The Irish standard., 1910-08-20
SPAN|SH.vAT|CAN
DISPUTE ANAlYzED
Spanish Cabinet Took One-sided
Initiative, Ignoring Rights
of Holy See.
Aims to Arouse Spirit of Antagon-
ism by Discreditine Position
of Vatican.
Role of Canalejas is to Unchain
Brutal Passions Against
the Church.

| S4lS S1lu1Sll.
The discussion relating to the trou-
BILE between Spain and the Vatican
are SO nearly unanimously in favor Of
the position of the Spanish ministry
and so many statements purporting TO
be facts are given out that to the av-
erage reader the exact point of con-
troversy becomes confused A transla-
tion from Correspondence de Rome"
in the Catholic Standard and Times
gives a clear and concise analysis of
the situation:
! CAY The Cabinet in matters of a
mixed character, such as it's measures
IN regard to the religious congrega-
tions. has taken one sided initiative
although 1t had official information
that the Holy See was prepared to
consent to the proposition that new
religious houses must obtain govern
ment approval before opening. Well
the Cabinet settled that question by
decree or law without any reference
to the preliminary negotiations with
the Holy See which were in progress
at the time, notwithstanding the fact
that the subject was clearly within
the competency of the Church.
BY this trick the Canalejas Cabinet
desired: a. to extend the rule of the
lcivil power over matter which per-
tains to mixed questions, and this in
open contempt OF the Concordat and OF
the most elementary laws Of diplo-
; macy; ca to create the impression
that the Holy See yields nothing. con-
cedes nothing, and in that way place
blindly obstinate: (S) to place the
Holy See in such a situation that at
} the termination of the preliminary ne
gotiations, when It would say, I'VE
have granted you so and so: what do
you concede in return?" the Cabinet
would be in a position to say, But
we IldNe ldReu HI lilul ourselves, now
| give us the rest"
! (B) The Cabinet has attempted to
offset the earnest protests of the epis-
copacy, clergy and people of Catholic
Spain by pointing to the calm attitude
of the Vatican, which, despite all that
} has been done, continues the prelimi-
nary negotiations, etc. BY this trick
!, the Cabinet expects to discourage the
energetic protests Of Catholic Spain
and even to render it ridiculous by the
striking contrast in the attitude OF
the Vatican.
P, CO. The Cabinet prides itself on be-
ing the champion of the freedom OF
jconscience and of religious worship
etc. 1t or it's representatives accuse
the Vatican of prolonging the prelim-
mary negotiations in the vain hope OF
bringing to nought the great reform
in the direction OF laicization. This
play to the galleries. or. in other
words, it enables it to enact role
which will make 1t popular abroad
In the meantime it counts upon cre-
Iating antipathy towards the Holy See
by bringing it into discredit and by
embittering public opinion against It.
The Truth in Nutshell.
Over against this program, entire
| ly worthy Of the secret organization
that inspired it. let us place the truth
in all it's details. Here it is: (A) Be-
. fore the Canalejas Cabinet came into
, existence the Holy See had notified
the Spanish government Of the con.
cessions 1t was prepared to make ir
regard to the regulation of religious
congregations as q result Of the pre-
. liminary negotiations. From this fact
. 1t is evident that "a the misstate-
ment Of the CanaIejas Cabinet is the
) more glaring; (2) the charge of un.
: yielding obstinacy against the Holy
See is thoroughly absurd; 60 If thej
. now attempt to create the impression
that the said concessions were granted
I at the last moment on account of the
hostile attitude of the Cana1ejas Cab
met, 1t will be only one more lie or
: their part.
OBJ The alleged contrast between