New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
A REPUBLIC FORESEEN
PORTUG4LS HE4TY LOAD.
an Uncensored Opinion of Conds-
tiOns-Findncial Burden.

Lisbon, Feb. (via BadajoZ. Spain Feb. So
The Republican leaders in Portugal are in ex-
trenely high spirits to-day. They assert con-
fdently that a republic is now matter CT
months. not of years. An opinion on the situa-
ton and an outline of the Republican plan OF
campaign were obtained to-day from perhaps
the most competent spokesman of the party,
who said
The end of the monarchy is near. 1t will
come as unexpectedly did the murder OF the
King and the Crown Prince. and the world Will
wake up one morning to find a republic IN Por-
tugai. We convinced that the revolution
will be a peaceful 1t is mistake for for
eigners TO ina gine that the people of Portugal
not awake. There is n Republican organiza-
tion in every town: doctors. lawyers and even
the village priests sending III notices of their
adherence by the score, and there are aVoWed
Republican officers in the army
King Manuel is a well tntentioned boy. He
starts his reign with fair words and the
toration of political liberty but it is inevitable
that he should fall into the hands OF the nlanip-
uiarors of the two old parties. whose bankruptcy
was proclaimed by King Carlos and Premier
Franco. The about the throne know that
the end Is near, and when they realize that they
cannot fight they will surrender did Dom
Pedro in Brazil / do not think a shot viii be
fred. King Carlos knew he was making his
last fight. He had transferred every dollar he
had to England.
We viii make a change Of system of govern
ment ali open issue in the coming campaign. We
will demand that the monarchy which has
and financial bankruptcy abdcate to the peo-
pie They dare not try repression again: they
can only surrender.
While the troops since last Tuesday have re-
mained in their barracks during the daytime.
Lisbon at night still resembles an armed camp.
Cavalry IS Inassed in the public squares pIc<ets
patrol the streets and heavily armed soldiers
guard the State Bank night and day
The financial situation is regarded with great
alarm The country is staggering under its
foreign debt, and commerce is almost paraly2ed
by the fluctuations OF the golG premium. Con-
servative bankers consider the financial situation
to be more critical than the political.
The outside world, in spite Of the censorship
which defeats its own object, should not imagine
that the throne OF Portugal is tottering toward
revolution and that republic is imminent. The
general situation is grave rather than alarming
Political conditions. already chaotic before the
murder of the King and the Crown Prince. be-
came utterly demoralized after the commission
Of these crimes. Then CONSERVATION and panic
prevailed among the police and at court. and the
release Of Frances strong hand from the helm
left the ship of state adrift. But with the new
Cabinet pledged to constitutional methods and
the abolition of the dictatorship and existing
measures of repression the situation improved
King Manuel openly acknowledged the irreg-
ly under mis- fathers reign, which were the |
original causes of the political turmoil, and he |
,r,bliclv ordered the dscontinuance Of this prac-
ice.
Ii is hard to forecast the future. II things |
irift back TO the old rut of government corrup-
ion from which King Carlos and Premier Franco
escued the monarchy republic might come.
rhe republicans are the natural inhertors Of
he mistakes of the monarchy, but the masses
ire groaning under their personal burdens. They
re either ignorant OF Indifferent TO the polit-
cal turmoil Something is necessary to galvan-
re them into action, and this is exactly what
he small but evidently desperate organization |
f militant revolutionists in Lisbon and Oporto
trying to do. 1t wants to drive the people
o revolt.
EXTENT OF CONSPIRACY UNKNOWN
The immediate danger in the situation comes |
rom the fact that the police are bafied and the
overnment is unable to ascertain the extent Of
ne ramifcations of the eonspracies which have
cen revealed during the last fortnight by the
at various places Of depots OF bombs
rms and ammunition II was known that Pre-
1ier Franco was marked for assassination That
; why he deemed it wise to fee. But the as
assination OF the King WAS not expected. and
created almost a reign Of terror in high places
here is not the slightest question that the plot
-as only half successful The murder of the
ntire royal family and the extinction Of the
ynasty was the aim Of the conspirators. /, is
ertain that other men had been stationed at
ther points OF the route Of the royal carriage
n that fatal Saturday afternoon, and that if
le murder had not been committed the Praca
o Commercio ii would have been attempted
sewhere. That night attempt was
Iade TO bring about a mutiny on the part OF
v infantry and artillery regiments In Lisbon.