Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-27
SPANS ADVANCEMENT
Loss Of Cuba and Philippine
Compensated in Few Years.
cLERlCALISM LOSING GRASP
Catholic Church Responsible for Span
ish Destiny.
COMMERCE AND FINANCE TODAY
Politics Not Yet Perfected-Fanati-
cism and Superstition Disappearing
National Debt Increasing.
cLERlcALIsM LOSING GRASP
COMMERCE. AND FINANCE TODAY

Tho present Cuban uprising brings to
mind the events Of 1893. which led to the
islands freedom and later to the restora-
ton OF It's independence by the United
States. Together with this. 1t is often
thought how fortunate 1t was for Spain to
be rid of these trouble mongers. such as
the Philippines and Porto Rico. for in
stance. In the case Of the latter island.
while not necessarily disturbing element
in Spanish hands. it was. to say the least,
handicap. When the Philippines were
sold to the United States for the paltry
sum of $4,000, 0O0-as 1t Is held that the
islands in themselves are etasily worth
twice this amount-Spain was the gamer.
With Cuba off its hands. another gain.
Giving up her American colonies was being
hunhbled, the Spanish declared. But later
events proved that the unsuccessful efforts
of the reign toward rehabilitating its colo
MES could instead be turned to advantage
by directing and operating them at home.
From 1908 to 1873 the history OF Spain
was nothing more than an uninterrupted
series of revolutions and reactions. said a
prominent diplomat who has just arrived
from abroad. aggravated by military pro-
nunciamentos Since 1875. while there have
not been any real revolutions. the effect
has been practically the samoa virtual
annulling of the constitutional character of
the government. 1t must be stated. in this
respect, that while Spain Is. from a polit-
tional country. the Spanish monarchists
have understood and actually carry out the
constitutional idea in a radically different
fashion from that in which it operates in
other constitutional monarchies Spain has
q new parliament on an average Of every
two years. and a great number Of authori-
ties on international affairs declare that
legislators have seldom sufficient time to
accomplish any serious work From 1910
to 1901 there was only one session which
lasted longer than the above stated period.
and that was the cabinet of 1885. which dis
solved in 1S90-certainly not q remarkable
feat in American eyes.
Dissolution Of Parliament.
after a new Spanish government enters
into power its first political act is to de-
cree the dissolution Of the chambers. The
election which follows takes the form which
is evident in republican elections. All is
done in an open manner. But when the
count Is announced the monarchy reveals
itself by declaring elected only such men,
bers as 1t regards safely in Its own In
terest.
but ever since the war with the United
States was concluded" the diplomatist con-
tinued, there has been a decided change
in the manner the Spanish government has
conducted its affairs. The nation is in the
awakening to the needs of education, and
religious fanaticism and superstition are dis
appearing. Secondary education lis also
ment are visible everywhere. and the eco
nomic condition Of the country improves
daily. Where once the everage Spanish
workingman was considered to be OF an
inferior class, he Is now quite the equal OF
the workingman of France, England or
Germany. both in intelligence and activity.
In fact, he Is considerably more sober and
temperate than his foreign fellowman.
1.-THE Spanish commerce and industry Of
today-as we'll as that of the last few
years-have been able to compensate for
the loss of Cuba and the Philippine Is
lands, by creating openings elsewhere,
chiefly in South America.
Affront to Vatican.
Especially notable has been the act of
the Spanish government to affront the Vat
lean, decreeing that all Catholic subjects
and all the rules Of the churches of Spain
are subject above all to the laws made
by the government, without exception. This
decision, the result Of Alfonsos strenuous
ness has struck the people Of that coun-
try in telling manner, and 1t may be that
a break similar to Frances will result with
the Vatican.
"Of course 1t is we'll known that Spain
is a clerical nation. and clericalism Is the
political system which gives the clergy pre-
ponderance in the state. Her history, more
than her temperament, has brought this
about. During the middle ages Spain was
occupied by many different races-Vandals,
Byzantines, Goths, Arabs. Jews, Berbers,
FRANKS, AQultlduSp 1DcTlduS, anu Suloi
ers of every country, called in by the Chris
tan kings to repeople the country, which
had been conquered from the Moors Dur
ing the twelfth. thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries these people made Spain the
freest country in Europe. There were three
religions and twenty denominations to
choose from. and this gave the Spaniard
a happy-go-lucky sort Of life. always at
war, always In revolution. experiencing
every extreme Of fortune. and yet entirely
happy
A Religious Nation.
cit Is commended" continued the diplo-
mat in explanation, that 1t was the voice
of the monks which exalted the spirit Of
Christian patriotism in Spain. which in
spired pride in the faith and hatred for
and Misunderstanding of the Jew and the
Moor. 1t was the Spanish church which
forged from multitude of elements the
Spanish nationality and preserved 1t for
its national destiny. This Is the only and
true reason why the Vatican today con-
siders the Spanish nation as bone Of its
bone. flesh Of its flesh and proper subject
for the exercise Of its ecclesiastical and
civil power. a dream SO rudely broken by
the last official edict-
"The theocratic spirit Of Spain fought
ceived grievous wounds. but it never lost
hope or courage; and today only it is be-
ginning to lose its hold.
Growth Of Commerce.
Turning to SPANS industrial and fnan-
cial side, its commercial statistics do not
go back Of 1880, but since that time for
eign commerce has grown from 20 pesetas
Ga per inhabitant to an average Of 100
pesetas in the present decade. From 1895
to 1898 the imports fell OF and the ex-
ports increased greatly. This was the Pc
Rod of the highest exchange. when the
credit of the country was deprecated by
the Cuban war.
countries. the United States has largely
increased its trade with Spain, while that
Of France has fallen of. England. too,
keeps pace with the American increase.
Spanish exports now are chiefly raw ma
terials. minerals. or alimentary products,
the latter including wines, grapes, oranges,
lem0ua YaPetahlaS and OLIVIA oil. ThA