1875.] 



323 



[Deimar. 



banditti are not unfrequent. {Ibid, 45.) The British Consul at Cadiz, 

 under date of February 15, 1865, says : 



"Property and life are much more secure throughout the country than 

 they were twenty years ago. Robberies are very much more rare ; the 

 police, and especially the rural police {gens (Varmes) in the provinces, are 

 in general respectable officials, and are becoming useful and eftective. 

 In numerous small towns (I speak of Andalusia especially) they are 

 active, earnest and conscientious local magistrates, quietly doing a great 

 deal of good." (B. C. R., 1865, 96.) 



The travelers' guide-books of recent dates, which are pretty good 

 authority on the subject of personal security, agree in stating that 

 brigandage and all molestation on the highways have wholly ceased. This 

 happy result is attributed indirectly to the general improvement of affairs 

 in Spain, and directly to the guardas civiles, a body of police or gens 

 d^armes, selected from the veteran corps in the armies, and composed of 

 men noted for high moral traits and physical pre-eminence. 



Concerning the tendency of thought among the peasants, it is stated 

 that : 



-"Socialistic and communistic doctrines are spoken and spread in 

 Andalusia where the peasantry, though very bigoted, are argumentative 

 and of an independent turn of mind. If ever Protestantism, in some 

 shape or other, be put before the Andalusian, it will spread like wildfire, 

 for it exactly suits his mode of thought." (L. T., p. — .) Socialism is gain- 

 ing ground among the laboring classes of Andalusia. {Ibid, p. 51.) " Spain 

 has a peasantry superior to that of most European countries ; but no 

 middle class." — London Economist, January 5, 1867. 



The military conscription, which is compulsory in Spain, is perhaps, 

 the most oppressive institution against which the peasant has now to 

 struggle. 



Illiteracy and Education. 



The following table shows the condition of the population of all Spain 

 in these respects in the year 1860 : 



Owing to the ecclesiastical policy popular education showed no per- 

 ceptible progress in Spain until about the year 1868, since which time it 

 has made considerable strides. {A. O. Fuertes, IT. S. Consul at Corunncu 

 October 1, 1873.) 



