New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-16
ALFONSO MAKES A COUP
Breaks Backbone of Spanish
RepubIiCaniSm.
NEW MINISTRY POPULAR
Thinkers Tire of Fruitless
Opposition to the
Monarchy.
From The Tribune Correspondent

Madrid. Nov. liking Alfonso has really
achieved something of personal triumph
In forming a Conservative Ministry under
Soilor Dato He has struck out on new
line for himself. and has really, to a large
extent, broken the back Of Spanish re-
publcanism by endeavoring to make ms
monarchy broad enough TO contain all
shades of political opinion outside OF
actual reyOutionists.
To-day. although commonly supposed
antipodaI. large masses of Moderate Re-
publcans remain just on the edge OF the
Monarchist camp, because they have been
somewhat shaken to establishment On
the eve of the present political Crisis
when the Romanones Ministry was al
ready i'm its death throes, great banquet
attended by perhaps two thousand men
from all over Spain, was held TO lhdusu
rate a new reform party
Men like Senior Melquiades Alvares' an
eloquent Republican orator; Senior Perez
Galdos, probably the greatest living span
ish man of letters, Senior LaDra, Ieadei
of the Republican minority in the SENATE
and Senior Azcarate, one of the rev sur
vivors of classic Spanish repuolcanisfn,
attended, and agreed with the OPINION Oh
Senior Alvafes that "the form or govern
ment Is not an essential matter
Thus they put themselves on record as
adversaries of dogmatic republicanisfn,
which holds the throne responsible Tor all
evils affecting Alfonso's kingdom. They
are thinkers, and are sick and tired or
frutless opposition. and especially OF ALL
ance with revolutionists who might pro-
yoke a social cataclysm which would
probably seriously injure interests as
dear to these 'reformers' as to the DulA
of Alfonso's adherents.
Senior .Alvares. in outlining the policy OF
the new party. declared that Maura and
La Clerva must be sacrificed. IF these
men are intrusted with power he said'
I'VE return to our old allies. If. on the
other hand. they are sacrificed, we bring
n whole host Of former opponents TO the
monarchy
Thus il is seen that this step OF the
revolutionsts in actually separating them
selves from the Republican party was
taken timidly. and it was not until it was
definitely announced lIldl Sc'O' 80
formed a new Ministry and Senior Maura
had left Madrid (after promising ALFONSO
that he would not prevent his friends from
supporting this new Ministry could II DC
quite sure that the spine OF Spanish re-
publicanism was actually broken.
About half the Republican Deputies are
ROW allied with Senior Alvares ana
Senior Azcarate. and probably half the re-
mainder are followers Of the descredl'eo
Lerroux. So it appears that the famous
| Republican and Social coalition Is JUST
fragment that may endeavor to keep III
tact. purely on the principle that 10
hang together is better than to hahg sepa-
rately.'
Senior Dato is not a daring statesman
and may not undertake any very statti'i's
legislation. though, TO be sure he is con
stdered the most broadminded man III 'le
snanish Conservative party. lie Is inter
ested in social reform and enjoys h'uc"
familiarity in working class circles oe-
cause ne is the author of SPANS present
employers liability law.
About the only criticism which the no"
Ministry is now subjected TO comes from
tho followers of Senior Maura and senior
La Cierva.