Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-18
SPAIN IS AGAIN
FACING A CRISIS
REPUBLICAN GAINS CAUSE P0-
LITICAL UNREST
SENIOR LERRoUX LATEST LEADER
TO COME TO FRONT
Enemies of the Monarchy Are Now
Presenting United Front,
and Government Shows
Weakness

MADRID, April 17.-There is no
immediate prospect of a republic in
Spain, although the Republican party
is gaining much strength. However,
the number of parties and fractions of
parties in Spain is almost infinite. A
change of government makes its infiu-
ence variously felt in all these groups
and spreads disorganization and inse-
curity among a host of officials and
politicians throughout the country. At
the present moment the feeling of un-
certainty and expectation in Spain is
from various causes exceptionally
great, and the consequences Of a
change of government are especially
subtle and far-reaching. The mon
archy with its two parties, the Con-
servatives and the Liberals, finds it
self confronted by a growing Repub-
lican party, and while rivalry and in
trigue are rife in the inner politics
of the two monarchical parties the
nation looks on the ebb and flow of
the political tide with Indifference.
Until recently the Republicans were
divided and without prominent leaders,
but in the last two years they have
been growing steadily and in the last
four months under the leadership of
Senior Lerroux and united with the
Socialists they have made undeniable
is called, bidding fair to spread all
through Spain and swallow up the
more moderate sections of Republican
ism. The municipal elections of last
December showed the strength Of the
Lerrouxists, not only at Barcelona,
where they are supreme, but at Madrid
and in many other cities.
Senior Moret thus found himself in
a most difficult position. He had sue
ceeded Senior Maura in October with
the help of the bloque formed in the
autumn of 1908 and consisting of Lib
erals, Democrats and Republicans. 1t
was. perhaps, not unnatural that he
should be accused of having obtained
power with the help of the enemies of
the monarchy and continuing in power
with the support of the "Lerroux-
istas" But Senior Moret, a statesman
capable of the greatest self-abnega-
tion and incapable of political treach-
cry, was too wise to break violently
with the Republicans. He wished to
win over the more moderate among
them to the monarchy, as Sagasta had
formed a united Liberal party of the
most various elements, from former
Conservatives to former Republicans,
among the latter being Senior Moret
himself and Senior Caralejas.
Senior Moret, however, though well
qualified to be the leader of a great
Liberal party, lacked the firmness and
strength of character that enabled Sa-
gasta to triumph over personal rival
ries and ambitions within the party.
One cause of. weakness was that he
had taken office without definite pro-
gram, and this fact became empha-
sized when week after week passed
without the dissolution of the conser-
vative parliament. There were good
reasons for this delay. Senior Maura
had declared an "implacable hostility
against the Liberals, and while this
hostility lasted it was practically a
checkmate.
The failure of Senior Moret to form
strong Liberal government is to be
regretted, because the country needs
the continuance in power of a stable
government in order to develop its
resources and carry out the program
of public works, chiefly of irrigation,
inaugurated by Senor Gasset, and be-
cause the monarchy needs a strong
Liberal party that may help it to strike
firmer root in the life of the nation.
1t would be idle to deny that for the
monarchy the situation is an exceed
ingly difficult and serious one. The
Conservatives and their eloquent and
able leader, Senior Maura, who enjovs
the full confidence of the crown, awak-
en- no sympathies in the great mass
of the people, and their return to power
in the present circumstances could
hardly fail to provoke disturbances in
Catalonia and other parts Of the coun-
try. 1t is of vital Importance for the
crown to show that the most advanced
program is not incompatible with the
existing regime, and in order to do so
1t is necessary for it to extend its sup
mort m q TJheroI POVarnment with n
strong and definite program. The more
radical and clearly defined the pro-
gram the more friends will it win to
the monarchy among those masses of
the people who are being courted in
honeyed and insidious phrases by Rad
ical Republicans and revolutionary
demagogues.