56 Contemporary Evolution. 



than the re-introduction of mediaeval theocracy into Spain, 

 earnest as he is said to be in maintaining the freedom 

 of the consciences of his Catholic subjects and, as therein 

 necessarily involved, the freedom of the Spanish Church. 



It seems, therefore, that in all cases, the end of the medi- 

 aeval theocracy in Spain has come, and it only remains to 

 be seen whether the rights of conscience and the freedom 

 of the individual citizen will have to be gained through 

 suffering under a: democratic tyranny through parliament- 

 ary contests under a constitutional government, or, as is 

 most unlikely, be allowed to grow and expand under the 

 shelter of a sovereignty which might claim obedience from 

 the most reactionary elements of Spanish society. 



If we pass from the mountains where the more despotic 

 form of what is presumed to be Spanish monarchy is strug- 

 gling to assert itself, through southern France, to the Alps, 

 we come to another nation which may seem to constitute 

 the very political antipodes of Spanish monarchism, name- 

 ly, Switzerland. 



Yet in Switzerland we find a singular fundamental 

 resemblance to Spain under a strangely different exterior. 



The United States and Switzerland are republics, Spain 

 and ; England monarchies. Thus are they classed in 

 popular apprehension. Really, however (as most of my 

 readers are doubtless aware), it is Switzerland and Old 

 Spain, the United States and England, which ought to 

 be classed together. 



