The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-11
ALPHONSO'S DISLOYAL SUBJECTS COMMEMORATIVE REPUBLIC DAY.

Although Aex-King Manuel's press agents have long been engaged in sending out daily predictions of the speedy downfall of the Portuguese present government Of ancient Lusi- tania as everything that is corrupt and tyrannical. the fact remains that the Portuguese people are more pros porous and contented than ever be- fore. The example set by Portugal has had a profound effect in Spain,
 where the Republicans are now mere active than ever before. Prior to the execution of Francisco Ferrer, Re publican agitation aroused by Ferrer's s legal murder forced the Spanish government to assume more lenient attitude toward republicans. Since then the anti monarchica1 propagan- da has been carried on openly.
 Spanish republicans will celebrate to-day the first anniversary of the proclamation of the Spanish re- public of 1873. It was on Feb. I 1th of that year that King Amadeus. Duke Of Aosta, who had ascended the throne in 1870, was forced to resign. and a provisional republic was estab- lished on the ruins of the monarchy. Amadeus. an Italian prince, had ac- cepted the crown offered him by the Cortes. His brief reign was marked by constant warfare with the Car1ists, and several attempts were made to as- sassinate him. In his message to the Cortes announcing his abdication he stated that he had found Spain in- voIved in continual struggle and that all his efforts to bring about message was read the two chambers, immediately voted for a republic.
 Despite the genius Of Emilio Cas- te1ar. who was elected president of Spain, the attempt to transform Spain into a democracy failed miser- ably. The Car1ists continued their warfare. and the army of the republic was often mutfnous. In the Cortes, as well as among the people at large. perhaps majority favored the mon archy, and the legislators had accept ed the republic merely as a temporary choice between two evils. The re- pubIicans themselves were divided into four camps the government party. democratic in a conservative way: the .1ntransigentes or lire. concilabIes.' z radical democrats; and the .Internationale's party. which was itself divided between those who sought a sociaIistic republic and those
 who demanded a communist organiza- ton without any formal government
 Tn vain Emilio Castelar sought to bring the warning parties together. so as to present united front against the Legitimists and the CarIists. Tn this attempt he was ably assisted by Salmeron and other patriots Early in 1874 Castelar resigned. Salmeron was equally unsuccessful in his at tempt to form government and Mar shal serano then undertook the task Meanwhile the government. the In- ansigentes, the Carlists and the Le- gltimfsts all had armies in the field As the year 1874 was nearing it's close the republic collapsed, and Gen. Mar tinez Campos declared Alph 3nso XII, son of Queen Isabella. IT., as King Of Spain. In accepting the throne All phonso declared himself a true Span iard, Catholic, and Liberal. thus seeking. in a single sentence, to ui1. oyer both the church party and fn1
 liberal parties which had so bitterly warred on the church. Marshal Ser- rano, last president of Spain, fled to France, but soon returned and was re- scefved by the King AIphonso XII died in 1885. and his posthunnous son and heir. the present AIphonso XIII. was born several months after his death. Alphonso's personal popular lily is great, and so far 1t has been the greatest obstacle to bringing about another attempt to found republic in Spain.