The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-21
SPANISH CABINET CHANGES
Reason Early Return of POwer of Senior Maura-PubHc
Sentiment Misunderstood Abroad

immense majority has not passed
through the education OF the school
This is a terrible condition OF affairs in
a country where universal suffrage pre-
walls, and where the men who have
votes. and who are asked TO give ex-
preston TO their political convictions at
the polls, can only form their opinions
by mere hearsay. and are therefore. IN
the cities at any rate. at the mercy Of
the lOudest mouthed demagogue. Then,
too. Spain has long been endowed with
IA network OF fine roads-on payer. Yet
there are at the present moment no less
than 5000 important villages. the only
access to which is by means OF a bride
path
Spain IS indeed country where most
things OF Importance are on paper-and
remain there. Thus. there is a law. on
paper. restricting the number Of male
religious orders in Spain 10 three, a law
confirmed BY the Concordat. still IN ex-
istence. between the government and the
Vatican, so little attention. however, Is
paid. either 20 law or 20 COncordat. that
the number of religious orders for men
exceeds to-day GO. which. together with
the 1856 orders for women. an Of them
possessed Of a considerable amount Of
property. are exempt from taxation.
The new administration is committed
to the enforcement Of the law, and TO a
policy Of extensive restriction OF the re-
ligiOus orders. and stress has been laid
upon the urgent necessity 90 this reform
by SenJr Moret. But ii is very doubtful
whether he VIII be able 20 carry his in
tentions into effect For those who know
Spain best predict a relatively brief life
FOR his cabinet. and an early return to
Office Of the Conservatives, under Senior
Maura.
There are number Of reasons for this
one or the most important being that
the party which brought about the over
throw Of Maura. and Of which Moret Is
the nominal leader, is not by any means
homogeneous. Il rs split up into any
number OF dissident factions which
while they may at a given moment join
hands in order 10 turn a cabinet out Of
Office, have shown, al any rate In recent
| years, that they are quite incapable Of
working together for any length Of time.
The only one who ever managed 10 keep
I them together in a team for administTa-
/ tive purposes was old Sagasta. the most
shrewd and astute statesman that Spain
/ produced IN the nineteenth century. and
whose success I'm welding all the various
enemies OF the Conservatives into a sin
I gle force. was due TO his wonderful
I diplomacy diplomacy by means OF
which he was able 10 secure the sup
/ port OF CASTELAR, and or the Republicans.
I or whom he was the acknowledged chief.
/ But since Sagasta's death, no one
among she Liberals has shown the same
aptitude for the management of men.
I the same amount Of statecraft In recon
Cling petty differences. for the state
ment Of objects OF national importance.
and although the new premier Senior
7 Moret. Is wonderfully progressive and en-
/ lightened. imbued with the best prin-
ciples Of constltutionaiism. and pos
/ sessed OF so profound a sense OF Justice
I that he has been on several occasions in
vited by foreign governments 10 assume
\ the role OF arbitrator IN their differences.