The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-08
TEE POLITICAL SITUATION IN
SPAIN.


ing ahead the policies to which be pledged
himself on taking once in February Of tbs
year: this In anticipation Of the eohvea'
ing Of the new Parliament.
June Is h the date set for the houses "a
come together. u was appointed In the
decree Of April II BY which King Alfonso
dissolved the late Cortes and ordered the
election ol Deputies to the Congress on
sunday. May =. and Of the elective hall
OF the senate on sunday. May p. 1he dis
solution Vas a proof both Of the royal con
ndence In the Premier and Of the Premier
reliance on the people. The king had
shortly before refused 10 authorize an
appeal 20 the voters when Sehor More'
asked for Il because he did not believe
MOret could rally force enough 70 give me
country a stable aud eflcient regime.
The present situation has been maturing
since last October. when the Conservative
Premier sehor Maura. vas forced out Of
once by q COrtes In which he really en-
iOyed 40 overwhelming majority. In con-
sequence Of the execution Of Ferrer At
Barcelona and Of tho iniudiciOus speeches
made By himself and bis Minister Of the
Interior. SehOr de Ia Cierva. In upholding
the act The wave Of angry hostility
which rolled over the country and the
Vigorous hEhtinE Of sehor Moret. head
u one Of the Liberal factions In the Con
gres. Of Deputies. made the position Of tho
Ministry untenable and they had 10 resign
SeAOF Moret a. the leader Of the OpDosi-
ton vas invited by the King to form
Ministry and no did 50. but his position
was impOssibls from the very start. The
Liberal section Of the Chamber consisted
Of about a hundred members divided into
grOupa headed By SehOres MOnterOs Rios.
MOrel. Lopez. DOmingusz and Canalelas
Il was without conference. The COnserva-
tive majority numbered go members.
united. disciplined. and irreconcilable Ia
their views MOret held once merely on
suferanoe. A. One Madrid paper put II.
Maura still ruled the hand % MOret might
he visible. bat Il vas the will OF Maura
that directed IL.
To remedy this condition SehOr MOret
demanded that the King dissolve the Cortes.
The King refused on the grounds mentioned
above. and Morei resigned. CanKleias sue.
ceeded him. and the King. believing that he
could gain from the country majority
support in he Cortes. consented 10 the
general election held last month.
The result ius, lied tho King's eEpecta-
ton The members Of the new chamber
are grouped a. follows Minirt eTial Liberals.
-. conservatives. 1906. Republicans. a..
Socialists. ~. Carlists. a. Regionali~is. =.
total, coz Thus Sehor Janlleias found
behind him after the election not only an
overwhelming advantage over either of
the Oppositiohs. the radical or the reac-
tionary. but also maiOrity OF the whole
chamber Of ~ votes, When the senators
were chosen two WSeks later the result
was not quite ~ favorable Half the body.
~ members. are elective The results
we're such ~ 10 leave ne Ministry sure Of
only re vote. in the whole body. lcss than
a majority. but the conservatives had
only 10. the rest being scattered among
Republicans. Carlisis. catholics and indie
pendents. some % whom could not possibly
he won - the supper ~ Canaleias. bat
others being uu re likely % btcs up certain
features % MS Policy
IN tho canvass that preceded ne election
Sehor Canaisias Nas several times tUittei
both by friends and opponent. for fail.
urv 10 define = programme for his Min
istry There vrre obvious reasons for hts
abstinence Not only did be Wish 10 ~ ODD
arousing eNtremisis ir -tn"r dueJ ron 30
NiNNNN WlA NMNANANNFHt NF NNHH NNHNNFNA ~
avoid committing himself before knowing
how great his strength Ould he aud 81 = hat
pre- iss elements n ould b. compounded
here YES no mystery. however. - 10 the
principles and purposes that he stood for.
speaking FIRST ~ an he stood
FOR reform ~ the relations ~ the spanish
Goverment Nth the Vatican. moderniza-
ion Of the relations between church and
STATE In Spain. ana the enforcement ~ al
me lsws reRarding religious congregations
The third item, includes me expulsion or
Of vast number Of Convenis
both Of monks and nuns vhich have IN the
last han century established themselves In
spain without r,xafd 10 the statutes also
he collsrtion n taxes. hitherto neglected.
from conFrega'.o ions engaged In trade or
Industry n was distinctly understood.
however. that the Premier had no idea Of
roinE 10 the length ~ trsnce In dealing With
ne church. and Seho, Gobian. the Minister
In charge ~ this matter. was regarded a.
being In he own personality an assurance
against eNtrsms action.
Resides tho church question the Canalsiss
regime promised economic and political
retoTms EEtrayaEant budgets. Partially
md inefnrisncy In he collection ~ the
revenue decline 81 spanish credit through
Inc Dc, elopment II annual deficits the
creation 81 a monopoly In sugar The toler.
l'ion n the making ~ the debased coin
Known a. the -douros Sew illanos. iobhery
In legislation 10 construct so-called sfra-
.eRir railroads. contemplated iohberv In
me Creation ~ an lntermedarv Spanish
company standing hstv cen The Govern.
nent and the British builders n the new
spanish warships these vim sundry other
matters are clauses in the Liberal lndiri
rent AGAINST tho Conservative Msura
Ministry in 10 three years ~ power. and
reform regarding these together with a
new navigation Law aud read iustment Of
spanish interests In Morocco we're among
he things promised hy The new Govern
nsm That Sshor Canaleias conceived he
lad an absolute mandate from the people
IN go ahead with hs programme seemed
plain last week uhen rahle despatchss
old NJ The opening of neRotiations with
ma Pore for a change IN the terms Of the
spanish Cnncordai
IN The recent slertion al the issues we're
ibundantly threshed out EspsrialIv me
religious issrs VAS hOtiy contested Not
,nly was II discussed a. political r1estlngs
-ut IN ell the strong churrh districts the
pulpts rang with denunciations 81 the
Ministers and their plans In aorns rases
he clerical element was victorious. Ora
nadia IL mentioned a. q constituency where
he liberalism ~ the city was swamped bv
ne clericalism Of the country parishes. bur
akinE the country % ,args. the clsrlcais
failed 10 carry the people with them.
The election IL spoken ~ ~ newansp.r.
throughout Europe AZ the first fair ana
honest. loyal and sincere expression Of The
popular will that Spain has seen aln,. ~.