Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17
POLITICAL CHANGES In SPAIN

spirit of intolerance in iberalized and
Premier Canalejas has declared TO q
that he proposes to pre-
sent to the cortes bill professionally
the creation OF new asso.
so that a definite limit shall
be placed on their number.
The concordat. which mentions three
religious orders only. must be revised.
These congregations have increased be-
yond all legality. He desired the or
as other citizens. He would have
them submit to the same duties as
the laity. The proof that his gov
eminent does not attack the con-
gregation without warrant is found In
the fact that government is negotiat-
ing with the Vatican. Rational minds
or all parties said Senior Canale1as,
are encouraging me. Senior Maura, ex-
premier and powerful conservative
leader. has acknowledged that my pro-
ments. The great cities OF Spain, all
sincerely democratic cannot possibly
be hostile to the realization Of my
Ideals. since these ideals constitute a
step toward our emancipation
There Is a great force pressing Spain
Forward. It Is an intellectual Irresistible
force. made up of the nations vitality.
w nat L would accomplish in order and In
peace others perhaps would prefer to see
brought about by more drastic methods
! believe that the nation would suffer
from such methods. Violent revolutions
leave wounds which are not only in
durable. but also engender fierce reactions
our work shall be work Of patiencs and
waiting
And the premier added 1T shall not
surrender. for to yield now would infiict
upon Spain monstrous recoil or a bloody
revolution. MY duty as Spanish states
man rs TO forefend my country from these
calamities with all my strength
-
In the presence of the measure decreed
by the Canaleias cabinet. which has
Royal it should be said that the
neorae royal decree is very simple
1t declares that hereafter
the Protestant. the Israelite and any
other cult may exist officially in Spain.
IL does not aim TO diminish the Catholic
cut, IL does not attack Catholic rights
but simply recognizes other confessions
ms Is what Is done in other Catholic
couhtrles-in all other Catholic coun-
tries except Spain. The Vatican sets
up that the text Of the concordat inter
olcts the public manifestation CT any cult
but the Catholic, and the words public
are construed In the most
nteral sense. The Vatican maintains this
Is contract. and on this frail basis Il
claims that 1T does not belong to the gov
eminent at Madrid to give any interpreta
ton not in consonance with the text of
the concordat
me government at Madrid, II IL re-
peated. maintains that the royal decree
is something apart from the concordat
ana concerns the interior affairs of the
country. which have nothing to do with
the concordat. If the Vatican does not
admit this Interpretation Senior Canale-
Jas VIII simply break off negotiations
confident that he will be sustained in
that by all liberals and democrats of
the country.
Among the political changes in Spain
Is the entrance upon the political stage
in the recent elections of
women the women os the labor
Ao4;,,. class in favor of the re-
publicans. It is true
these red ladies'" so called because be-
decked with red ribbons as a rallyiny
badge, have not yet demanded the priv
lege OF voting, but are content with tx
citing, in noisy groups, the male voters
to support their candidates A cablegram
from Madrid July IL announces that IT
Barcelona petition signed by 1900
women was presented to the governor Of
that city indorsing the governments r.
ligious policy.
cablegram Of the same date m
nounces that the Vatican has again
formulated a protest against the re-
form measures proposed by Premier
Canalejas. This time the protest Is
religious orders to enter Spain, pend
ing the settlement Of the present dr.
ficulties. The Vatican holds that Spain
has no right to proceed as indicated
without previous agreement with the
holy see.
There are sides to the political stu
alton in Spain which appear quite as
hazy to the native as to the stranger.
furnished for the fact that in the re-
cent elections the success of the anti
constitutionals, outside OF the indif-
ference of the well-to-do class. was due
to the republicans. The socialist party.
heretofore OF small numerical I'm
portance in Spain, is now solidly or
ganized at Bilbao. where its chief, Pablo
1glesias. has won seat in the cortes.
kk
We are constantly reminded Of the
extreme mercurialism of Spanish poll
tics. Today there are
Mercurlal fierce cries for reform
n..l and liberalism, tomor-
AeAueAcy' row there are riots and
bloodshed in the provinces. There
Is apparent haste on the one hand
to accomplish quick results, fol-
lowed on the other by unaccountable
calm and inertia But if the truth is
this policy of representation. The re-
pubicans have been disorganized and
real leader since Senior
Sagasta until now. Seniors Canalejas,
Rios. Moret and the Marquis
de la Vega di Armijo are the ac-
leaders OF the several sec
tions Of the republican group There
Is little unity between them. and, con-
sequently, little strength.
On the other hand, Don Antonio Maura
Is a leader Of acknowledged ability. and
t is said of him that 'he would sacri-
fee everything-life itself-to sustain his
deals" The conservative party is more
and united than its rival. and
hence more readily and surely led to sue
cess. The success of the Canaleias cab
net is chiefly in the hands of the con-
sentative leader upon whose patriotism
the king and premier doubtless count
with confidence. Politics creates endless
surprises Pablo Iglesias. socialist leader.
threatened that "if Senior Maura was
ever returned to power he would be as