A few days ago I shared a quote that reads «Those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it... and those who study it are condemned to see how history repeats itself because of those who do not study it «; It only remains to hope that Hegel is right when he said that history repeats itself twice:the first as tragedy and the second as farce. And what is clear is that if Goya, Amadeo de Saboya or Miguel de Unamuno raised their heads, they would say «they are still the same «. Proof of this is the painting Duel with sticks (1823), the Italian's 1873 resignation speech and a quote from the writer.
Speech of renunciation of the throne of Spain by the Italian Amadeo de Saboya in 1873.
Great was the honor that I deserved to the Spanish Nation by electing me to occupy its Throne; honor all the more appreciated by me, since it was offered to me surrounded by the difficulties and dangers that the company of governing a country so deeply disturbed entails. Encouraged, however, by the resolution of my race, which before seeks to avoid danger; determined to be inspired solely by the good of the country, and to place myself above all parties; resolved to religiously fulfill the oath I promised to the Constituent Cortes, and ready to make all lineage of sacrifices to give this brave people the peace it needs, the freedom it deserves and the greatness to which its glorious history and virtue and perseverance of his children entitle him. I believed that the short experience of my life in the art of command would be supplied by the loyalty of my character and that I would find powerful help to avert the dangers and overcome the difficulties that were not hidden from my sight in the sympathies of all the Spaniards, lovers of their homeland, already eager to put an end to the bloody and sterile struggles that have torn their entrails for so long. I know that my good wishes deceived me. Two long years have passed since I girded the Crown of Spain, and Spain lives in constant struggle, seeing the era of peace and happiness that I so ardently yearn for more and more distant. If the enemies of her happiness were foreigners, then, at the head of these soldiers, as brave as they were long-suffering, he would be the first to fight them; but all those who with the sword, with the pen, with the word aggravate and perpetuate the evils of the Nation are Spaniards, all invoke the sweet name of the Homeland, all fight and agitate for its good; and amid the heat of combat, amid the confused, thunderous and contradictory clamor of the parties, amid so many and so opposing manifestations of public opinion, it is impossible to guess which one is true, and even more impossible to find the remedy for such evils. I have searched avidly within the law and have not found it. Outside the law, the one who promised to observe it should not look for it. No one will attribute my resolution to weakness of spirit. There would be no danger that would move me to take off the Crown if I believed that I wore it on my temples for the good of the Spaniards; nor did it affect my spirit that my august wife's life was ruined, who at this solemn moment expresses, like me, the strong desire that on her day the perpetrators of that attack be pardoned. But today I have the firm conviction that my efforts would be sterile and my purposes unrealizable. These are, deputies, the reasons that move me to return to the Nation, and in its name to you, the Crown that offered me the national vote, making her resignation for me, for my children and successors. Be sure that by letting go of the Crown I am not letting go of the love for this noble and unfortunate Spain, and that I have no other regret than that of not having been able to provide her with all the good that my loyal heart desired for her.
Miguel de Unamuno quote
Between one and the other -or rather the Huns and the Hotros- they are bloodying, bleeding, ruining, poisoning and dumbing down Spain