The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
Nv Ex-ATTACHE.

the urSL year or MS reign oACE + Va t~scl-s
and signalized tbs event BY attending a
religious service in memory Of his father
and older brother. who we're murdered IN
lis presence on February !. 1888 Il may
therefore be timely TO give a brief sketch
Of the present conditions in that particu-
lar portion OF The Iberian peninsula,
which viii be all the more interesting,
since, owing TO the severe censorship ex-
e-cised by the Libson government not
only with regard to telegraphic dis
patches, but even in the matter Of private
letters. very little has been permitted
to Beeore known abroad concerning the
actual conditions
They are not pleasant: nor are they
calculated TO inspire that confidence
which is indispensable 10 the main
tenance Of PortusaFs trade With foreign
lands, and Of her credit in France, Eng
land. and Germany. that is 10 say. the
countries where most Of her national debt
IS held. and 10 which she must look for
further supplies. That is the reason for
the veil Of secrecy with which the min
listers Of King Manuel are eRdeavOring
10 shroud the present- state Of affairs at
Lfbson and elsewhere in his dominiOns.
Things could no be worse. True. Ad-
rliral Ferreira co Amaral has absn-
doned the premiership 60 Senhon Beirao,
one OF the so-caIled Progressist leaders.
But as the later has retained the services
Of most Of the members OF his predeces-
sOr's administration. and Is dependent
upon the same legislative majority in the
Cortes. the chaage means nothing beyond
the fact that the admiral had shown him
seif too contemplate and discre6ited 20
be tolerated. even by the Portuguese In
fact there are no prospects Ot any i'm
provement. and the outlook is OF the most
sOmber nature
King Carlos. It may be recalled, vas
murdered because he was making. in con
junction with his singuIarly honest prem
Ter, Dom Joao Franco. an energetic en-
deavor 10 put an end 10 the graft which
has reduced Portugal, despite all her
natural advantages and latent wealth. 10
downright ruin. Finding his country con
fronted with bankruptcy. her commerce
and her industry 0bstructed. and famine
and pestlence stalking through the land.
conditions brought about through the al
political machines. the Regenera6ores or
CONSERVATIVES. and the PrCEressistas or
Liberals. who aIternated with one another
IN power. and played into each others
hands for a perpetuatioa OF the abuses
by which they both benefted-kinS Car
los determined to call a halt
On the resignation Of the Conservative
cabinet in 1866 he Entrusted the formation
Of an administration To a man of his Own
choice. namely. Franco, who had broken
away from the machine organizations IN
order 20 form a small party Of his own,
with the watcllwa-d Of economic reform
Franco Rad no difficulty N forming a
ministry. but found i impossible TO Sc
cure a working majority in Parliament,
and accordingly. with his sOvereign's con-
sent. dismissed the legislature. and ruled
without II. He had plenty OF precedent
for hts action William Pitt had done
Il with the support Of George III in Eng
land et the close OF the eighteenth CEN
turv and Bismarck. IN a similar way
with the answering backing Of old En-
peror William which worked ont the
greatness Of Germany during the early
sixties. in defiance OF the opposition Of
the Prussian Diet
ScrupulousIv honest. imbued with the
most ardent patriotism, Loyalty supported
By Dom Carlos. Franco made use of the
eighteen months during which his viT-
tuaI dictatorship lasted. 10 reform abuses
on every side and 10 stop and punish
corruption.
Politicians. officials. and court digni-
taries who had fauened on graft, were
shorn Of the most remUnerative sources
of their income. Quite as UnscruDulous
IS the F5aytiaus. with whom they have
fr- = m nEz-
peration they determined 70 put an end
10 this era Of reform by means Of the
assassination Of the King. and the murder
OF his prime minister Franco. contrary
10 the expectation Of the cOnspirators.
did not drive back from the landing stage
30 the palace with his sovereign. a year
ago on the fateful Saturday. and thus
escaped the fate in store for him. and the
crown prince was killed by the regicides
in his stead.
Had not the two queens. that is 70 say
the mother and the widow Of Dom Carlos
been almost bereft OF their senses BY
grief. and by the shock Of the tragedy
they would have realized that the best
way OF hooo-ing the memory Of the slair
monarch. was by carrying on his work o.
reform. turning 10 advantage the horro'
inspired by the outrage, and especially
by the manner In which It was put intC
execution
But they lost their heads, and instead
OF strengthening the hands Of Premier
Franco. assaHed him with reproaches. de
nounced him as responsible for the con
ditions which had caused the murder o
the King. and actually called down tht
blood Of the latter on his head. Their at
titude was voiced by their encourage. en6
Il goes without saying. by the member:
Of the Liberal and Conservative parties
who saw in HIS fall an end OF the wave
OF reform. and a return TO the saturualis
of corruption In fact, he was literally
driven into exile.
Admiral Ferreira DO AularaI thereUpoT
came forward. declaring that he was ID
politician. but a sailor, and that tht
youth and fnexperienCs Of the eighteen
yeaT-Old King and the sorrow OF the two
Queens appealed 10 his sentiments Of
chivalry. and undertook 20 form a minis
try and to assume charge Of affairs. II:
had 2 reputation for honesty, but Ike
wise for vanity and for gUIlibility. Th'
Conservative and Liberal machines coUlC
not have wished for anything better anC
at once ind0rsed him. lie quickly became
the tool Of the very people against whom
King Carlos had been waging such bittel
warfare. and actually was induced 10 in.
clude IN his cabinet men who had beer
the objects Of the particular abhOrrenc,
OF the murdered sovereign. by reason o.
their dishonesty. and who are known, a
any rate. 10 have been privy 70 the con
spiracy against his life. Il they did no
actually instigate It
They are stIII IN Office and & Is owins
10 this that the real authors Of the as
sassination Of the late Dom Carlos anC
Of the crown prince remain TO this daI
unpunished and that no attempt has eve
been made to bring the muTderers 10 jus