A great blow has fallen mile. The Supreme Junta of
Madrid, aware of the extreme hostility of the Democrats to the priesthood, has issued two decrees, the first expelling the Jesuits from Spain and confiscating, their property, the second declaring all restrictions on education at an end. It proposes, however, that all monastic establishments founded since 1835 should besuppressed, that all monks and nuns should be at liberty to return to the world, and that all religions should be declared equally entitled to civil rights. If the Cortes accepts these principles civil liberty will be established in Spain, apparently with the consent of the people. They are bigoted Catholics, but dislike convents, and the Junta has been able to sequester the rich establishment of Las Huelgas without opposition.
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