New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
His Good Nature Response
BILE. Says Ex-Attache. but
England May Save Him.

Were the Portuguese at liberty 20 determine
according 10 their own devices the form Of gov
eminent which they prefer foreign countries.
including the United States might view with
perfect indifference the crisis now raging at
Lisbon. But England Is bound to a treaty, con-
cluded fl 1898. not merely to protect Portugal
from foreign invasion, but likewise to safeguard
the throne from any danger resulting from an
internal revolution. The treaty IN question
takes the place of Gn earlier one of the Same
kind, under the terms of which English soldiers
were dispatched TO Lisbon in 1926 in response
70 appeals for assistance from the Portuguese
government which found itself poweress to
suppress insurrectionary disturbances. while
eight years later the English feet under com
mand Of Admiral Napier. captured the naval
forces OF the Legitimist usurper. King Miguel
off Cape st. Vincent and thus restored the
power Of Queen Maria della Gloria Times have
changed since then, and it is a question whether
an armed Intervention to-day in Portugal by
Great Britain would not entail complications Of
far reaching nature with other great powers
Yet the arrival of a British fleet in the Tagus
and the dispatch Of British troops TO Portugal
may become necessary at any moment in order
10 preserve King Carlos from the loss Of his
crown. For the situation, according TO the cable
dispatches from Europe, is more grave than at
any time since his accession TO the throne eigh-
teen years ago. IN defiance of the terms Of the
constitution. he has, after dissolving the Cortes
declined 10 take any steps for the summoning
Of a new legislature by ordering a general cleo
ton, and has given It 70 be understood through
his Prime Minister. Dom Joao Franco that he
proposes to carry on the government for some
time TO come by royal decree-that is 10 say, as
an absolute ruler.
He is imposing taxes and collecting revenue
without parliamentary he
rying on things with such a high hand that
the Legitimists, who compose the territorial
arstocracy, the religious orders and the illiterate
peasantry entirely subservient to the clergy
have sent to Austria for their Pretender Dom
Miguel, Duke OF Braeanza; while the Repub
hcans, who embrace the working classes in the
cities. the liberal professions, such as the law
yers, the doctors, the professors ETC. as we'll as
the university students. are out in force clam
orfng for the immediate proclamation Of q form
OF government such that which has brought
such prosperity TO the United States Mean
while the navy and the army are notorlousy
disaffected. far as the Crown is concerned
There have been frequent mutinies of late in
dlcating the disoyalty of the troops and espe-
eialiy OF the sailors, and IN spite OF the steps
TAKEN by King Carlos to increase their paw they
turn q Gear ear 10 his Establishments and are
apparently firmly convinced that there is no
hope for their country as long as its destinies
remain IN the hands of the present dynasty. In
one word King Carlos. who before the dissolu
lion OF the Chambers was denounced by some
OF It's members during the course of the debates
as coward" as "a thief OF public funds" gs
criminal" as 'meriting expulsion" ana as
far more deserving OF the loss of his head than
Louis XVI Of France" is literally without anv
friends or partisans save among his courtiere
ana has even forfeited the good will of those
ie" portuguese who were accustomed TO lock
upon MN as The most obedient of all monarchs
- 'he oDigdtions OF constitutional sovereign
England cannot afford to leave Portugal to
her own devices Aside from her treaty obliga-
Ions toward that country, she cannot permit the
existence there Of anarchy or of any species of
regime other than the existing government
calculated 10 involve the kingdom in dfficulttes