East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-09-08


Spanish government and the vatican
has many elements which are not gen.
orally understood outside of Spain.
II would be an error to believe that
in Spain the wish has been simply TO
establish religious liberty for the ben
eft of non-Catholic religious COM
munities, as Senor Canalejas, the
head OF the Spanish government pre-
tends. His decree permitting nom
Catholic churches to manifest their
existence by exterior signs no doubt
reestablishes a certain equality be-
tween the different confessions: but
it's real purpose is far more ambitious.
What the leaders of the present cam
paign desire is TO deal a mortal blow
at the Roman church in the peninsu-
Ia
The fact is that Professionalism has
never prospered in Spain. Be the
cause what it may, in Spain there are
no protestants, but Catholics and the
enemies of all positive religions
standing face to face; and as in the
peninsula liberals. conservatives, an
archists, Catholics and free thinkers
oAS a4A C4deiAy AoAoeASai, II ASAio"o
that spiritual differences degenerate
Immediately into exaggeration and vi
olence. Hence the present conflict is
not one between various creeds fell
ing their way towards a kind of
Peace OF Westphalie,'' but q war to
the death between rationalism and the
church of Rome.
Army OF Catholics.
Scnor Canalejas and his supporters
in the press are concealing their real
intentions. They are negotiating with
Rome for the modification of the
Concordat Of 1851, for q reduction OF
the number OF authorized religious
houses, and for a reduction in the
budget OF cult and clergy. They are
bound to proceed thus not only out
| Of respect for the constitution of 1876
but from motives OF caution. Not
withstanding the activity and audac-
! ity OF the rationalistic elements in
| Spain, the most casual observer will
notice that their strength is as moth
| ing compared with the compact mass
of Catholics. There are regions. as
Navarro, certain portions of the Bas-
| ques Aragon, and Castalonia, where
an army could be raised at short no.
tice to defend the Romsh church.
| In this conflict Senior Canalejai
would probably be beaten, were II
not that the question has another as
pect, the economic one, thanks tC
which the government has gained {
great measure of popular support IL
its campaign against the religious as
sociations. It can not be denied tina
her church and her clergy cost Spair
an eXorbitant sum. In a budget Of {
little more than s2oO.OOo.oOo, o
which half goes to the clergy is S.,
100000 and this does not include 9th
er large sums paid in fees. For tn,
40 provinces of the peninsula ther'
are SO dioceses; there are 81 arch
bishops or bishops and some 21,o0'
canons and minor dignitaries.
Have All, Pay Nothing.
The desire felt by the Spanish ma
ton to be relieved of some part o
this heavy annual charge Of nearl,
s1O,000,000 has contributed largely t
the popularity of the radical govern
ment, but indignation at the privil
eyes enjoyed by the religious commu
mites is an even greater influence il
it's favor. These pay no territoria
contribution. The magnificent prop
critics of the monks pay no take
whatever, and in consequence Of thi
the Spanish citizen living in thei
neighborhood has to pay an exorbi
tant rent.
Neither do these religious commu
mites pay the industrial tax or tn
personal tax. At the same time thei
inmates are exempt from militar
service and from the redemption fe
of $500 in lieu of military servic
which is exacted from other SPANS
citizens. The result of this is tha
in certain towns of special industre
the workers, especially the womer
\ can not live. The elaborate vorkin
in linen which formerly gave so muc
employment to the wives and daugh
ters of the wage-earners has passe
entirely into the hands Of the cor