Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-13
SPAIN TO STOP
RULE OF CLERGY
Spanish Premier Will Anticipate
Revolution by Destroying
the Congregations

lilC SOliHi W CtlOiio
LONDON, oct. 12.-The Madrid cor
respondent of the Daily Telegraph be-
lieves that Spain is on the eve of
tremendous political struggle, which
for magnitude of issues and complex
ity of interests is without parallel in
the history of the Peninsula. Judging
by the present symptoms, the contest
about to begin will eliminate in
peaceful revolution from above or
violent upheaval from below. Mean
while the excitement is feverish, and
the rumors in circulation are bewil-
dering. Civil war is predicted by some
politicians, and grave dangers to the
dynasty are apprehended by others,
while many imagine that the king will
throw the premier over and entrust
some one else with the arduous task
Of forming a new cabinet, which will
strike out a different but not an op-
poslte course.
This is not, of course, the first crisis
of the kind recorded in the annals of
Spanish history. As it's main Charac
ter is a revolt against the supremacy
of Rome, 1t may be compared with the
somewhat similar revolution which
took place In 1886 and IN 1868, when
some very rude assaults were delivered
upon the Ultramontane cause in Spain.
But the present movement has very
different basis, and possibly, also, very
different objects from those which
have preceded it. According to his
own assertion, Senior CanaleJas is
backed by the majority of his country
men. At all events, he has the support
of the leader of the opposition, Senior
Maura, who appears to have identified
himself with the aims Of the prime
minister.
SPAIN WILL MOVE ON
other revolutions have been due to
dynastic causes, or else where the i'm
mediate result Of some fiery pronun-
ciamento from a disappointed general
In the present case the movement has
some of the character of a national
enterprise, engineered, no doubt by
the Radical and Republican parties,
which have all along existed in Spain
side by side with those forces which
are called reactionary and conserVa-
tive. but depending in its main fea-
lures upon something much more solid
and substantial than the mere spite OF
factions. Spain, it would seem, has
now resolved to put herself in line
with the most modern of European
nations.
Senior Canalejas said: "Spaln is in
the throes of a crisis common to all
growing organisms when the time has
come for them to displace old concep-
tions and institutions by new ones
more congruous with actual require
ments. But the needfuI changes are
being effected by constitutional ma
chinery, without abnormal deviations.
Attempts have been made recently to
disturb order, but we have frustrated
them. Also, a general strike through
out Spain was announced; but we
knew it was impossible, because 1t
would have been a political strike,
which could not secure the support OF
public opinion. The cabinet adopted
measures which have been criticised
sharply, but which had the merit of
effectively hindering bloodshed in the
Biscayan provinces.
WITH THE PEOPLE
''The utter failure Of all those
devices to intimidate the government
proves how entirely we have public
opinion on our side. Countless tele-
grams and letters from all parts OF
Spain confirm this impression, and
convince me that what 1, as holder of
the public trust, have undertaken is
the most pressing need of the moment.
Moreover, the entire world OF cul-
ture and progress abroad has ex-
pressed sympathy in welcoming Spain
to the rank of progressive nations In
this universal moral support lie the
justification and force of the govern
ment which will realize the program
without provoking a general Strike OF
a civil war. Civil war is DOGGY IN
which no Spanish politician beheVes.
The status quo is doomed; come What
NAV. that shall go. There is no pow
er in the realm which can perpetuate
it. Personally, 1 am resolved to COM
bat it without a truce, whether as
head of the government or member
of his majesty's opposition, and
state this with a clear consciousness
of the formidable obstacles thrown IN
my way These hindrances may per-
haps lessen the speed, but will not
keep us from reaching our goal which
.is to paralyze the elements of national
deterioration and enable Spain to
grow into possession of recuperat1Ve
forces such as characterize the fore
most peoples of the world. My re-
solve is to labor uninterruptedly This
reform is become part of myself
"The question of the religious con-
eregations comes first in order, and
shall be dealt with first. The congre-
cations cannot possibly be allowed to
ccntinue-to play the important part IN
public fife without public responsible
ity or control which they are playing
today. 1 say nothing now against
them as religious communities, and l
am ready to admit that they have
served useful functions in other
spheres also.
A DEAD INSTITUTION
Certainly in the past they have
satisfied the social needs of the com
munity to some extent, but their tit
ness for ministering to the require
ments Of the present and the future
has vanished. Yet their scope is un-
bounded. Their activity knows no linn
its. They constitute unique and ap-
solute institution in a limited mon
archy, and with this anomaly we must
do away.
EVERY institution has well-defined
limits. Even the king is no exception
Alone, the congregations are absolute
and irresponsible. welding an enor-
nous social influence Incompatible
with the interests of the state. They
powerfully affect the intellectual ana
moral temper of the nation, more pow
erfully than the state can safely per-
nit They are highly privileged IN a
realm where equality is supposed TO
prevail; for what but privileges are
their admirable organization, monop.
oily of education, accumulation OF
worldly wealth, and their power of be-
slowing or Withholding material sue
cor to people in misery or pain! They
teach and train our youth and MAIN
tain hospitals, asylums, refugees anu
other benedcent establishments
throughout the kingdom. Society IS
,r.sN NHs.r,