Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-04
P0RTUGAL'S COUNTER REVOLUTION

1t is not yet six months that we had
occasion to remark upon "Portugal's
Political Plight The STU
serious alton shows no Improvement
Unrest. On the CONTRARY. there is an
of raids or revolutions. which, fomented
on the Spanish frontier by royalists, seem
TO devote Portugal to a condition of
chronic anarchy. One is in process just
now--or was Il few days ago-which APP
pears more serious than the preceding
ones. But whether il IS more serious or
not. IL is Indicative of an unrest that
BODIES no good TO the republic.
Twenty-Five months have passed since
the overthrow OF the monarchy and the
establishment Of the republic. which was
to inaugurate a regime of reform and
grandeur worthy of ancient Lusitania-
No one may claim that the new regime
has realized the aspirations Of its friends
and sympathizers. Yet thu task was
not difficult. The place was left open
cynical, indifference Neitscr the OK
King Manuel. fugitive. nor Dom Miguel.
the pretender. gave signs d5irsng many
months that they regretted their apparent
loss of occupation.
After the passing OF the provisional
government. the friends OF he new re-
public were led to expect ssme of the
promised reforms, the regeneration OF a
country the monarchy had dsspciled.
Senior Braga and Senior A:rtaga have
listers Of republican ideas and sy.mpathies
who would achieve in a shG-t time the
redemption of the unhappy chsAtry. The
result has been lamentable and inexcus-
able. Not only the reforms 'tisve failed.
but the opportunity has been afforded
based upon the broken promises and de-
ceptions of the self-styled refociners.
The critics of the new regime recall
that the monarchy had nos been over
thrown, but had fallen
Governmental because of IFS incapac-
Trooroo;tv ity. The fault of the
Ancapacity. republic Of Portugal is
similar to that committed by the govern
ment OF the Young Turks OF Turkey
both had recourse TO doubtful elements of
safety. Portugal created committees of
'carbonaris'': the Young Turks estab-
lished committees of union and prog
ress" At this moment the committees Of
Portugal and Turkey alike appear to have
killed the governments which generous
but ingenious reformers had too hastily
conceived
While the republic has been engaged in
contentious and divisions within some
thing has happened without. The ex-king,
Manuel. ana the pretenoer, Dom Miguei.
for lack OF something else to do. have
-l,.l. ..v.A iHf
st.tuted a royalist campaign. the nature
of which has not yet transpired.
The CarliStS of Spain. too, II is report
ed. have joined the coalition, and Senior
Gaytan de Ayala. secretary to Don Jaime,
has joined the Portuguese monarchists at
Gironda, on the Spanish frontier. This
tact mas naturally aroused the fears OF
the Spanish government, which sees with
alarm a renewal of revolution perhaps
within its own borders.
A late dispatch from Lisbon announces
that the Marquis de Villalobar. Spanish
minister, had a iong conference the 10Th
ultimo with Senior Vasconce. los, minis
ter for foreign affairs at Lisbon. with ref
erence to the protest of Spanish resi-
dents in Lisbon who proposed to mani
fest publicly against the protection eX-
tended to Portuguese royalists on the
Spanish frontier.
1t was announced that She Spanish gov
ernment placed the entire responsibility
upon the Portuguese
Consuls consuls. On the
Blamed. .nn,a,aa ~ -
that there was an agreement between
the Spanish authorities and the Portu-
guese minister at Madrid with relation
to the conspirators. The Portuguese gov
eminent issued the following note of de-
NAL:
Not only said the note. has the
Portuguese minister constantly informed
the Spanish government OF all that has
passed, but it requested persistently that
repressive measures should be taken.
These measures were promised. but the
promises were not kept"
The 9th Of June the Spanish govern
ment proposed to the Portuguese lega-
ton at Madrid the Imprisonment of the
royalist refugees from Portugal in the
provinces Of Turuel and Cuenca- This
was to be effected within ten days and
Portugal accepted. Within this delay the
incurston occurred.
On Saturday night, July Z, 100 Portu-
suese royalistS crossed the Mimic and
attacked Valenca. but were repulsed,
having three killed and several wounded.
Eighty of the royalists. commanded by
Lieut.. de Sepelvera formerly an Of
fcer attached to the service Of Queen
Maria Pia). returning by the international
bridge across the Mimic. were obliged to
surrender to the Spanish authorities. The
rest of the band swan the stream and
dispersed.
Another band, commanded by Capt.
Paiva Conveiro. who has been heretofore
mentioned in connection with novel au-
tomobi'e incursion, attacked at the same
time the garrison at Montalegre eighty
kilometers west of Valenca). This APP
pears to have been the main column of
attack. but what success, IL any, il
achieved is not mentioned.
A third column was seen on the road
from Verin to Claves. the head of the
railroad to Pesa and Porta.
In the Portuguese province OF Mimic.
north of Brasa, the royalists appeared at
several points, but were
Rebel repealed. At Barcellos a
A.4;.n. state OF siege was de-
nctloHS. clared and things were
made hot for the republican troops, tele-
graph lines were cut and the railway
from vigo TO Oporto was barred by
stones and felIed trees.
DISPATCHES from Madrid announced that
the Spanish government had taken all
precautions toward preventing the con-
traband of arms aha the concentration
OF royalist troops on the Spanish frontier
or the violation of Spanish territory. The
governor Of the province Of OrenSe, adj
iacent to the Mimic. was ordered like
wise to cause any explanations to be fur