Gilpin observer., 1900-05-24
THE SPANISH EDITOR
THE NEWSPAPERS CONDUCTED
UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
Liberal Journals Not Fav0red-Most Of
the Periodicals Lead Precariou-
Existence and Those Dest Mansg. d
Receive tho Least Patronage. .

In spite of the ignorance Of the
Spanish people, there are more
newspapers and periodicals pub
lished in Madrid than in any other
European capital, writes Murray
Michel from Spain's capital. One
third of the people cannot read; the
to do so and, therefore, the reading
public is very small. Generally speak
ing, it is only the politicians who read
the newspapers. A newsdealer in the
Passage Maten tells me that he sells
almost as many copies of the Paris
Figaro and Petit Journal and the Brus
sells Independence Beige as of the Lib
eral and Imparcial, the important
Madrid papers. Yet the foreign colony
in Madrid is not very large.
The life of the Madrid papers Is
very precarious. Not one of them has
a circulation exceeding 100000 copies
in spite of all manner of lofty preten-
sions. Those of the papers here which
have the largest circulation are the I'M
parcial, the Liberal, the Correspond
encia de Espana and the Heraldo.
The impartial is edited by Seno-
Garret, deputy, and the second by
Senor Moya, formerly a deputy from
Porto Rico. The Correspondents,
once one of the most popular Of all the
papers, is now going to pieces; its eli
entele is abandoning it for the Heraldo,
the organ of Senior Canaljas, a former
deputy, young, ambitious and rich.
With the exception of the Liberal,
all these papers are monarchist. The
Liberal is called republican, but it is
altogether too timid and panders to the
monks and bishops. The Oldest Of our
political journals, La Epoca, the organ
of Senor Silvelva, has almost no read
ers in Spain, but 1t is doubtless the
best known of them all outside this
country. One finds it everywhere in
Europe, and even in America. Its di-
rector and editor-in-chief, the marquis
de Valdeiglesias, is senator, very re-
served and reactionary.
The papers which have a compare
lively large circulation get it chiefly
in the provinces and in the former
colonies of Spain. The publications
which are really the most widely read
are not the newspapers at all, but the
merry, sometimes sgrotesque, papers
devoted to bull fights and politica
caricatures. There are full two scort
OF these The true republican press is
represented at Madrid by lie Nuevc
Regimen, a weekly federalist journal
inspired by Senior Pi Margall; also
by the Pals, a unitarian, apparently
revolutionary journal. The Matin II
also in this class. 1t is anti-clerica
and opposed thoroughly to the presen
regime Perhaps the Revista Blanc;
ought to be added to this list, thougl
it is mainly anarchist in principle.
There is military section Of thu
Madrid press of some Importance
There are also a considerable number
of papers devoted to different sciences
and to the arts, but about them thu
general public knows and cares moth
ing.
Spanish journalists are, as rule
youIE, llCh hoh oAi-
particular training for their profes
sion, and this explains why SO man!
untrue and ridiculous things can b.
read here. have seen statements t.
the effect that the Spanish cuisine Il
the finest in the world, and that Gen
Cronje is native of Andalusia, ant
that the Transvaal is in America
There are, nevertheless, some abl
journalists here, and of these Seno
Pi Margall is the most eminent
Among others are Ortego Mupilla,
monarchist, on the staff of the Impair
cial; Senior Nakens, editor-in-chief o
the Matin (the Revolt, and Seno
Dionisio Perez, of the Vida Nueva
The latter publication has been in ex
istence only year, but 1t is fast be
coming very popular. 1t Is weekly
illustrated. rather literary than politi
cal in character; but 1t seems that tn
government intends nevertheless t
kill 1t, for 1t suppresses nearly ever.
number on the plea that the paper |
anarchistic in principle. This is alb
surd; but at least ten suits have beel
brought against different members O
the staff.
Tho Changing Geysers.