New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-06
THE SPANISH CAPITAL.
AN ISOLATED CENTRE OF GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICS = OPTIMISTIC AND
PRACTICAL VIEWS OF The
FUTURE ROYAL FUNC-
TIoNs IN THE yELAS-
OTEZ MANNER.
QCEZ MANNER.
Madrid. May 20.

5arlv energies from an arid and treeless plateau.
and finds himself directly behind the royal pal
ace before he IS fairly aware that he Is In the
srsnish capital With equal abruptness an OBJ
scure town without ancient traditions or roman
Tic legends or steried past was crowned with
honor III, phjlip II as The centre Of government.
Lacking both natural charm and historical in
1erest it has been artifcialy converted into one
NJ The most brilliant and luxurious capitals In
Furone. There was no Moorish labyrinth OF
lanes ant alleys TO be perpetuated in white
wash The Puerta Gel Sol was made the centre
FOR four diverging thoroughfares. and on the LETT
The palace builders were allowed all the space
they needed for stately structures ana on me
right landscape gardeners were privileged 10
1zz, ,,,- MAGNIFICENT series Of spacious boule-
,-srds bordered with parks and ornamented with
srsfues arches fountains. museums ana PUBIC
buildings With politics and administration as
the engrossing occupation, and with these
z,,rorrro,,s avenues opening one into another,
Madrid became a city Of takers and saunterers'
ana the genius Of Velasquez supplied the srano
manners Of an elegant as well as brilliant cap
sta1 In the streets and cafes there is cheerful
chatter from morning until midnight over airy
-othings: and with all this vivacity and glitter.
there IS unceasing, II leisurely movement of
stroIlers and loungers in the promenades and
parks. and whether there is royal fate or a re-
Bgious festival there is a picturesque medley
potent in charm and fascination. with glints of
bright color and a sense Of graceful movement
and Joy in life
AS Madrid was a political creation designed
by royal architects and eTnbellished by land
soape gardeners for the enjoyment Of the gov
erning and leisured classes. so also the revels
which have been IN progress for a week have
serious motive. difficult it may be TO perceive
# IN the hurlyourly OF palace functions military
-av-favre chariot rrneessfous battles of flowers
and buIfghts. The ruling class In Spain. having
lost the remnant OF a colonial empire, has been
anxious TO demonstrate that the kingdom still
has power. prestige and resources in reserve
and that it commands respect and admiration
abroad The fetes have served the double pur-
pose Of amusing populace delighting in spec
tacles and crowded thoroughfares and Of pro-
ducing practical evidence of the loyalty Of the
masses TO the Crown, and of the dignity and even
splendor Of the monarchy. Madrid has been ex-
hibited SIS brilliant and joyous instead of
faded and forlorn capital. and the court has
shown its capacity for entertaining princes and
special embassies in regal style and conducting
cerenonials with dignity and distinction. The
catastrophes Of empire cannot be retrieved by
town shows but national confidence and unity
may be invigorated with the adventurous aid Of
a Este
One Of the best informed men whom have
met in Spain talks in this way about the future
Of the country: This proud people must first
fnd ont where they are. Spain has been a great
power with an empire, but has fallen into the
second rank. below Austria and Italy. If the
work Of reconstruction be undertaken in prac-
teal spirit I believe that she will equal Italy
in importance ami influence, and possibly she
may rival Austria Decades may be required
for the habilitation Of Spain, but have faith
in the power of the nation to work out its own
salvation. Some OF the leading men advocate
the strengthening Of the military esta blishment,
hut a great standing army is not needed for de-
fence and the nations fortunes cannot be re-
stored by rritarisn. Spain is a rich country,
with mineral resources of great value. The de-
velopment OF these resources is now directed
by foreigners. and has received a fresh i'm
petus since the war with the United States
Spaniards may gruTnble over the enrichment Of
foreigners. but. since they have little capital Of
their own, they ought TO encourage this ex-
ternaI enterprise, because il promotes the pros
perity OF the nation and provides employment
for the masses. The revival of agriculture is
dependent upon systematic arboriculture and
forestry. Spain is now a rainless country, but
it does not need TO remain The restoration
Of the forests would bring copious rains. and
the fertility Of this bleak and barren land would
he regained. Measures similar to those adopted
IN Germany and Kansas required for the
Introduction Of arboriculture a large scale,
and in the course Of a few decades there would
he constant rains. and agriculture would again
be Tenunerative. More important than either
Industrial development or forestry is education.
Ignorance is appalling. Not more than
twenty-four out Of one hundred women can read
and write; and only thirty-two out Of one hun
dred men, With two-thirGs of the population
illterate Spain remains a reactionary country.
The regeneration of the kingdom will begin with
the education Of the people. 1 do not despair.
The nation mas a future, and is moving slowly
but surely toward it"
This is the philosophy of optimism rather than
the practical politics Of the day. The Premier
IS sagasta, a vermont veteran, enfeebled by
age and disease. and not likely 10 live many
months Behind him is weak Ministry, eking
out a precarious existence by futile compromises
ana beggarly half measures. Moret is the most
dexterous wirepuller among them. and succeeds
II managing all the puppets except Canalejas
the contentious Minister Of Agriculture; and
since the Conservative opposition is without
competent leaders, ne seems destined to take
Sagasta's place. One Of his colleagues how
ever. is a wiry little man. with the jaw Of an
English bulldog. This Is Weyler who as Min
lister OF War has the army behind him. He is
silent man, who IS suspected of being as am
bilious Moret, and IS known 10 be man Of
action rather than an intriguing politician
Whether not he aspires 10 enact the part of
another serrano. he has absolute control over
the army. and is an Indispensable coleag que
for either SagAsta or Moret Some observers
consider Weylerfs power q menace 70 the sta
biIty % existing institutions but there is no
indication. either. that lie has any sympathy
with she republican that he is dream
ing OF the possibility Of q coup d'etaf He IL
wary and retioent. but rnagnihes the importance