The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-06-19

archists but actively assisted them
was proved beyond doubt, monar-
chists cartridges bearing the dated
imprint of Toledo arsenal of only a
month before having been picked up
after one OF the fights in the north.
"The republic will survive and will
bring the country out of the wretched
position in which the old regime In
volved 1t, If only it is fairly treated"
today said w. A. Bennett, another
Britisher, who for the past eleven
years has been teacher of English
In Lisbon and who has enjoyed ex-
ceptional opportunities of Judging con-
ditions under the new form of gov
eminent. There are very grave evil
dences OF lack of fair-play on the part
of external powers toward the repub-
lie, which is struggling along under
tremendous difficulties 1t is within
Englands power to give 1t invaluable
support at the present time. Some
Of us doubt whether that support is
being given.
mo one who has had experience in
Portugal before and after the revolu-
ton can deny the beneficial results
Of the charge. OF course some OF the
people are dissatisfied They looked
for the millennium, which has not
! come, but they know at the same
time that an intolerably corrupt sys-
tenn has been replaced by a reason
ably honest and competent govern
ment. The monstrcus taking of the
national finances has been entirely
stopped. Consider the frightful leg
acy that the monarchy left. Twenty.
six per cent Of the country's revenue
1 now has to go to pay interest on the
national debt With such crushing
burden, can 1t be wondered at that
the people of Portugal have not been
able to redeem the situation in three
or four years? But Dr.. Costa is max
I ing a heroic effort to reestablish the
finances on a sound basis. There are
some who distrust him, In spite OF
his unquestioned ability, but there is
none who distrusts the absolute pro
bity and public spirit OF his most in
fluential supporters.
! The legislative policy OF the re
public has been drastic, but Just
There was no alternative to its actor
with reference to the religious orders
These orders were neither for the
monarchy. nor for the people; theil
loyalty was not to Portugal but to al
alien power. and their influence was
anti-national and anti-social.
Portugal under the monarchy hat
been under the heel OF the LANDED
interests. The revolution represented
! the rising of the great industrial cen
tiers against this tyranny. Now all Il
changed. 1t is the industrial classe
i that have become the governing
power"
Bennett emphaticaly disputes tn
: contention held in some quarters tina
the Portuguese army is disloyal an
would desert the republic in tn
8 event OF a serious uprising. "Whe
! the crisis came last year" he sale
/ "the army was found to be ovel
& whelningly popular and republican i
: Its sympathies, and there have bee
no evidences of any reaction fron
! that position since then. In fact,
believe the general loyal OF the sol
J diers has been materially strengthen
ed in the past few months.
: 80 far as the stories about. prisol
i atrocities are concerned" he added
: those who tell them speak from sec
/ ond hand knowledge. Moreover, 1t
: tainted wledge-evidence prepare
/ for purpose. know that the Who'll
outcry is baseless, and that the higt
: cts interests of Portugal are boun
: up with the permanence Of the reput
} lie, which gives the only promise tn
country has ever had Of honest an
: progressive government"
-REGTN THE ROAD