discharging an old
debt by contributing to restore domestic peace to Spain, at
a moment when, rent by the ever increasing animosities of
a cruel civil war, she seems incapable of reconquering her
lost tranquillity by her own efforts. Need we here call to
mind what Spain did, from 1808 to 1814, for the con-
solidation of thrones and the independence of nations, when
almost the entire continent was bowed under the yoke of
the mightiest despot that ever the world beheld, of a despot
whose iron hand grasped at the far North, while the
South lay trampled beneath his feet? Is it forgotten what
the Spanish nation achieved by its indomitable courage for
the political freedom of Europe, at a time when not a voice
was raised among the legitimate rulers of the rest of the con-
tinent in behalf of independence ? Is it forgotten how effec-
tively the weight of Spain was thrown into the balance, when
at length that league of princes was formed, which under
Providence hurled the despotic oppressor from his throne,
and guaranteed anew the independence of nations, regained
by such severe sacrifices, and the sovereignty of their princes,
by proclaiming the principle of legitimacy ? Most assuredly
that Spain, which set an example to all Europe in the
glorious struggle for independence and legitimacy—which
found, in unshaken adherence to its fundamental laws and to
its royal house, the motive of that chivalrous courage which
first showed to Europe the possibility of victory over the
veteran armies of the French empire—that country has a