The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-03
81 THE Ex-ArrAoHE.

At no time since the restoration, In
1874. has the Spanish Crown been con-
fronted by so grave crisis as at the
present moment. Not even in the disas-
trous year Of 1898, which witnessed the
defeat Of the nation. both on land and at
sea, as wei as its loss Of the Antilles
and Of the Philippines. was the outlook
so oninous for the monarchy as It IS
to-day.
While the war with the United States
was in progress conservatives, liberals,
and even republicans. laid aside for the
nonce their quarrels, in order to present
united front 70 the foreign foe, and
to avoid anything OF a nature to en-
barrass the government in its efforts to
retain possession Of the colonies. The
clergy and the religious orders preached
loyalty TO the throne, and even the Car
lists were impeIled by motives Of pa
triotism to intimate 10 the Queen Regent,
Christina, that she had nothing to fear
from them while the struggle was IN
progress.
Now the situation is entirely changed.
There is no longer any foreign war 10
unite the Spaniards against a common
enemy. But they are on the verge OF one
VI ti&Bo6 NAhl Hdlo HAAtIH AlahS wa
tributed more than anything else In the
history OF the kingdom TO blight It's
prosperity, and 10 impede its develop
ment and progress.
The church, and by that I mean not
only the episcopacy and the clergy. but
also the enormously wealthy and in
fluential religious orders. are to-day ar
rayed against the government, and
against Alfonso XIII
For he has definitely thrown ia his lot
with the cabinet, and according to
Premier Canalejas, he IS a thoroughly
convinced liberal. and a monarch OF
modern ideas. I have laid before him
my entire programme, without any con-
ceslment OF the difficulties in the way
OF its realization; yet be has given me
his fun confidence and cooperation"
Until the overthrow OF the conservative
administration of Senior Maura last year.
the clergy and the religious orders con-
stituted the chief bulwark Of the throne.
Alfonso XIII and the lstters secretary
OF state, Cardinal Rampolla, was papal
nuncio at Madrid at the time Of the
young soverign's posthumous birth there,
The interest OF the late Pope and OF the
Cardinal in the King was therefore Of
an almost parental character, and II led
them TO hold in check the Carlists
throughout his long minority, by means
Of threats of the penalties OF the church
TO the pretendeT, IL he even so much as
countenanced any rising OF his follow
ers in Spain. and OF still more drastic
punishment to any bishop, priest, or
monk guilty OF lending support 70 the
Carlist cause.
When Leo XIII died. and RampoIla, the
Italian. made way for Merry del Val, the
Spaniards at the Vatican. Alfonso lost
two Of his best friends. who. possessed
OF a large measure of craftsmanship, had
always been willing 10 make allowances
for the necessities OF political exigency.
and who were able TO appreciate the
fact that certain concessions to liberal
ism, and 10 the spirit Of twentieth cen
tury modernism and progress, were in
dispensable TO the preservation OF his
throne.
Plus x has shown himself less indul-
gent, and the place Of RampolIa as
secretary OF state has been taken by
Cardinal Merry del Val. who. in spite
Of his English education, is a Spaniard
OF the most ultra-conservativs traditions.
prejudices and affiliations. and 10 whom
liberalism IN any shape or form is
anathema
Their dealings with Spain have been
characterized by so much intransigeance
as to interfere with the administration
of the government. and TO block every
measure OF reform. The revision OF the
eoncordat, that is to say, Of the treaty
by means OF which the relations be-
tween the papaey and the state are gov
erned. has been long recognized as a
matter of urgency, by liberal and con-
servative cabinets alike,
For It dates from 1851; and life, even in
Spain. has moved forward to such an ex-
tent during the past sixty years. that II
is no longer suitable TO the conditions
OF the present day.
1t is a subject for regret that owing
to the Spanish national characteristics
namely. procrastination, the revision was
put of. and put of, during the lifetime
OF Leo XIII, with whom it would have
been relatively facile TO reach a com
promise. The latter has become impos-
sible since Plus X has been occupying
the chair OF ST. Peter, and he has shown
himself unwilling to yield on any point.
or TO meet the government in the slight
est way.
In fact, the Vatican has given it plain
~ to understand that IL there are any
concessions in connection with the revis-