The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-11
SPAImS CHEF MENACE.

view presents a deplorable picture OF
political conditions In SPAIN Sagasta
told but the naked truth, when he said
the nation was utterly decayed though
he failed to tell who was responsible
for the result. This writer shows that
4 the Spaniards are utterly dead to such
abstract sentiments as national honor,
and they have no conception of nation
al disaster, except when it touches their
stomachs. In few provinces outside of
Catalonia, is there any appreciation Of
political rights or any realization OF
political grievances. Even the dis
tinction between the two political par
ties is purely personal.
There is but one ruling class, The
late Premier Canovas, who was a con-
servative, virtually created the liberal
| party, and an arrangement was made
for alienation in power, with the un-
! Outstanding that when the new party
came in, a clean sweep should be made
Of all the offices, in order that there
might be an equitable division of the
spoils. Such system. of course. put
a premium on dishonesty and pecula-
ton, for the office holders must make
enough while in office to support them
selves when it comes their turn to va
| cate. The consequence is that politics
in the peninsula is only a duplicate of
the official corruption. oppression and
extortion which have made Spanish
rule in Cuba and the Philippines me-
terious.
| Spanish government Is an oligarchy
Of the most pernicious type. Universal
suffrage is constitutionally decreed. but
it has never been practised. The min
istry that is coming into power con-
trolls the elections, not only by voting
on the names of the dead. but also on
the names of the living, and the intim-
idated people dare not protest, lest
they be arrested for attempting to vote
twice! The Spanish people have abso-
lutely no participation in the govern
ment. Even the rulers of the cities and
| towns (whatever may be the constitu-
tional fietion) are virtually selected for
them by the governors OF the provinces
and finally passed upon by the min
istry in Madrid. Every precaution
seems to have been taken to deprive
the people Of a personal interest in the
government. Whenever there is a pop
ular outbreak, it may be traced to a
local famine. The riots that occurred
at the beginning Of the war with the
United States were bread riots. A
pinched stomach is the only Ill that
excites in the Spanish people an ac-
tive interest in or hostility to the gov
eminent.
The people take no pride in their col
onial possessions. They know them only
as distant plague spots, whittier their
fathers, sens, husbands and brothers
have been sent by thousands, in most
cases not to return, and the masses of
the people would not grieve over the
loss Of the colonies. 1t is absurd to
pretend otherwise. But the oligarchy
has not the people in its thoughts when
it talks of national pride and Spanish
traditions. 1t is thing only Of
the few on whom it relies for contin-
uing itself in power. 1t is playing at
politics. Important industries have
been developed. especially in Catalonia,
which hourished by virtue of a. colon
ial monopoly. With the loss Of the COL
onies these enterprises must fail.
True, these industries had been bur-
dened with political employees imposed
By the government, and had been OPP
pressed by excessive import duties and
disproportionate taxes for the enrich
ment of the oligarchy, but such facts
only make these industries the more es-
sential to the government Many shops
have been already closed, as a result
of the war and the separation Of the
colonies, but others are still in opera
comes, and the people are deprived OF
their small earnings, what is to prevent
a general famine and a consequent po-
Ilitical upheaval? The return of the ar
my from the West Indies with thous-
ands of military and civil officers TO
be provided for, will intensity the dis
content of the people and the embar-
rassment Of the government. When this
crisis comes, then will be the favorable
opportunity for revolution. Republi-
canism is dead, and the only active or
ganiZation opposed to the government
is the Carlist party. 1t is opposed to
liberalism, to constitutiona1ism and to
the Capitalization of government it
espouses federalism and provincial
home rule. Will it have the vitality to
seize the favorable moment to over
throw the reigning dynasty and sub
stitute an out-and-out monarchy for
the present mockery and sham Of con-
stitutionalism? If it should have, it
could probably count upon the support
Of an influential section Of the army,
which has been enraged by the treaoh-
cry and cowardice of the ruling peliti-
} clans, who either refused to put the
army on a war footing or else stole
the funds appropriated to that purpose,
but who now throw upon the officers
the blame of all the recent national dis
asters,
|
Senator Murphy is not the only one
who is making the fight of his life