The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-05-19
ALFONSO OF SPAIN.

| troublesome and lily discharged re-
| sponsibilities by taking possession of
her colonies. the people of the United
! States have come to entertain a very
friendly feeling for Spain, which is in
a measure reciprocated by the people
| of Espana. We generally regard
| kindly those to whom We do a favor
! and the government of the United
States certainly did a favor to Spain
when it relieved her of her colonies.
Spain is better off without them.
With friendly relations re-establish-
| ed it is gratifying to note the i'm
| proved conditions in SPAIN particu-
larly the improved political conditions.
| 1t is just two years since Don Alton
so, the youthful king, came into pos
session of his full powers as
monarch at the age of 16. Not much
| was expected of him. He was regard
| ed as a wilful boy feeble physically.
and not remarkably strong mentally.
The Carlists We're hopeful that their
| opportunity had come, and the an
archsts, by whom Spain is cursed
were apparently only watching then
| opportunity. Alfonso has not been
content to be merely a figurehead, but
| has entered upon the business of being
| a king with earnestness and zeal for
| the welfare of his people which first
| commanded their respect, and through
his frank, manly democratic manners
has at last won their love and conf
dence.
The young king is extremely popular
| Those politically disaffected have been
| won over in large part by his evident
good disposition, and even the an
archists, who have on two occasions
made hostile demonstrations, are said
to have directed their attacks more at
his prime minister than at the king
himself. Alfonso is a pretty good
Illustration of the proposition that a
man in public life who tries to do the
right thing and succeeds fairly we'll
will get credit for it. The Spanish
king has greatly admired the emperor
of Germany, and the war lord of the
north has exhibited a genuine affec- |
ton for Alfonso. The result of this |
has been to displace the French influ- |
ence with German friendship. It does
not appear that any formal agree |
ments have been made, but Berlin in |
t1uence outweighs that of Paris in
Madrid. The aggressions of France in |
Africa have tended to create a breach |
between Spain and France, the for
mer having for a long time enter |
tanned an ambition to control the |
northwestern portion of the dark con-
tinent, and find field for. the display |
CT Spanish craftsmanship among the
people who once did so much to shape |
the destiny OF Spain.
Now that Spain has no colonies to |
defend and no fields on which to ex-
pend her military strength, and with |
the ability to put from 100000 to 3OO,-
600 men in the field, an alliance with |
the Spaniards is one which Germany
would not be likely to despse. In
any conflicts involving France and |
Germany, the existence of a force of |
that kind south of the Pyrenees would |
require considerable attention on the
part of the French
Whether Alfonso takes look at the |
future far enough to include all these
possibilities, or not, or whether his
friendship for the German emperor is
purely personal liking and admira-
ton, only developments may certainly
determine. But this much at least
appears to be probable, that Alfonso, |
contrary to the unfavOrable opinion
generally prevalent with regard to
him at the beginning of his reign, is
likely to prove a capable and efficient
sovereign, and to aid materially in
raising the dignity and consequence of
a nation which has fallen far from
the heights of influence and power
which it once welded in the affairs of
the world.