Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-06
SPAIN IN FIRM HANDS
NEW MINISTRY SEEMS GER.
TAIN TO INSURE STABILITY.
Has a Clear Majority and Is Pre-
pared to Deal With a Number
of Delicate Problems.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star
LONDON, May 2s 1910
The general election which has just
taken place in Spain will help to give the
political situation in that country the
measure of firmness and stability of
which it stands in need.
In the late chamber the conservative
party held a strong and united ma
jority, but since last October the reins
of government have been in the hands
Of two different liberal ministries. Such
a situation could not, of course, be pro-
longed for any length of time, and while
it lasted was productive Of much diff
Guilty and uncertainty. The result of the
election opens a brighter prospect.
The present liberal premier, Senior Can
alejas, has won a decided victory, and
can count on clear majority over all
parties in the chamber. The ministry
formed by him last February made IA
favorable impression, but there was fear
that it might not be able to maintain it.
self I'm power. Now that his followers
have been returned with an independent
majority, there is an opportunity for the
formation of a strong and stable liberal
government In the opinions of those who
know Spain best, such development is
urgently required in the interests of the
country and of the monarchy.
Conservatives Not Popular.
The conservative party is a vigorous
and compact body, and its leader, Senior
Maura, who held the office of premier
from 1907 to 1909. is recognized as firm
and capa BILE statesman, but the conserva-
tives are lacking in sympathy and sup
port among the masses of the people.
That Senior Mauras government should
have incurred unpopularity was its mis-
fortune rather than its alt, but the
campaign in Morocco last summer and
the riots in Barcelona presented favor
able field for the attack of the republic
cans and socialists.
In a country where there Is 50 much
poverty and ignorance violent aSita ton
must always be menace to the peace
of the state, and the continued existence
of an unpopular government might well
create a critical situation In the in
tercsts of national harmony, therefore, ii
is desirable to show that under the OK
listing constitution "A government can be
obtained which will meet the wishes of
the people and develop program adapted
to the needs of the country.
a strong and progressive liberal min
istrv would do much to promote the
welfare of Spain at the present time. The
premier. Senior Canalejas, has shown that
he is fully alive TO the situation. He has
made il known that he Is opposed to con-
stitutional changes, but that he is anxious
to carry out an enlightened policy of
social reform.
New Premier's Plans.
Senior Canalejas is anxious to extend
and improve education, to promote social
reform and to establish system of uni
yersal military service. He is also pre-
pared to undertake the difficult and deli
cate task of revising the cOncordat with
the Pope, Il question which is bound to
excite angry feeling, both among the
champions of the church and among the
The situation in Morocco
demands careful handling. and the turbu-
lent people of Barcelona may at any mo-
nlent create grave internal troubles The
danger of a republican revolution is re-
garded as less serious than it was few
months ago.