The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-10-06
THE PADUCAH EVENING SUN
REVOLUTION
I'M PORTUGAL


parties. lneN we're easy OF dCNtS'
IThey gave all the information at
their command quite readily. But
from actual interviews they SHE'D the
minute the idea was suggested. In
lterviews are dangerous things to give
out in Spain. They lead to too many
shootlngs of the interviewed. They
do not always lead % them at once
but they are not forgotten and no.
body knows when they may yield
results IN the form of cold lead.
francisco Ferrer was not shot for
lauything he had done but for things
he had written and said a long time
previously.
How precarious life is in King Al
lfonso's country may be judged from
the case Of Antonio Fabra Ribas, a
very well known Spanish newspaper
man living in Paris, who furnished
me with credentials to a number OF
his colleagues in Madrid and Bar
celona. Senior Ribas had the bad
| luck to be sentenced to death by a
military court during the reaction
airy regime of Premier Maura, who
turned his country into a slaughter
house during the troubles of July
and August, 1909, but beat the exc
cutioner across the frontier and has
made his home in France ever since.
Now. Premier Canalejas. the head OF
the present Liberal administration,
had an idea that the newspaperman' =
sentence was unjust and he let him
know that he may return home IN
safety whenever he chooses. Senior
R.bas would like to go but is afraid
of the re-establishment OF reaction
airy regime on such short notice as
to preclude the possibility Of sec
ond fight, In which case he Is well
aware that his previous sentence
would be executed without further
ceremony.
So ut isn't safe" Is the invariable
answer to any request of a man OF
political prominence actually to at
taeh his name TO an interview of
even a mildly radical character.
What is going on, however, is plain
enough.
Madrid, il ought TO be understood,
is not a revolutionary center. For
one thing, the people OF the various
provinces of Spain are OF types differ
ing widely from one another, and the
Castilians happen 10 be of partic-
ularly peaceful, easy-going character.
King Alfonso is personally popular in
his capital. The citizens consider the
royal court a local asset and would !
not generally like a shaking-up cal |
eulated to endanger II.
There IS a Republican element in
Madrid but it Is weak as compared |
with those in the othe- large Spanish |
cities. But even in Madrid it Is rec
ognized that the signs are ominous. |
"If the Carlists had money" said one
high government oficial with whom
/ talked, there would certainly be
war in Spain. Fortunately they are
mostly poor. That may cave US.
doubt if they can raise funds for a
campaign" This epitomizes the gen
eral view In Madrid.
Elsewhere this financial argument
is laughed at. The Carllsts are poor,
It IS agreed, but no doubt is felt that
the friends viii find money for them
as soon as IL becomes positive that IL
has nothing more TO hope from Al
fonso. Whether or not II will win
the present king back. It is hard |
even to guess. Just now he seeems
firm for the Canalejas program but
the church's influence over him is
very strong. that OF the queen moth
er. Maria Christina, an ardent Cleri-
cal, Is stronger still, and Alfonso
for all Of a somewhat in
formal and democratic manner, is
looked on as reactionary at heart.
II is in the Industrial districts that
real revolution Is in the air. In
these sections the people w not
even be satisfied with a limitation OF
the churcE's privileges. Insofar as
II Is a vested interest they want Il
driven out of Spain. They also want
a republic. / was doubtful upon this
point when I visited the country. II
the right resolved itself into a strug-
gle between Alfonso and the anti
Clericals on one side and Don jaime
and the Clericals on the other, I i'm
agined IL. possible that the Republic
cans might cast their lot with Al
fonso for the tim
The Republicans I talked with un-
deceived me upon this point. 1--WE
are Republicans" said one OF them.
holding the almost universal opinion,
''and a republic Is what we will have.
Besides, there cannot be effective
limitation of the church's powers un-
der Alfonso any more than under
jaime"
Alfonso Not Popular.