Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08

King Alfonso has signed the decree dis
solving the cortes and
Election fixing the elections for
n.4 May and 80, ard the
meeting OF the new par
lament June II.
We may recall that the cabinet formed
October II. 1909. with Senior Moret
Prendergast as premier. resigned Feb
ruary 2. and was succeeded the following
day by Senior Jose Canalejas y Mendes.
or radical and anti-clerical sentiments
The impression at Madrid. currently re-
ported at the time. that the ministry
would be short lived has now been cor
roborated by the dissolution OF the cortes
The situation requires strong man.
man of iron resolution and ABSOLUTELY
fearless. and no one doubts but that man
is King Alfonso Kill
The Correspondence Espagna. the
occasion of the choice of Senior Canalejas.
said that the action OF the king i'm call
ing democrat to power was proof that
the king did not fear radical program.
The 4. B. c. wrote that Premier Can
alejas was the only person capable OF
realizing the governmental ideas of the
liberals. Ell Pals. republican. expressed
great qualification at the advent OF a man
with advanced views. but feared the new
plish anything. and that he would retire
within the year to be succeeded by An
tonic Maura. the leader of the conserva
tives. On the back of that declaration
Citizen Pablo Iglesias, socialist leader.
declared that if Maura should be
turned to power he would be assassi-
mated
Now, Citizen Pablo made the threat OF
assassination Of Senior Maura dependent
upon the latter's return
MauraS TO power If the next
Er+rr. parliament should be
conservative the manifest
duty OF the king would be TO authorize
Senior Maura to form conservative
cabinet 1t would be logical likewise If
Senior Maura should return TO power that
the project OF police should request Pablo
TO inform him further upon his views on
popular sovereignty, that he might ac-
knowledge or deny the will OF the people
But it is possible in the event Of a con-
sentative victory in the elections that
King Alfonso may decide upon the for
nation Of a ministry OF Cancellation. In
view of the Intellectual efforts OF parties
which had failed. In that event Senior
Cobian. who was minister of finances in
the cabinet of Canalejas. seems to possess
all the qualities for the undertaking
which promises to pacify Spain. and at
the same time by common consent estab-
lish the necessary reforms.
Senior Cobian, it should be remarked, al
though a determined republican, is at the
same time a Catholic. for many years &C.
cupying the post Of counselor TO the royal
family. Senior Cobian has openly de-
clared that the pretended insolubie oif-
ficulties of Spain, far from being in
soluble. are very simple. The problem. he
said, contains three distinct aspects,
namely, social judicial and economical,
and each could be solved without any
trouble whatever.
The social aspect deals with the eX-
cessive development of the religious as
sociations from 1851 to 1898, develop
ment augmented from the latter date
until now by the loss OF Spain's col
onies and the expulsion of the associa-
tons from France. This may be met by
the reduction of their number. Every
one, according to Senior Cobian, viii
agree to that, including the church her
as an encroachment upon her authority.
The judicial aspect deals with the char
acter of the legislation to which
the authorized religious
Relipious associations should be
subjected. Senior Cobian
Aa"e' met that by the sugges-
ton Of the common law rather than the
association law of 1887, which was in
applicable. y new law, therefore, should
be passed.
Senior Cobian had addressed a circular
to financial agents of the forty-nine prov
inces of the kingdom to remind them
that the congregations and all reiig-
ious associations, excepting those men
toned in the concordat of 1851. were
required to contribute to the treasury.
The minister also collected statistics con-
corning the industries and commerce eX-
erciSed by the congregations and against
which Syndicates and chambers OF com
merce had formerly protested in years
past because, as alleged they created I'M
just competition and injury To inoi-
vidual enterprise. The government OF
Senior Sagasta, in obedience to the CON-
plants of taxpayers against exemptions
accorded the religious orders. had al
ready taken the same action as That
taken by Cobian March 10. 1901.
The illustrious Sagasta remained too
brief time in power to perfect the re-
forms he proposed, and later the repub-
licans were divided by rivalries OF the
chiefs of groups.
Now both liberals and conservatives COM
prehend the necessity Of defining the rela-
lions Of the Spanish state with the Vati-
can and church, with the object OF the
reform Of the concOrdat of 1851. likewise
with the religious congregations, which
liberal as we'll as conservative cabinets
had allowed to grow to such proportions.
At this time. according to Senior Cabian.
Spain possesses more priests, more
Jesuits. more nuns. more converts or
every kind than at the period of the an
cient regime under the houses of Austria
and the Bourbons. The conservative and
liberal governments, it is repeated. are
equally responsible for this condition,
which was the source of serious eIrtbar-
rassment I'm the introduction of reforms
and the economical conditions of the
kingdom
Senior CanaIejas, having in view the
precepts and acts of Sagasta. hoped that
both the king and the
Vatican would be brought
to accept some arrange
hcl0IM. ment in advance looking
to negotiations and the reform of the
concordat. which even Senior Maura had
Judged Indispensable. Senior Canale1as
retires from power without having ac-
anything. The fact is the
is divided with its hopeaess party
sttifes The republicans, in order TO pro-
cure some advantage. ally themselves
with socialists and even anarchists The
clericals oppose almost to the poin; or
Intolerance the establishment of lay
schools Both parties are violent, uh-
ira ctable and intoleraat-
Senior Ierrone is a radical republican
who would accept no compromise or al
lance with others. neither with the con-
servatives, nor with the socialists. He