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Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
European accounts report that the courts of Spain and Portugal are trying to prevent the spread of French revolutionary ideas, metaphorically called 'influenza,' but the piece argues this is futile as knowledge, arts, and sciences advance in Spain, eroding despotism and clerical influence toward liberty.
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By European accounts it appears that the courts of Spain and Portugal are exceedingly solicitous to prevent the contagion of the French influenza from spreading among their subjects. Their efforts will however prove vain—they may as well try to exclude the light of the Sun. The rays of knowledge have pervaded the former of those kingdoms. The arts and sciences within a few years have been encouraged in Spain. Several valuable publications in history, laws and philosophy have appeared.—Knowledge unfetters the human mind—the sweets of property are but half enjoyed, while insecure—these reflections are inseparably connected with every encouragement that arts and manufactures receive. The Clergy of those countries appear to be the dernier resort of despotism, but the time is fast approaching when the meridian Splendor of truth & right reason shall dissipate the dark mists of error—when those, long bound in the prison house of blind bigotry; shall spring to "light, liberty, and life."
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Spain And Portugal
Outcome
efforts to prevent spread of ideas predicted to fail, leading to enlightenment and liberty
Event Details
Courts of Spain and Portugal seek to block French influenza-like contagion of ideas; knowledge and arts encouraged in Spain; clergy seen as last bastion of despotism; impending triumph of truth and reason over bigotry