Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-08-20
REAL FIGHTING is GER
TAIN TO COME IN SPAIN
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ders were a revolt against this con-
dltion. The drafting of troops from
the country for service in Africa
was, indeed, the immediate cause of
the outbreak, but the intolerable
burden of the Church was really the
fundamental reason for it. The
Church, through the government,
which is absolutely controlled, put
the rebellion down with savage VIC
lence. But the anti-clericals refused
to stay beaten. Premier Maura was
forced out of office and Premier
Moret tried to continue the same old
system. He, too, failed and al
succeeded by Premier C~analejas.
Senior Canalejas made up his mind
some months ago that another revolt
was coming and felt no certainty of
the governments ability to crush it
as Senior Maura succeeded, with
much difficulty, in doing last year.
He represented to King Alfonso that
the time had come when there must
be a curtailment of the Church's
power and a tightening of the bur-
den it was forcing the country to
bear or the government was going to
be oyerthrown. Alfonso acquiesced.
Probably neither Premier Canale-
jas nor King Alfonso is entitled to
much credit for their decision. The
premier Is a so-called Liberal, but a
Spanish Liberal is really a Conserva-
tive, while a Conservative is a bitter
reactionary. The premier decided
po ha l;I II ouxnfsfln -tkooxo Al
fonso has always been completely
under the clericals' control. He
would undoubtedly have vetoed the
premier's proposals If the latter had
not convinced him that 1t would cost
him his crown If he did.
With the kings approval, the pre-
mier accordingly took preliminary
steps in the Cortes towards a reduc-
ton In the number of religious es-
Establishments" in Spain, towards the
taxation of the others which engage
in industrial and commercial under
takings and towards a slightly wider
federation Of Protestant sects.
The Spanish archbishops and bish-
ops promptly protested against any
legislation along these lines, assert
ing that the religious orders and
their establishments" in the coun-
try are subject only to ecclesiastical
law. The Vatican backed up the
archbishops and bishops and de-
manded the withdrawal of all the
measures Premier Canalejas was
pushing. The Madrid government
refused and recalled it's ambassador
from the Vatican.
There, at the moment, the matter
stands. The Cortes is in recess and
1t will be October before the anti
clerical measures proposed by the
premier can be passed. Unless he
~withdraws them, which will not hap
pen, they will pass then.
King Alfonso and Premier Canale-
jas would unquestionably like to
back out of their program If they
could. Failing that, they would like
to delay as long as possible. They
cannot back out because they be-
lieye they would precipitate a revo-
luton by doing so. They cannot de-
lay too long or the anti-clericals will
become suspicious of them and the
ever-imminent revolution will start.
There Is that much reason for think
Ing that the climax will come soon,
Still, 1t Is certain that the king and
premier will move as slowly as they
dare.
The Church does not want to fight
at all II 1t can avoid II. 1t knows
that fighting will involve 1t In heavy
risks. 1t hopes against hope that
the State will yield. If the State
should show a disposition to do SO
the Church would do anything in Its
power to make surrender easy-tc
save the states face.
But when II actually comes to the
point of making up its mind wheth
er to fight or to surrender any par
of its power and privilege the
Church will fight. 1t is already pre-
pairing TO fight. It's wealth, It's In
fuence and It's intelligence are enor
nous and its preparations are ONT
~nously thorough.
On the states side will be tn.
king, the cabinet, the whole OF tn,
Liberal and official forces, the pow
erful republican organizations AM
the Socialists: on the Church's tn,
e~piscopate and clergy, the entir
Conservative party, the aristocracy
all the ignorant classes and practi
eaily ali the women of the country.
The Church's aim. If the wors
comes, viii be to depose Alfonso an,
to enthrone the Carlist pretendeI
Don Jaime. So long as he rename,
faithful to the elericals, the clerical
remained faithful to Alfonso, an
Jaime stood no chance. If the cler
icals declare for him, however, h
will Instantly become formidable
The clericals have not done so vel
for they are not even yet quite eur
that Alfonso VIII not return to them
But they will do it the moment the
haearna noSiffvelV eOnxfneed the