Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-11
A REPUBLICAN PARTY
Movement in Spain More
Active Than Ever.
PROPAGANDA RESULTS
MANY DISTRICTS CARRIED AT
THE LAST ELECTION.
People Are Restless Under the Present
Government on Account Of
Excessive Taxation.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening star anu
Chicago Record Herald.
MADRID, November 1, 1903.
Never since the collapse of the republic
in 1874 and the restoration of the Bourbon
dynasty has the republican movement in
Spain been so formidable and so active as
today, and many thinking men believe that
slight cause might create revolution
that would overthrow the throne and bring
about a repetition of events that occurred
thirty years ago. Since the downfall OF
the republic that party has been divided
into many factions following rival lead
ers and has wasted it's strength in personal
ouarrels If it had been united and under
discipline it might with success have taken
advantage of either one Of several sltua-
lions and recovered control of the nation.
When Alfonso XII died, and again when
Santiago was captured and CerveraS Meet
was destroyed, 1t only needed strong man
like Prim or Castelar, to have crystalllzed
public sentiment and directed popular dis
content into revolution.
This fact and a realization of the wasted
OPPORTUNITIES seem to have brought the re-
publican leaders together. and two years
ago, under Senores Makers and Persi. two
of the most popular and able members OF
that party in the cortes, conference was
held at which all factions agreed to apan-
don their personal projects and pre)udlces
and reorganize under one leader win SIN
ole nurpose. That leader is Senior Nicholas
Salmeron, an associate OF Castelar, IN the
movement thirty years ago. for a few
months president of the republic or Spain
in 1873. an eminent jurist and now profess
cor of law I'm the University of Madrid.
Mr.. Salmeron is a member of the chamber
of IDENTITIES from the university district
man of great learning, powerful eloauence
and sterling honesty. His appointment as
leader was confirmed by an imposing DEM
onstration at Madrid. at which were repre-
scented 100000 republican voters, when is
rearlv one-half the entire voting popuia-
ton of Spain.
The Republican Propaganda
r,,s reorean ,zed and harmonious the re-
nphlicans began a propaganda in all the
provinces of the kingdom. starting news
papers. holding public meetings forming
clubs and distributing printed documents
prenared in simple language so as to APP
neal to the working classes, OF which the
republican party is chiefly composed 80
energetic and effective was this work thae
at the last elections for parliament the re-
nublicans swept Madrid. Barcelona Valen-
cha. Saragossa, Seville. Salamanca, Grana-
da and other cities. and elected more IMAM
forty deputies. Some of them were not al
mitted to the cortes, but their exclusion u'o
them more good than they would nave &C
complished If they had been given seats
because 1t aroused public sympathy and
stimulated the determination of their 1oi-
lowers In these same cities they are max
ing an even more desperate fight to carry
the approaching municipal elecuons, "hch
will give them control OF the voting ma
chinery and enable them to protect the
ballot boxes and see that their votes are
counted Notwithstanding the influence
O. the government, vast army Oh ONCE
holders and contractors, the presence OF
the troops and the power of the ponce, the
citv of Madrid was carried by startling
maior,tv The smallest number Of votes
received by any republican candidate for
tho cortes was $1,000; the largest number
received by any government candidate was
1000.
Won Public Respect.
During the recent session the republican
members. with few exceptions, conducted
themselves with great discretion and won
the respect of the public. The present party
| leaders are not radicals anarchists, but
| are men of affairs, of education and of re-
spectability Senior Salmeron in proclaim
ing the policy of his party declared that
| they are determined to defend the rights
J and secure the privileges belonging to the
people within the bounds of the law, but II
| the law is perverted and the liberties OF the
members of the party are restrained they
will appeal to the will Of the country and
adopt violent measures wherever necessary
In the meantime they should endeavor to
| convince the country that the present gov
ernuent Is unfit to be trusted; that 1t daily
violates the constitution; that 1t is corrupt
and incompetent and is wasting the money
| of the people; that 1t is favoring the nobil-
ity and aristocracy at the expense OF the
common people, and has laid the burden or
taxation upon those who are least able TO
| bear It, II the republicans are restored to
power they promise to correct the evils that
! have been suffered during the last thirty
! years and restore the rights Of the people.
| II they are interfered with In the propa-
ganda they propose to appeal to revolution.
That they are interfered with is evident
| In every newspaper The most violent
measures are being taken for repression
| and the people are becoming exasperated.
| Martial law has been enforced in several
| towns, hundreds Of arrests have been made
and meetings prohibited. while every day
or two you hear Of riots Overrunng Cate
| lonia and other provinces, public demon
| STATIONS against the payment of national
! taxes against the octroi duties imposed
upon garden truck. wine. poultry. eggs and
| other foods. and particularly against the
| detested priesthood Within the last two
years Madrid and four other cities have
seen their streets filed with angry mobs
bent upon looting the churches and de-
| stroying the monasteries. and only the pres
| ence OF a large force of military deferred
the people from trying to prevent the mar
rfage Of the Princess OF Asturias, the king s
sister.
| These riots have not all been led by re-
publicans nor have they always represent
ed republican sentiment. but they have been
manifestations Of popular discomfort of
which the republicans have taken advan-
tage, and illustrate the temper as we'll as
the tendency of the common people.
Movement Is Serious.
Ten years ago Castelar, told me that the
Spanish people were UNFIT for self-govern-
ment; that they required years of discipline
and education to qualify them to manage
their own affairs. but, nevertheless. the