The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-20

siastical law. Ths vatican bAcksS up
the arch-bishops and Bishops and de-
manded tho withdrawal OF all the
pushing. The Madrid government re-
FUSED and recalled its Ambassador
from the Vatican.
There. ct the moment, the matter
gtaudK. The c0rtss y IN rec6n and is
win be October before the snti-clefi-
cal measures proposed by the prcnssr
can be passed. Unless he wtthdrAvs
them. which win not happen, trsy
will pass then.
King Alfonso aud Premier Canaie-
jas would unquestionably like 10 back
out OF their program II they could
Failing that. they would like TO de-
back out because they believe they
would pseeipitate ! revolution by do
ing 50. They cannot delay too long
or the anti-clericals Will become
suspicious Of them and tho ever-im-
fninent revolution win start. There
10 that much reason for thinking thar
this climax win come soon. Still, 1t
is certain that the King and Premier
viii msve a. slowly - they dare
Tho church does not want 10 Tight
At all IL II can avoid Il. Il knows
that lighting will involve IL In heavy
risks II hopes against hope that the
state viii yield. II the State should
show disposition to do 60, the
er to make surrender easy---to save
the states face.
win Fight.
But when II actually comes TO the
point of making up tts mind whether
to light or to surrender any part OF
it's power and privilege the church
will fight II IL already preparing TO
tight. fts wealth. its influence and Its
intelligence are enormous and Its pre-
parations are ominousiy thorough.
On the states side viii be the King.
the cabinet. the whole Of the Liberal
and Official forces the powerful Re
publican organizations and the Social
lists; on the church's the episcopate
and clergy. the entire Conservative
party. the aristocrscy. all the ignorant
glasses and practically all the women
in the country.
The church's aim. OF the worst
comes, will be to depose AIgons and
to snthroHe the cariist pretender. Don
jaime. So long - he remained faith
full to the cicricals. the clericals re-
NAMED faithful 20 Alfonso, and Jaime
stood no chance. IL the clericsis de-
clare for him. however. he will tn
stantiy become formidable. The cleri-
Gals have not done so yet. for they
are not even yet quite Sure that AL
fonso will not return TO them. But
they viii do II the moment they be-
come positively convinced they have
lost him. Carlist agents are already
busy In the country In anticipation OF
their chief. Jaime has stated that
he will not interfere in Spain unless
Ii becomes necessary for him to main
tain or restore order. The ciericais
will see, in due season, that he In
furnished with the excuse he says he
wants
In Doubt.
How a fight between Alfonso and
Jaime would Notwithstanding the
latter 70 be supported by the clerieais /,
nobody knows. II rather looks as
II Alfonso would win but the eiericais
are tremendously strong
Assuming that Jaime and the cieri- |
Gals lose, II IL still no foreGone CON
cinslon that Alfonso. individually. will |
win. The Vatican believes the pre-
sent agitation in Spain and Portugal 4
IL not only ansioierical but anti-mon- +
archieal and that the agitators pro- |
pose a union Of two countries under
q President. Whether this In true or /
not, there IL no doubt that the span +
ish radicals question the possibility Of
perma nentiy satisfactory conditions /
under q monarchy. Alfonso happens. |
for the moment. to hs on side but they i
distrust him and would assurediy take !
advantage of any good opportunity |
they might see 10 throw him over +
board In the confusion OF civil war.
AffonAc's change from the clerfcals /
to the anti-ciertcals has changed the |
somewhat since last sum-
nsr. The issue was clear cut then /
between Alfonso and the ciericais and
sne side and the anti-clericais and
fepublicans upon the other Alfonso
mas allied himself now with the group
which apparently ought to win In the
end But whether victory for hts
group will make for greater secur-
Ity of hts own tenure Is more doubt
full. Alfonso 10 in a dangerous place.