The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-21

yet he has never made any success IN
the management OF political parties or
even Of individual politicians
Perhaps the best proof Of this asser-
ton Is to be found in tho fact that al
though MOret has already been twice pre-
mier since the disappearance from the
scene OF Sagasta, no reforms. nor even
any measures which in this country
would be regarded as progressive, have
been placed TO the credit OF the Liberals
during his terms Of Office.
People abroad really know very little
about Spain, and this is one OF the rea-
sons why spaniards display such q con-
tempt for foreign opinion regarding what
they designate as "Cosas Espanas" True,
the great foreign newspapers maintain
representatives at Madrid. and on the
occasion Of disturbances. such as those
which recently took place in Barcelona.
they hurry special correspondents 10 the
scene. These journalists derive ali the
Information which they send 20 their
papers from the people in the city. The
result is that they. perhaps unconscious
IS. reflect exclusively urban opinion, and
not even the opinion OF the mere towns.
but only that Of very big cities. such as
Madrid and Barcelona, each Of which can
boast OF a population OF over half a mil
lion.
Now. in Spain. more than in any other
country OF Europe. the bulk OF the popu-
lation is 20 be found IN the rural districts,
about which the newspaper correspond
ent knows little or nothing and concern
ing which he leaves his readers in ignor-
ance. While the population IN the big
cities is not merely pronouncedly Liberal,
but also Republican and even sOCialis-
tic. the rural population is decidedly Con-
servative and so averse 10 any change
and innovation that II has shown Itself
inclined 20 Obstruct the Introduction OF
the reforms enacted under Sagasta, and
even displays hostility with regard to the
efforts which have been made 20 make
them acquainted with more productive
and more remUnerative methods OF agri-
culture.
I have mentioned above that nearly 50
per cent Of the people OF Spain are Hitter
ate. and that even a relatively small pro-
portion Of those who can read do so that
therefore they are dependent not upon
what they read, but upon what they
hear. for direction OF that parliamentary
vote which they enjoy by virtue OF the
law Of universal suffrage which the na-
ton owes to Sagasta.
in the big cities the voters derive their
political opinions from the harangues OF
lawyers, physicians. politicians, and more
especially OF professional agitators Of the
d~nae0gue type. IN the rural districts
the peasantry draw their political insDi-
ration from the territorial magnate or the
district, and more particularly from their
parish priest. their friend. their counselor,
and their guide from earliest childhood
until the end Of their life.
Now. the clergy and the religious orders
are naturally conservative. and as their
influence predOminates all others in the
rural districts Il naturally follows that
the rural population-that is to say. the
bulk OF the nation-is conservative, and
that Il Is only the noisy minority OF the
cities that is liberal and republican.
il is necessary to emphasize this, be-
cause an impression has been created
abroad that the big Conservative major
ity in the COTtes did not represent the
views or the nation, and that the latter
was at heart disposed toward Liberalism
and anxious for the introduction OF more
. enlightened methods than those OF Senior
Maura This IS altogether wrong
What the people of all classes did con
/ denim was the unfortunate war Al Melilla.
with its terrible drain upon the national
/ treasury, and. above al, upon the army
But this war IS now 20 all intents and
! purposes at an end, the cause OF dissatis-
/ faction has ceased, and Il IS 20 the new
administration that viii fall the unpleas-
ant duty OF imposing and collecting the
taxes needed in order 70 pay the cost OF
the campaign
]
It IS due 10 su this that am convinced
that the new administration will be short
lived. II is not that do not approve, as
Will most OF my readers. the aims OF
Senior Moret. whom 7 first learned TO
! know and admire az his hospitable house
in Madrid twenty-nine years ago. But
/ there IS no doubt that neither ne nor the
Heterogeneous party OF which he is the
nominal chief really represent the pOliti-
cal views Of the mass OF the nation 70
ANYTHING like the same extent as his
predecessor, the autocratic, despotic, yet
| sinzularly upright and honest ex-Premier
MauTa-
| II the latter fell az the beginning OF this
month. il was mainly because it was felt
| that his RESIGNATION was necessary in or
I
/ eign powers in the aims OF Spain in No
rocco. A confidence which had become i'm
/ haired by the campaign at Melilla-
/ Moreover, II Aiaura had not kept MS
/ countrvmen I'm ignorance as to the real
| reason for the operations against the
RIMS and the objects which he expected
10 obtain thereby the war would not have
/ been so unpopular in the kingdom. Now
/ that they have become known. there IS
1 already a revuIsion OF public sentiment in
his favor which will land him ere long
| once more at the head Of the government.
! For Gen Weyler who has been sent by
4 the new cabinet 70 take charge or anairs
| at Barcelona as governor general. is rum
1 ming things there with far higher hand
than was ever attempted by his predeces-
/ sOr under the direction OF Senior Maura,
while the impression which prevails
/ abroad that the execution OF Ferrer had
/ aroused public opinion and the anger OF
! the kim TO such an extent as 20 cause
/ AIaura's resignation should have been
| long ago set at rest by the almost unani-
/ nous approval of the anarchist leader
death by the Spanish press. not only Con-
| sentative but also Liberal. and by AL
| fonso's indignant reputation Of the SEN
/ tfments ascribed TO him In foreign news
] papers and bv his Endorsement OF the ac-
/ ton In the matter OF his late premier
/ tCopyright 1903 by the Brentwood Company)
| To Preserve lack TayIOr's Tree
Aiifnin correspondence Of the Kansas City Star.
| Passengers on the new railroad which
has been built through this most south
ern part Of Texas are able 10 catch a
I feeting glance Of one OF the most his
toric landmarks on the Lower Rio Grande
border as the train passes by. Standing
llke a sentinel In a large cattle pasture