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

Msura. a secret power who really nanip~
ulates the wires and governs. IL Is Maura
who governs. because he imposes nie Veto
In some mysterious way to whatever he
does not like. II is Maura who prevented
the consolidat ton OF a liberal govern
men, which We republicans desire in or
der to prepare the destruction OF all other
forms"
The clerical party is not TO be outdone
in its preparations for the electoral
but has organized In the
provinces, as in the city. q formidable
campaign. The party treats the opposi-
ton as a party which favors lay schools
because they are atheistc. anarchistic.
nti- nllitarist and anti-patriot. The party
has employed an element without prece-
dent i'm Spain-it has attached women 10
its cause. Ladies OF the nobility, the
hourgeoises of the wealthiest class IN
Madrid. with splendid equipsges, may
now be seen before the buildings an which
meetings of protestation are being held
against lay schools. The Csrlists. toe.
have been brought in as auNiliaries. ana
with them several deputies and senator's.
the active partisans OF the pretender. Don
Jaime.
The chiefs of the conservatives do not
appear openly in these manifestations,
but the conservative press.
Carlist and above all the Epocs.
with other journals I'm the
0eh'inleh'' provinces, has marked
time in the footsteps OF such Csrlist and
clerical organs as FL Correo Espagnoi.
FL Correo Catalan. Ell Universe, Ell Tiglo
Future and FL Pueblo Nasco.
The excitement engendered during
Lent has resulted in collisions i'm the
provinces between conservatives. ultra
montains and free thinkers. and ration
ais seconded by republicans and socialists
Of Bilbao. Saragossa and other places. The
government, project, police and gsndar-
merle have had a difficult task to repress
the feelings between parties. Senior Cana
lejas courageously informed the public
that the government proposed TO cause
the rights of Catholics to be respected
as we'll as those OF the municipal council.
referring TO the troubles In Naiencie.
where. brea king the ancient custom, the
liberty of riding in carriages, tramWays
or other vehicles was permitted 10 all on
Holy Thursday and Good Friday. This
infrsction of an ancient custom was par
ticularly distasteful to the Catholics. and
ii was rendered the more obtectionaole
because OF the balls and fetes given on
these nights contrary to the canonical
traditions of the Spanish Church. The
project of Valencia displeased the Cath
olics by such concessions to the republic
ans. socialists and free thinkers. who
manifestly made use OF this innovation
as a provocation. At Madrid, where the
council is composed OF republicans. So
cla.sts and liberals, the matter was
arranged thai the tramways were limit
ed from TO 4 O'Clock In the evening.
In order that We may become familiar
with incidents which may later help US
to comprehend whatever
Significant turn political events may
r.;l4. take in Spain. let us recur
AneAusa''' to the incidents OF which
Valencia and Las Palmas CCanaries) have
recently been the theater At Valencia
the public complained of the delay or
government in voting a credit Of $4oo. 0O
accorded by the former ministry to trans
form into a national exposition the re-
gional exposition opened last year, and
indemnify il for the losses which ac-
crued because OF the events at Melilla
and Baracelcna. This credit could not
be rendered effective except upon the
vote of the cortes which is to be elected
in May. The impatient Nalencians took
time by the forelock and manifested
their discomfort.
Senior Canalejas, although a democrat,
is nevertheless partisan OF a strong
hand. He caused the turbuents to be
formed them that IL they proposed to
subject him TO such proceedings they
would have neither credit nor the expo
sition it was proposed to reinau-
would send him a delegation he would en-
deavor to find solution. The Valencians
acted upon the minister's suggestion, the
credit was advanced them and Valencia is
orce more happy In the contemplation or
prospective exposition.
The conflict in the Canaries was more
serious because OF the secular rivalry be-
tween tie TWO successive capitals Of that
archipelago-Las Palmas and Santa-Cruz
OF Teneriffe, one metropolis OF the eastern
group of islands, the other OF the
western. Las Palnas first con-
tanned the ''audiencia" organism, both
administrative and judicial belonging to
the functions of the governors: but the
latter under divers preteXts changed their
residena professionally at first. and finally
Ia Santa-Crlz o. Teneriffe. which thus
became the capital. Las Paimas retained
the audiencia as a tribunal and the
bishopric. Actually the governor OF the
Canaries is at Santa-Cruz and a delegate
of the government resides at Las Palmas.
Las Palmas has never ceased to protest
against what she calls a spoliation in
invoking her historic IL
Las Palmas ties. the superiority of
pA4 her population and mari
time traffic. which makes
her in effect the first port Of Spain. Las
Palmas does not pretend to be the only
capital, but demands the subdivision OF
the archipelago into two provinces in
place of one and to be the chief place Of
the eastern group, independent OF the
western group, and in this way escape,
SO say the people OF Las Palmas, from
the administrative tyranny OF Teneriffe,
which never ceases from opposing her
just contentious. Teneriffe replies by
like arguments and grievances, and that
Las Palmas in desiring TO divide the
capital would capture ii afterward.
Sencr Moret believed he had found a
just solution in deciding that the gov
ernor should reside six months OF the
year at Santa-Cruz and the six others
at Las Palmas. The measure was well
coined by the latter. but badly received
by the former. where there were pro-
testations and mutiny. The eruption OF
Mount Teyde. which menaced Teneriffe