Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-08
STATE OF PORTUGAL
FAST BECOMING
CRITICAL
Europe Believes Intervention
viii Eventually Become
Necessary in Sadly Demon
allied Country.

(ny Evening Herald a. p. Leased wireD
Lisbon. April S.--The general situa-
ton IN Portugal may be characterized
as becoming serious, both the iinan-
oial and political condition OF the
country being decidedly unsatisfac.
tory This state Of affairs. however,
~ viewed with q somewhat pesslmis-
tic indifference by the nation al large.
AZ the beginning not only the Re-
puhlicans. but n good many Monarch
lists welcomed the advent OF q new
regime but the Republicans leaders
promised a great deal more Than they
have carried out. The law Of separa-
ton of church and state offended the
religious sentiments Of many people,
while the increased taxes on capital
and the Landlords law alienated the
sympathles OF the wealthy classes,
The civil administration or the
country has by no means been salts
factory. many capable and intellectual
men being thrust aside. this being due
20 the fact that they had not become
Republicans before the revolution. AT
flrst mistakes were expected. and
almost every one was DESTROYS OF CIV
ing the Republic a fair chance, but
since the Republican government took
Office littla has been done to effect
reforms. Since October :, 1910, the
annual expenditure has increased,
while the revenue has considerably
decreased
Parliamentary debates have become
aborive, deputies merely making long
speeches which are frantloally cheer
cd by their supporters, but few laws
A % "A
Gets are presented and then referred
back TO committees for study. after
which no more Is heard of them. Party
warfare and self-inierest which we're
the chief causes OF the destruction OF
the monarchy have already begun 20
disunite the Republican regime.
Senior Almeida, the chief OF the
conservative Republicans, seeing the
danger OF the situation. has recon
structed his party and instituted a
new program, the chief feature OF
which is The remodelng OF the law
Of separation OF church and state, al
9erntiOns in taxation, new electoral
law and other liberal schemes, the
idea being 10 attract all the moderate
~ disposed Republicans and Mon
archlsts. II Is generally considered
more than doubtful whether he viii
have any success. as the greater part
OF the country has lost faith in all
politicians Moreover the opposition
of the more advanced Republicans Is
too great 10 permit Of any headway
IN this direction
This condition Of affairs reacts on
commerce. Trade Is now considerably
pnralyzed while tho lack Of money rs
great IN Portugal the bulk OF trade IS
effected on credit, the banks discount
ing term drafts During the last few
months, bankers, due TO the lack or
funds have reduced such facilities 10
one-quarter Of the previous amount
while the Bank OF Portugal, which
was the principal bank assisting trade.
has practically stopped all private
discounts, the cash Il has In hand be.
ing insufficient To supply the constant
demand for The governments depleted
Golfers. The state possesses nearly
80 per cent Of the total Of the issue
OF the Bank OF Portugal, The circu-
lntion OF notes has increased steadily
from the time Of the revolution OF
1910 without conoomitant increase
in the metallic reserve The floating
debt has also been augmented. The
actual deficit amounts TO about ten
millions yearly. People are putting the
question Of what will become of Por-
tugal In the event OF a political or
financial upheayal
This unsettled condition OF Portugal
Is attracting the attention Of Europe.
and fears are openly expressed la re-
Bponslbla quarters that European in
torvcntion may become necessary.
The recent general strike IN Portugal.
which started as q labor movement
pure and simple, was seized upon by
anarchists and monRrchistlc agitatOrs
as a means of furihering their move
ments The government. therefore,
found Il necessary 10 declare a gem
efnl state of Siege and 10 pour thous-
ands OF troops through the streets OF
Lisbon and OpOrtO. over / 800 leuh'
era OF the movement were arrested
and imprisoned upon warships IN the
harhor of Lisbon
Under this stern repression tho
strike gradually died, but there Is stiil
left the undoFcwrcnt of uncaslness,
the agitarion among the friends OF the
strikers who are still in prison, ana
more important than these the de-
clared intention of the monarchists
really 10 attempt the restoration OF
the throne
One OF the problems of the new re-
public of Portugal Is that of Snug
glors. Smuggling goes on necessarily
over the Spanish frontier and II has
lately increased In audacity. A large
number of smugglers have been ar
rested and imprisoned A daring at
tempt az the escape of smugglers oc-
CURED recently at the prison of Wan
ma DO CASTILLO About 80 prisoners,
including brigands and smugglers,
with the connvanoe of iallers, aug
tunnel from the prison and escaped
% the beach, where they seized n