The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-18
THE SITUATION IN PORTUGAL


the situation in Portugal. From
our viewpoint it seems strange
that a Catholic country should
have permitted the scenes enacted
within it's borders during the past
few months. Why does a Catholic
people tolerate such things with
out protest? The monarchy has
been overthrown; the rightful
king exiled; and a Republic estab-
lished under a Provisional Gov
ernment<led by President Braga.
The question naturally arises
Why have the people acquiesced
in this revolutionary change from
the constitutional form Of govern
ment? Why have they accepted,
apparently without protest, the
new regime? The answer is at
hand. The real facts Of the case
are that the revolution is the work
Of a handful Of sectaries tainted
with anarchy and infdelity who
are not in any way authorized to
represent the people. To satisfy
their own selfish ends they have
usurped governmental control and
are endeavoring to impress their
own ideas on the country. The
people Of Portugal had nothing to
do with this departure from the
traditional form Of government
and, as matter Of fact, they are
very poorly disposed to the new
order Of things. This is evidenced
by the fact that the Provisional
Government has not dared to 60
before the country and submit to
the test Of popular vote. It has
not yet given the people an oppor-
tunity to declare their wishes in a
general election. The election has
been postponed from time to time
and the interval has been used by
the government in bolstering up
it's position by perfecting its or
ganization and seeking to sindoc-
trinate the masses with the revo-
lutionary ideas Of it's leaders by
the dissemination Of pamphlets
which poison the minds Of the
populace regarding the true state
Of affairs.
No, recent events in Portugal
have not had the sanction of the
people at large. Why then do
they submit? Why pot rise up in
revolt against the new regime
forced on them? Portugal has al
ways had a king; and as often
happens under monarchial rule
the people have become somewhat
apathetic. They have not yet
tasted the power conferred upon
them by Republican institutions
they have not learned the value OF
the ballot box. The Provisional
Government, as at present consti,
tuted, has no delegation from
them. It is not their choice; fol-
they have not had an opportunity
to express their wishes in the mat.
ter. It has usurped the authority
which it exercises, and it is not
unaware Of the fact that it is a
usurper; for, in order to insure
success, it dismissed from the serv-
ice the admirals who commanded
the warship which helped to put
it in control, and sent the ships
away from the shores of Portugal
President Braga and his col
leagues realize how precarious is
their tenure of office; and hence
they do not dare to appeal to the
people at the polls until such time
as they feel that their efforts te
corrupt the voters have succeeded
IL they were honest they WOULD
have issued a call for a genera
election long ago. They tried te
make themselves popular with the
masses by prosecuting the relig
ious orders, closing the converts
and expelling their occupants
This gave them a. breathing spell
/ which they have put to good &C
count and, no doubt, when they dc
appeal to the country, they vii
bring back a majority and thus
entrench themselves in power.
The Portuguese people, there
fore, are not responsible for what
has occurred in that country mol
for the present anomalous state Of
affairs. Whoever views the situa
ton from an impartial standpoint
cannot escape this conclusion. The
American Government is aware Of
all that has transpired in Portu
gal. When complaint was made 4
few days ago by Foreign Minister
Machado against the delay on the
part Of the United States in recog
j niZing the Portuguese Republic