The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06

standard Of political morals. which prevail
and have made . lone.suferinG people rip'
for rebellion. With a few honorable exceptions
the acquisition OF political power In Spain
means nothing moro or less than gaining an
opportunity for public plumber. It is a hard
saying, and true Of some other countries be
sides Spain, but nowhere elso In Europe is this
conception Of politics and Its rights and privi'
legos 40 widespread. 1t should be conceded,
perhaps, that the Liberal party is cleaner than
the Conservative party but this means merely
that Liberal corruption is relatively less black
than Conservative corruption. Both Cypress
the people, both oxtort the last possible peseta
from the struggling peasant class, both shift the
legitimate burdens OF the influential and we'll
to-do citizens upon the shoulders of the helpless
masses. The conscription, for instance. which
Is supposed to fall impartially upon rich and
poor alike, as 1t does in France and Germany,
never SEXES any but the artisan or peasant in
Spain. A small fee-about $50 IL now the cur
rent hRure-secures TO any well-to-do young
man exemption from the frightful hardships
and privaticus Of barrack life in Spain.
1t will readily be believed under these circum-
stances that party loyalty in Spain. aside from
those who directly profit by connection with the
Conservative or Liberal organization, lie entirely
lacking. 1t makes little difference to the masses
which side is In power, and they arc naturally
Indifferent to the socalled privileges Of suffrage.
A national eiection 10 only iarce. inc oiection
machinery OF the country returns sucn cahui'
dates as the potentates IN MADRID oesire 10 nave
returned. The prevailing idea In Spain itself lie
that this is done by manipulation Of roturns-by
bare-faced fraud. In fact' But fraud hardiy
seems necessary Tor the accomplishment OF TINS
result. lhaiHerehce' as oet"eoh the cahuiuetee
1.-THE two parties, has Tor years characterized
the lone-sunering electors IN most sections OF
spain. lhey usually vote according 10 inc de-
sires OF the election omcers.
What most OF all surprises an American VINO
investigates the INTERNAL poiitics OF SPAN Is the
patience OF the people under such inniotlons. Inc
wonder Is not that a revolution is Imminent
now' out thati IL did not come years age. iti
q serious reproseh 10 the Spahiarus mat tney
nave NOT re'oiteu. n more ehiighteneu, more
ioertSioVihg people would nave oVerthro"h
their opproSSorS' oy iorce II NECESSARY. ions ago.
must oe confessed 'na' aithoush seoiI'oh NO"
seems 10 DC rio In inc country inc prospects ora
chahge winch VIII DC Oh genuine oeheht 10 inc
MASSES are snaii inaeeu' Inc mere SUBSTITUTION
SarioS Ii preSon'ushas.y "ouioo e
ahythinR ouI d popuier ooon' ihoso VINO
KNOW INC charac'er Vi ING young pretehuer hnu
IL dln'cult 10 hoio MN IN anything Out con-
tempt. bralnless young coxcomo Is not an
hend' the queen regent Is a sood woman ana a
wise one. her power unfortunately. is tar 700
limited. spain VIII never know PROBABLY now
great Is tae nation 3 aeot 10 her ior her aiscre-
tion' her sacrinces ana her wise use OF great
opportunities "hich nave come 10 her curing
inc aihlcuiI emcreehcies Vi INC past ie"
months. III IL aue 70 nor anu 10 her aiohe'
that spain ana the ohiteu states were not
at war In NoVemoeri last. more enah tnat can
not say except 10 auo tnaeii the auCnority 10
sweep away the ABUSES ana corruption which
nave brought disaster 10 spain at nome ana IN
her co'ohies were given 10 thiS wonnah' her suo-
1ects "ouiu speeuiy DC rescued from thetr pres
ent despair. But she Is virtually powerless.
she can occasionally transfer inc government
from one party 10 inc other' as she dia unuer
scp'enioer' o". ina IL al sue can ao.
10 "unii''ou 'nHe u oho,veV. reme
u,es ~ II spanish peopio ! sauiS iihii.eu'
u Two revolutionary novonients arc Inc
earns. INT tne so-caiieu hepuoicah. lhe
o"fhe' DO n"'o "itoau' Hn'ina'ou' 10 eon'
poseu hoio's ho' ofo"uo hungry "ihoi.
''ous men' anAiouS W eS.aoiieh "ho.ner anu
u" y ""'e ui" Snei
~ pao ~ on ~ ~, poH'i'
my iepuo.l0"n parry 10 "tro'S 'non,er'
nv any Is u. " ~ t oo.m
's"' i"'iuuihs "hateu'' MANY "p"h'"rus
~ e,o.' !. tne peopie
are hei'nof @ooi"iis'' hui nh"fonie''' o"1
~ 10 "ao uu' 'us my orc ho'
Il ih"'ofi'y Vi 'ne" 'opuoicahs IN 'heif
sentiments, imporsohsi uenooracy aoes not
appeei oothe average opaniaFo oppfesseo, a.
'nouBh nc O. h'haini'ai INSTITUTIONS luis
a nara thins % sa'-tno most aerosatory Dor,
maps 'hat oouiu oe 'aiu-ou1 d ac' 10 thae
spain iS U lousy u foIuoi'c"n iorhiot
government Il MASSES D., not sunhe'entiy
intci'seh'' 'hey III .oo ihuliereht 10 puoiic
ahairs' 700 lner'' 100 lazy y seii,Ro'erhlheht.
Anu YET parauoAicai as IL maS De- they are
ready % declare war to'morro" against the
ohited states ana 10 perish 10 the iast man In a
nopoiesS struggle I resent interference win
op"hiSh sovereignty ouoa'
"
lcome now to the situation OF the moment in
Spain. The country Is tired. more than tired. OF
the Cuban struggle. Ono thing. and one thing
only, makes the people consent to its still being
pursued. That Is the belief, carefully fostered
by civil ana military authorities alike. that 1t Is
solely due to tho unwarranted support given To