The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

undoubtedly one of the chief causes of the
Renaissance. And the lasting benefits which the
Saracens conferred upon Europe can be clearly
traced, even at the present time.
It made no difference to the Spanish Christians,
however, how much the Saracens were the
benefiters of mankind. They were heathen, and
must be persecuted for that; and being heathen,
they had no equal rights with others before even
the civil law. With the Spaniards these were
cardinal principles. There were no real and
substantial grounds of complaint against the
Saracens as competitors and neighbors. They
differed from the Spaniards in religion. This was
the only thing that could be said against them.
They were kind, industrious, and peaceful; but all
of this availed them nothing. Spain could not and
would not allow the principle of freedom of
conscience and of equality before the law.
At first the Spaniards attempted to convert the
Saracens to their own religion. Exhortations and
arguments were the first weapons, but when these
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