The Washington herald., 1908-02-02
FRANCO AS DICTATOR
Carlos Reign Full Of Tur-
mOil and Discomfort.
REPUBLICANS ALWAYS ACTIVE
Attempt To Rule Portugal without "a
Parliament Brings Matters 10
Crisis-Crown Prince Favorable 10
the HevOIutiOnists, but Later BE-
comes RecOnciIsd to His Father.

'"'' NV hotHaiOHAStss buA ANtcF ne
comes ReconciIed to His Father.
From the outset Of his reign King
Carlos had trouble. There was opposition
20 his management Of governmental af-
fairs from those who were in favor Of a
republican form OF government
This opposition grew to such an extent
that in recent years there has been riot
ing and almost a revolution.
About a year ago King Carlos suspended
the constitutional form Of government
and made Prime Minister Franco prac-
ucally a dictator. Since then there has
been great discomfort in Lisbon and other
large cities. with rioting and bloodshed
The populace looked upon Carlos action
as an arbitrary proceeding, and there was
open hostility
For time King Carlos kept away from
public functions for the purpose Of avoid
ing demonstrations against him He also
took means ty making excursions to the
military centcrs and concessions 10 The
troops To obtain their loyalty. In brief
the opposition against King Carlos was
based ON his attempt 90 govern through
Prime Minister Franco without % parlia-
meut.
Threatened Martial Law.
In July of last year il was said that the
King had promised Franco that If it was
found necessary 20 uphold the monarchy
he would sanction the suspension of con
stitutionai guarantees. which would be
equivalent to declaring martial law. All
through these tr0ubIous times there was
talk Of the King abdlcatinE and many in
die1tions OF q pending revolution
Then the crown prince went on "a two
months trip iu Africa lie was received
with much favor and returned 10 Portu-
gal TO oppose his fathers dictatorship.
he advised mis- father that if the thing
was kept up il would mean that Portugal
would become "a hotbed of republicans
and anarchists. and might mean the over
throw OF the monarchy
The crown prince wes lined gn with the
conservatives and at one time there was
"a report that ais father had baulshed him.
This was not true. but the situation be-
came so strained that "a strict press cen
surslip was established
ON one occasion two bombs were found
In Lisbon theater. where King Carlos
had been 90 see the performance. Il was
not uncommon Tor bombs to Doe thrown iu
the street, and one bomb. said to have
been intended for the King. killed two
physicians
Forbade Public Gatherings.
The governments order signed by King
Carlos forbidd.ug public gatherings OF
any kind and giving magistrates the full
est power 10 deal with political offenders.
and a the same time charactcriz.ug rs
high treason anti-m0uageHiaaIa activity was
the death warrant for the King and
crown prince
Ills majesty signed Sc a, villa Yicosa
and it was quickly circulated. This
aroused The auu-dyuasty adhorents to
state OF frenzy and it vss publicly pro-
claimed that all OF the members Of the
royal house and the present ministry
had been marked for death
by seizlug the leaders 0f The uprising
thai was scheduled 10 have taken place
Tuesday If was believed the government
had secured control Of the situation. This
however seems 20 have been a wholly
false impression.
The wholesale arrests of the last few
days added % the generally complex
situation. For weeks Premier Franco has
NOT slept twice in the same house. and
each night be has been guarded by a
couple Of troops of cavalry which have
the particular residence street tu
which he took refuge. But it was hoped
that Che King would bc safe u villa
Nicosa.
III is admitted that for months arms.
ammunition. and bombs have been SNUG
eled across the border and the charge
has been made that certain leading PJ--
tuguese merchants had pooled their fol-
tunes 10 finance the revolution.
Plan to Seize City.
Following the arrest Of the pJotters n
the National Library last Tuesday. tHe
police OF Lisbon got possession of thu
plans for insUrrection. It had been In
tended 20 swing "a lantern from the tower
1f the National Library and armed bands
were then to have seized the city. aided
5y ship which was I'm the harbor. and
on which was TO have been mounted can
non 10 demoIish the government palace.
King Carlos last gazetted decree is the
most sweeping public document ever pro-
I'm Portugal 1t was made retro
active TO January e. suspended parlia-
mentary immunity, compared the persons
convicted of political agitation TO Grim /
mails. and deprived them of civil rights.
The King in signing it justified il by
declaring il necessary to remove the lead /
ars and make an example Of the instiga- /
tors of agitation against public order /.
before the country was delUged with /
blood
The fate of Premier Franco, whose per
istence I'm the maintenance of a practi- /
al dictatorship Of the country was un- /
Ioubtedly the primary cause of the regi- /
ide. is unknown
Hundreds OF Arrests.
Portugal, and especially Lisbon. has /
'een in a state of frightful confusion |
or months There have been repeated /
umors that the King was about to be
eposed, scores of magazines Of arms ana /
ammunition have been seized throughout
he capital, hundreds of arrests have been
made, and repeated plots have been un-
arthed to murder the King and his
,remier
The Crown Prince Luis the Duke or
3raganza. has generally been classed.
.owever. as having liberal tendencies.
It was reported a few weeks ago that
e had been banished to one Of the Kings
ountry estates 100 miles from Lisbon for