New-York tribune., 1909-02-07
Public Affairs in a Verv
Bad Way. Says
Ex-Attache.

.e1s--Ei'. 1903. by the brentwood Company
N Aonday last King Manuel completed the
hst year Cf his reign over Portugal, and
zg1a-zed The event by attending a religious
st'-2e -n memory Of his father and elder
G'i15r who -ere murdered il his presence on
February I. l*HS. Il may therefore be timely TO
sFs lr-e[ sketch Of the present conditions in
-st particular portion OF the Iberian peninsula.
Flrh VIII b. an the more interesting since,
eslg - the severe censorship exercised by the
--N.1a g7sa-1zleur. not only with regard 10 tele-
graphic dispatches, but even in the matter Of
i'.Tale letters. very little has been permitted to
'7-l-as known abroad concerning the actual
-I--ua1s They are not pleasant; nor are they
sa--a,e- rn inspire that confidence which is in
->I41sal- - the maintenance OF PortugaIs
Is-5 with foreign lands and Of her credit in
rance, England and Germauy-that is 10 say,
-N countries whore most Of her national debt is
-7- and % which she must look for any further
supplies That is the reason for the veil OF
secrecy with which the ministers % King Man
are e1le7Eariug 10 shroud the present state
s1s-rs ar Lisbon and elsewhere in his domin-
ions
--.1ss could not be much worse True. Ad-
"a farrairs- do Amaral has abandoned the
5tiaiersl.a 10 Senior Beirao. one Of the so
-a-e1 FroEressist leaders. But as the latter has
AZ Predecessors administration and is de
ts--7lI lr1n The same legislative majority in
~ J9rtes. tae change means nothing beyond
-= izct rlar rae admiral had shown himself too
-'71Tr-ae and d5seredited 10 be tolerated even
= NE Porruguese- In fact. there are no pros
IS q any Improvement and the outlook is of
- most s1rnbre nature.
AnE Carlos. II may be recalled. was murdered
-a-ss he Vss making. in conjunction with his
t--er-g honest Premier Dom Joao Franco. an
--7se'ie eldeavor 10 put an end 10 the graft
---a mas reduced Portugal. despite all her
----fsi advantages and latent wealth. % down
=. = fuin- Finding his country confronted with
aItcy. her commerce and her industry OBJ
-.tec, and famine and pestiIence stalking
-0-ga the laud-conditions brought about
--'sH The almost incredible corruption Of the
- 80 Political machines, the Regeneradores. or
at-Fes. ana the Progessistas, or Liberals.
.-' ttesnated with each other IN power and
80 into each others hands for a perpetua-
- o ine abuses hy which they both benefited
ing Carlos determined 10 call halt.
'- lae resignation Of the Conservative Cab
- - iA 1906 he inlrusted the formation Of an ad-
r--s-fe--on 10 q man of lis own choice. namely
-e-'-' who had broken away from the machine
,e ese--'zallOns 10 form a small party Of his own,
lhs watchword OF economic reform
+-'-1o had 10 dlficulty In forming ministry
- -'-ao = impossible 10 obtain working ma
- - -4 Parliament. and accordingly, with his
@elgns consent. dismissed the legislature
- --ea without IT, He had plenty Of prece-
- - toE lis acton. William Pitt had done it,
g tHe support OF George III, in England at
Iose Of the eighteenth century, and Bis
- In a similar way, with The unswerving
--s o old Emperor William, which worked
-, 'ie greatness Of Germany during the early
"a. -A oetance of the opposition Of the Prussian
eerupul9usly honest imhEed with the