The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01

pie have suddenly discovered the ex-
istence, despite the republic, of hoary,
but, until recently, unheard of, abuses,
of controlled elections. of unjust ar
rests, of base informers. of foul pris-
ons, of delayed judgments, and tho
rest. But in common honesty, it should
be recognized that Europe has heard
more of these abuses during the two
and half years of the republic, and
more has been done in that period by
the republic to remove them, than dur
ingA4all the recorded years of mon-
archist misrule.
Again, 1t is a frequent complaint to-
day that the new regime has per-
mitted no monarchist press. Such crit
les forget that If no such press worthy
the name exists-though various So
called monarchist journals of the old
days still continue in many Instances
under new names-that fact was equal
ly true IL less patient, under the mon
archy. For years before the crash, the
real, living powers of the Lisbon press
We're definitely what they are today
republican,. 1t was the press and not
the cannon of the battleships, uucn
less the bombs of the Carbonaria, that
Nverthrew the monarchy
Then II must be remembered that polit-
ieal parties have. since the revolution.
been i'm the making. The three great
political leaders are DR.. Alfonso Costa.
DR.. Jose d'Almeida and Dr. Brito CANA
emo All three at first formed part OF
the provisional government DIR. Costa, at
first minister of justice and now prime
minister. is sinsularly able man. He Is
a thorough politician, quick to see his
opportunity, rapid in decision and strong
In action. The first few months saw the
publication by him of a whole sheaf of
DEGREES dealing with the religious or
ders, the press law, the law of divorce,
ha la nd ls.x 4
For time the government was practi-
eally summed up in him. but new power
rapidly arose-Dr Camacho. The cor
cesson to workmen of the right to strike
had resulted in an epidemic of strikes
which threatened TO produce Industrial
ana social anarchy. DIR. Cacahro, as min
lister OF public works succeeded in estab-
fishing order, and won for himself the
confidence and support of the greater part
OF the business world of the capital He
Is curious figure. careless of dress d.
rect of speech. with a great hatred OF
functions" and society" he is shrewd
disnterested, untrammelled by the preju-
dlces ana unswayed by the passions which
mark and mar many of his compatriots:
he is level-hesded judge of men, work.
ing increasingly but without haste, study
ing and Weighing. Much is expected OF
him.
DR.. Jose d'Almeida is a man of very
olHerent type. Passionate, impulsive an
orator and an enthusiast. he has been the
apostle of the republic for years The in
huence he wields among the masses IS
enormous. He throws his weight on the
side of moderation. and has been much
criticised on that account. DR.. dAlmeida
has, however, done great deal of good
work
These, then. We're the men who were
colleagues at the start. Today they oc-
cupy distinct and frequently warning
camps. Their separation was inevitable
DR.. Costa and DIR. d Almeida represent the
two poles in politics while between the
extremes DR.. Comaeho has been content
to act as perpetual moderating force.
So, In addition to small group of inde-
pendents. there are three parties now in
Portuguese politics. The democrats, at
present in power. have DR.. Costa as their
chief, and 20. Mundo' as their organ;
the evolutionsts headed by DIR. d'Almei-
da, are represented by the journal Re
publica:" and the unionists, the intellect
ual elite, under Dr. Comaeho, have "A
Lucta"-'"The Struggle"-as their paper
Politically. therefore. Portugal is as yet
In its go-cart; it should be given time to
find its feet and the hasty and ll-advised
campaign against the republic can only
do harm.