Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-07

and dismissed from the army by a
military tribunal for hiding explosives
in the mountains and in the city and
then discovering them as proof of his
zeal and detective skill. For similar
practices Juan Rull, police agent and
confdant of the civil governor, was
tried, and after intense public excite
ment was hanged. His mother was
suspected of being the author of a
bomb outrage during his trial, and his
cousin is still in prison on suspicion.
During the reign of the last civil
governor, which lasted two years, some
forty-two bombs exploded. Since the
appointment of the present governor,
Crespo Azorin, three months ago, over
twenty outrages have been expert
enced, each with a considerably cas-
ualty list to its record.
Poor Fall Victims
And it is to be remarked that this
last series of crimes has been worked
out almost invariably in the poorest
quarters of the city.
No longer are the bombs directed
against the merchant princes, the local
aristocracy or the civil authorities.
Three thousand suspected persons
are detained in Barcelona's prisons,
while a greater number have been de-
ported or sent across the frontier.
The police force of the city amounts
to over 7000 stupendous figure for a
place of this size. Another force, a
section of the civil guard, to the num-
ber of 1000, will shortly be drafted
here. Needless to say, public conf
dence in the protection of the police
is ruined, and business is broken
backed AS a detail of interest, it may
be mentioned that 10000 apartments
a n of
ment, the occupiers having fled the
city.
Wild theories are afloat to account
for this ever-present reign of terror.
Some say the revolutionaries by this
means hope to force from the govern
ment separation and home rule for
Catalonia; others think the outrages
are the work Of anarchists from Mar
seilles; others, again, lay the blame
at the door of the Jesuits, who wish
to protest against the increasing lib
eralism and religious liberty in the
country.
Unfortunately, the Spanish author
tiles learn nothing from experience,
otherwise they would see that their
violence breeds anarchy, as tropical
swamps breed mosquitoes. When the
reserves were sent to the war in Mo-
rocco their relatives We're sternly shut
out from opportunities of bidding fare
well. The women, inhamed by this
unlocked for restriction, first fought
with the guards, and then went home
to stir up their husbands to join forces
with the revolutionaries in fighting the
authorities. Thus the ranks of the
VIOLENT section were enormously
swelled. A scapegoat was demanded,
and Senior Ferrer was picked out for
execution because from his printing
press and school progressive ideals were
Declaring his innocence, |
he fell under a hail of bullets, after
a trial that would have satisfied no
other country than Spain.
Final Stage of Conflict
His death has given the revolution
ary cause the prestige of martyrdom |
and fired the flame of fanaticism in |
thousands of Spanish hearts.
The fourth stage of the conflict be- |
tween the government and the people |
now opens with fearful portents. Cler-
icalism, almost alone, defends the |
harshness of the repression. And yet, |
desperate as are the deeds of the rev.
there are indications of |
a marvellous restrain and calculation
in their methods.
Perhaps for the first time in reyo-
utionary history, in nearly every case
Of churches and converts destroyed,
warming is sent beforehand, couched
more or less in the following form:
Hasten away, and take what you can
with you; for we are coming to destroy
you"
Impartial students of the situation
lecare this is the expression of a con-
used thought, dimly present in the
minds of the revolutionaries-"Th we
ire doing, not to harm others, but as
| protest against the government which
,ppresses and ill-uses u.s.
RAY COOPER.
Laconic
Hairs a little inclined to"
"Cut it!' Interrupted the man who wanted
o catch a train-Puck