Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-04
RATIONALISM VS. CHURCH
Explanation of Existing Deadlock in
Spanish Kingdom.
NO PROTESTANTS ARE INVOLVED
Assertion II is Not War Between the
on Opposition 40 All
Churches.
70 PRoTEsTANTs ARE INVOLVED
by RAMON OLIvAKEs,

MADRID, Sept 3-(Special to The Beef
The deadlock between the Spanish gov
eminent and the Vatican has many ele-
ments which are not generally understood
outside of Spain.
1t would be an error to believe that in
Spain the wish has been simply to estab-
lish religious liberty for the benefit OF
non-catholic religious conipunities as
sepor Canaleias, the head Of the Spanish
government pretends His decree permitting
non-catholic churches to manifest their
existence by exterior signs no doubt re-
establishes a certain equality between the
different confessions; but its real purpose
is far more ambitious. What the leaders
of the present campaign desire is to deal
mortal blow at the Roman church in the
peninsula.
what Actually Exists.
The fact Is that professionalism has never
prospered in Spain. Be the cause what II
may In Spain there are no protestants,
but catholics and the enemies of all posi-
tive religions, standing face TO face; and
as in the peninsula liberals, conservatives,
anarchists, Catholics and free thinkers are
all equally fanatical, il follows that spirit
ual differences degenerate Immediately into
exagerra ton and violence. Hence the
present conflict Is not one between various
oreeds feeling their way towards a kind
of peace of westphala" but war to
the death between rationalism and the
church OF Rome
Plans of the Premier.
Senior Canaleias and his supporters in
the press are concealing their real inten-
tions They are negotiating with Rome
for the modification Of the concordat OF
1851, for a reduction Of the number Of
authorized religious houses, and for re-
duction 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. Notwithstand-
ing the activity and audacity of the ra-
tionalstic elements in Spain, the most
casual observer will notice that their
strength is as nothing compared with the
compact mass of Catl olics, There are re-
gions. as Navarro certain portions Of the
Basques, Aragon and Catalonia, where an
army could be raised at short notice to
defend the Romanish church.
Cost of the Church.
In this conflict Senior Canalejas would
probably be beaten, were It not that the
question has another aspect. the economic
one. thanks TO which the government has
gained great measure OF popular sup
port In its campaign against the religious
associations. 1t cannot be denied that her
church and her clergy cost Spain an ex-
orbitant sum. In a budget Of little more
than S2OO,OOO 600 OF which half goes 10 pay
the interest on the public debt and pen
sions the sum devoted to the clergy is
81. OOO, 600 and this does not include other
large sums paid in fees. For the forty
nine provinces OF the peninsula there are
fifty-eight dioceses; there are sixty-one
archbishops or bishops and some 2l,OO0
canons and minor dignitaries.
Nation IL Interested.
The desire felt by the Spanish nation to
be relieved OF some part OF this heavy an
nual charge OF nearly 100000 has CON
tributed largely TO the popularity of the