Evening star., 1914-02-08

will decide the question. Senior Dato and
Senor Maura.
The electoral campaign is exceptional
in character The struggle is no longer
between the two trad
Electoral tional Parties. the con-
servatiyes and the lib
oo1iipoAen. erals The conservative
bloc has been split asund--: the liberals
are divided into new groups. The for
mer will rally around Senor Maura all
the reactionary forces, the ultramontaines
and jaymists: the latter will rally a ognd
Senior Dato and Count Romanones all lib
eral and reform elements aided by the
strong sympathy and confidence of the
crown.
The profound Transformation in Span
ish politics is understood by glance
at the past attitude of the combatants.
Senor Dato is the former representative
of the conservative party of the type
Canovas del Castillo. Silvela and Villa
verde that is liberal and progressive.
Senior Maura. former lieutenant OF the
liberal Sagasta. later the chief of the
conservatives. and who against the tradi-
tons of that party has transformed the
party into conservatism which is both
reactionary and clerical
Senior Dato accepted power the fall
of the divided liberals in order not To
create constitutional conflict at the mo-
ment when Senior Maura shuined his
responsibilities. Since then Senior Maura
has endeavored to impose his will iurpe-
riously upon Senior Dato. The latter.
however. with the support and confidence
of Alfonso XIII. has preferred to reign
with the aid of the liberals. led by Count
Romanones.
The electoral fight which is now going
on is mortal combat between the allied
liberal and conservative forces Of Senior
Dato and Count Romanones and the re-
dictionary coalition formed around SenoP
Maura- There is small doubt but that
the victory will be with the conservative
liberals. and that the orientation OF the
monarchy under the inspiration OF the
democratic king toward liberty and prog
ress will he ratified by a great majority
of the Spanish people
1t will add interest to note some of the
echoes of the electoral struggle We are
told that the pretensions of Senior Maura
have created sensation in the political and
military circles at Madrid and In the en-
tourase of the palace. Don ANTONIO
Maura has boaSted. it was declared thar
if the king did not accept the all OF his
partisans there WAS in the Bourbon FAM
lily a prince. Don Jaime who would will
ingly follow a policy which word please
the majority of Spanish conservatives"
x
Senior Dato. informed of this audacious
threat. FASTENED to submit II TO the coun-
Gill; over which King Alfonso
CarllSt himself presided. In termi
r,4 mating dis report GA the po-
- litical situation :he premier
added that he felt compelled 10 insist
upon the attitude of the dissident con-
hy Ia;
rumors. Senor Dato expressed the belief
that the moment had come when IL WAS
necessary to put a check upon the oh-
noXious campaign carried AGAINST the
kings ministers in order to MAKE the
country helie1e that Dato and his col
leagues did not possess the confidence OF
his majesty.
The premier i'm consequence begged the
king To authorize him by decree to de-
clar. according TO the constitution that
the cortes WAS dissolved. leaving the part
OF the elections Of the senate TO be dis
solved later on. The king did not hesi-
signed the decree. and Alfonso XIII em-
phaszed his resolution by reiterating his
confidence in his cabinet and In its chief
The premier himself in leaving the
communicated to the representa-
tves of the press the decision of his
sovereign. 1t was a formidable COUP a
veritable thunderbolt in all political cir
cles and in those places where the ad-
yersaries of government still had the
to pretend that the iumors of the
kings lack Of confidence i'll his cabinet
were true
Don Eduardo pato confirmed again
the information published by the press.
adding that the government proposed
with the approval of the king to publish
shortly the second decree dissolving that
part of the elective senate and liking the
date of the general elections.
The Duke de Montpensier pays another
tribute TO Alfonso Mi which merits re-
iteration: He has all the spontaneity,
all the audacity. all the generous fnspfra-
lions susceptible of rendering enthusiastic
Il people whose history is composed Of
outbreaks. An attempt is made
On his life. he receives bombs and re-
volvei' shots with smiles They are the
little inconreniences OF our METER he
said to NJ. Loubet the day bomb was
thrown under his carriage in the place
Of the Theater F'rancais.'
CHI CHAILLE-LOSG