Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-04
TROUBLE IN PORTUGAL
Has Been of Long Standing.
Events That l. ad to Kill,
ing of KING.

crisis dates back only to May IL. 1907.
when the Parliament was dissolved.
That arose from the fact that the
Cabinet, which represents exclusive
ly the new Liberal group. found its
program of reforms ohstmcted by
both the old Conservative and Pro-
gressiye parties.
When Parliament dissolved the
cabinet assumed dictatorship. under
which it was enabled 10 bring about
The PRONUNCIATION of several measures
by nieaus CT DEGREES.
This method OF procedure had fire.
quently been resorted to in Portugal
without causing popular disturb.
ance. and the Cabinet was of the OPP
inion that thus having established It's
determination radically to reoiganIze
the affairs OF the country 1t could APP
peal with the fullest confidence to tn =
country in Il general election.
Opportunity For An Attack.
The dictatorship, however, gave the
opposition the basis for an attack on
the King and the Republican organs,
which speedily acquired n large fol-
loving declared the dissolution OF
Parliament to be an unconstitutional
step They declared also that the
ministry was unfaithful to It's pledges
not 10 employ the dictatorIal methods
OF its predecessors.
The decree dissolvlng the Cortes
announced that efforts, of the govern
ment 10 pass useful Legislation had
been rendered abortive for six
mcnths by the obstruction OF the OPP
position; the ministry had oonse-
Iquently resolved to meet the pressing
needs of the country by assuming die
tatorial power: Sin subortlinating pol
tiles to administrative work we are
acting In conformity with the aspira-
lions Of the nation Lastly. the de-
cree plainly stated that the Corlea
was closed in the interests OF public
order and that administrative inter-
ests prevented It's reopening
| The constitution prescribes that In
case OF dissolution another Cham
Iber should be summoned without de-
lay. But IL seemed certain that an
other Chamber, If elected In the ne:ir
future, would only repeat the tactics
of Its predecessor and that the re-
| forming program OF the government
would be Indefinitely postponed. For
the realization of his program Pre-
mier Franco depended on the impress
sicn which the working Of an honest
and efficient administration would
lproduce on the public mind
| Opposition to Dictatorship.
| II was hardly to IL expected that
\ coup d'etat which threatened so
many interests. vested and prospec-
tive. would be carried ont without
encownteiing strenuous resistance
Franco mt once forfeited the friend
ship OF the "Progressistas." whose
parliamentary support had hitherto
maintained him in power. their chief
Luciano dc Castro. complaining that
the intended dissolution of the Cham
her had only been communicated To
him Mt the last moment,
| This party now entered into coali-
ton With the other groups In oppo-
sit'on 10 the dictatorship. The exist
ing regime was denounced as donblv
Illegal: not only had TO date been
! fixed for now elections. but the Coun
Gil of State had not been consulted
| as the constitution requires, before
the dissolution That body protested
anu demanded an audience Of the
King who refused to receive its meGn-
bers in corpore; he received, how
over populations of both houses but
contendcd himself with observing
! that he would refer their remon-
strances 10 his government.
These protests were followed h.
that of the Lisbon Municipal Council
n great stronghold OF the opposition
parties. and an effort was made to
organize combined demonstration OF
all the civic bodies In the Kingdom
OF 262 municipalities. however. only
lis took part in the movement The
abstention of lat was all the more
significant, as year previously
when Franco took Office. only some
12 or II were favoratay disposed to-
ward his government.
Municipal Council Dissolved.
Shortly afterward a decree was is
sued diEsolving the Municipal Coun-
ell OF Lisbon on the ground OF ad Z.
ministrative Irregularities. of which
1t is said. there was no,lack. In reply
to his supporters in which ne made
1t clear that the ministry could re
tain power until all the measures
which it thou ght necessary were car
ried out; till then there would be N
summoning of the Cortes, which ha6
hitherto been q mere battlefield OF
selfish politicians.
The opposition TO the new regime
now assumed more violent form
June II Franco was present at :
meeting of his supporters at OportC
when he delivered another important
speech. A hostile demonstration was
organized and disordcrly scenes oo-
CURED, the dregs Of the population be.
Ing much in evidence. The Prime
Minister returned to Lisbon the fol
lowing evening, when his friends pre-
pared to welcome him at the railway
station.
counter ;emOnsi raiio, ,vn, NJ