The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-06
Try Associated Press.)

al ana political condition of the coun
try being decidedly unsatisfactory
This state of affairs, however, is view
ed with somewhat pessimistic indif
ference by the nation at large.
At the beginning not only the Re
publicans, but good many Monarch
lists welcomed the advent of a new
regime. but the Republican leaders
promised 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
sympathies of the wealthy classes.
The civil administration of the coun-
try has by no means been satisfactory,
many capable and intellectual men be-
ing thrust aside, this being due to the
fact that they had not become Re-
publicans before the Revolution At
first mistakes were expected, and al
ing the Republic a fair chance, but
since the Republican Government took
office little has been done to effect re-
forms. Since October 5, 1910, the an
nual expenditure has increased, while
the revenue has considerably decreas-
ed
Parliamentary debates have become
abortiye, deputies merely making
long speeches which are frantically
cheered by their supporters, but few
laws are passed. A great number of
projects are presented and then refer
red back to committees for study, af-
ter which no more is heard of them.
Party warfare and self-interest, which
We're the chief causes of the destruc-
ton of the Monarchy, have already
begun to dsunite the Republican
regime.
Senior Almeida. the chief of the
Conservative Republicans, seeing
danger of the situation, has recon
structed his party and instituted a
new program, the chief feature of
which is the remodeling of the law
OF separation of Church and State, al
terations in taxation a new electoral
law and other liberal schemes, the
idea being to attract all the moderate
ly disposed Republicans and Monar-
chists. 1t is generally considered more
than doubtful whether he will have
any success, as the greater part of the
country has lost faith in all politici-
ans. Moreover the opposition of the
more advanced Republicans is too
great to permit of any Roadway in this
This condition of affairs reacts on
Trade is now considerably
while the lack of money is
great. In Portugal the bulk of trade
Is effected on credit, the banks dis
term drafts. During the last
few months, bankers, due to the lack
Of funds, have reduced such facilities
to one-quarter of the previous amount,
while the Bank of Portugal, which
was the principal bank assisting trade,
has practically stopped all private dis
counts, the cash it has in hand being
insufficient to supply the constant de- |
nand for the Governments depleted |
offers. The state now possesses near
y 80 per cent of the total of the issue
If the Bank of Portugal. The circu-
alton of notes has increased steadily
rom the time of the revolution of
$40 without a concomitant increase
n the metallic reserve. The floating
Iebt has also been augmented. The
.ctual deficit amounts to about ten
Millions yearly. People are posing
he question of what will become of
Portugal in the event of political or
upheaval.
This unsettled condition of Portugal
5 attracting the attention of Europe,
nd fears are openly expressed in re-
ponsible quarters that European in
ervention may become necessary
he recent general strike in Portugal,
'hich started as a labor movement
ure and simple, was seized upon by
anarchists and monarchistic agitators
S means of furthering their move
1ents. The Government, therefore,
ound it necessary to declare a gener-
! state of seige and to pour thousands
( troops through the streets of Lis
on and Oporto. Over 1900 leaders
( the movement were arrested and
Imprisoned upon warships in the har-
or of Lisbon.
Under this stern repression the
trike gradually died, but there Is still
eft the undercurrent of uneasiness,
he agitation among the friends of the
trikerS who are still in nrison and |