Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
REPUBLICANS IN SPAIN
They Are Now Active and
Formidable.
LEADERS IN ACCORD
ALL FACTIONS HAVE AGREED TO
ABANDON PERSONAL PROJECTS.
Salmeron, a Former Associate Of
Castelar,, the Most Eminent Partici-
pant in Democratic Movement.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
SEVILLE. Spain, November %, 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
q slight cause might create revolution
that would overthrow the throne and bring
about repetition of events that occurred
thirty years ago. Since the downfall of the
republic that party has been divided into
many factions, following rival leaders, and
has wasted its strength in personal quar-
rels. If 1t had been united and under dis
cipline It might with success have taken
advantage of either one of several stua-
tons and recovered control Of the nation.
When Alfonso XII died and again when
Santiago was captured and Cervera's fleet
was destroyed, it only needed a strong man
like Prim or CASTELAR, to have crystallized
public sentiment and directed popular dis
content into a revolution.
This fact and 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 ADAM
don their personal projects and prejudices
and reorganfze under one leader with a
single purpose. That leader is Senior Nico-
las Salmeron, an associate of CASTELAR, in
the movement thirty years ago, for few
months president of the republic of Spain in
1873, an eminent 1urist, and now professor
OF law in the University of Madrid Mr.
Salmeron Is a member Of the chamber of
deputies from the university district, a man
of great learning, powerful eloquence and
sterling honesty. His appointment as lead
er was confirmed by an imposing demon
stration at Madrid, at which were repre-
sented 100000 republican voters which is
nearly one-haf the entire voting population
Of Spain.
New Republican Propaganda.
Thus reorganized and harmonious the
republicans began a propaganda in all the
provinces of the kingdom, starting news
papers, holding public meetings, forming
clubs and distributing printed documents
prepared in simple language so as to ap-
peal to the working classes, of which the
republican party is chiefly composed. So
energetic and effective was this work that
at the last elections for parliament the re-
publicans swept Madrid Barcelona, Valen-
cha, Saragossa, Seville, Salamanca, Gran
ada and other cities, and elected more
than forty deputies.
Some of them were not admitted to the
cortes, but their exclusion did them more
good than they would have accomplished
II they had been given seats, because 1t
aroused public sympathy and stimulated
the determination of their followers. In
these same cities they are making an even
more desperate fight to carry the approach
ing municipal elections. which will give
them control Of the voting machinery and
enable them to protect the ballot boxes and
see that their votes are counted. Notwirh-
standing the influence of the government.
a vast army of office-holders and contract
ors, the presence of the troops and the
power of the police, the City of Madrid was
carried by a startling majority The
smallest number Of votes received by any
republican candidate for the cortes was
30 600; the largest number received by any
government candidate was 11,OOO.
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 or anarchists.
but are men of affairs. of education and of
respectability.
Senior Salmeron in proclaiming the pol
icy of his party declared that they are de-
termined to defend the rights and secure
the privileges belonging to the people with
in the bounds Of the law, but II the law
is perverted and the liberties of the mem
bers 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 con-
vince the country that the present govern
ment Is unfit to be trusted; that 1t daily
violates the constitution; that it Is corrupt
and incompetent and is wasting the money
of the People; that 1t is favoring the no.
bility and aristocracy at the expense OF
the common people. and has laid the bur
den Of taxation upon those who are least
able to bear 1t. II the republicans are re.
stored to power they promise to correct
the evils that have been suffered during the
last thirty years and restore the rights of
the people. If they are interfered with In
the propaganda they propose to appeal TO
revolution.
Popular Evaporation.
That they are interfered with Is evident
IN every newspaper. The most violent meas
ures are being taken for repression, and the
people are becoming exasperated. Martial
law has been enforced in several towns, hum
dreds of arrests have been made and meet
inRs prohibited. while every day or two you
hear of riots oyerrunning Catalonia and
other provinces. public demonstrations
against the payment Of national taxes.
against the octroi duties imposed upon gar
den truck, wine, poultry. eggs and other
foods, and particularly against the detested
priesthood. Within the last two years Mad
rid and four other cities have seen their
streets filed with angry mobs bent upon
looting the churches and destroying the
monasteries, and only the presence of q
large force of military deferred the people
from trying to prevent the marriage of the
Princess Of Asturias, the kings sister.
These riots have not an been led by re-
publicans, nor have they always represented
republican sentiment but they have been
manifestations of popular discomfort, Of
which the republicans have taken advan-
tage, and illustrate the temper as well as
the tendency of the common people.
Unhtness for Self-Government
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
movement is serious and there is no telling
when 1t may develop. Very few of those
who are engaged in 1t realize what a re-
public is. nor have they any ideas of the re-
sponsibiltties of citizenship. Their demon
STATIONS are only a hysterfcaI protest
against present conditions and an express
sion OF the deep popular discomfort And
with many Of the leaders the movement is
based upon hope that an opportunity may
be offered to get hold Of the government
ana the offices. with chances to make money
and to take care OF their friends, but under