New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-29

prlScS some Oh the stioHbN''
in the kingdom.
The lineup is almost the same III
all the neutral countries OF Europe
whore local interests do not affect the
problem the conservative element Is
everywhere pro-German; the lDerai
and revolutionary element anti-Eer-
man. Such is the state OF analrs III
Holland: such was the state IN ltaiy
before the liberals forced Italy INTO
the war. The conservative nobility
with such of the middle class as follow
them. believe in the Germ principle
because Germany. they say. has shown
how autocracy can be made successful
in modern conditions. This is the
class which deplores parliaments.
"noisv democracies" and education OF
the clover orders" For n generation
such theories have been rather dis
credited in Western Europe Those
who hold them have been shy OF pro-
claiming them publicly. This war.
with the carly success of Germany and
the proof that military autocracy
can be very efficient, has gwen new
courage TO the extreme conservatives
so that they dare speak their opinions
aloud. Il is true, they admit, that Ger
many has assembled parliaments and
has educated the lower orders. even
beyond all other European countries;
but those were merely concessions 20
the diplomacy. The spirit of Germany
during those years of commercial eX-
pansion before the war was compare
tive autocratic; since the war 1t has
been absolutely autocratic the new
golden age for which they long. So
spoke the old nobility of italy before
last June. and so speaks the old nObil-
ity of Spain nowadays. And the Span
ish nobility has probably more real
power than the corresponding class IN
any other Western nation.
Priesthood Almost Unanimous.
The priesthood, again, is almost
unanimous on the side of Germany, and
that for reasons more tangible than a
conservative bias. Since the abolition
of the concordat Catholic Spain has
generally regarded France as the enemy
of the Church Most of the dlsestab-
lished monks removed their monas-
teries 20 Spain, there 10 spread among
their fellow clerics a dislike for the
French government. Moreover, Austria
is the one first class power Of Europe
which is still Catholic in its state re-
ligion. The priesthood sees Germany,
with a strong Roman Catholic minority,
and Austria. all Roman Catholic, ar
rayed against Protestant England,
Greek Catholic Russia and France,
which they consider apostate. In Spain,
as elsewhere, women are the strongest
lay adherents of religion, and every
where in Spai- one encounters the
phenomenon of wives who are pro-Ger-
man because France is the enemy OF
the Church." while their husbands are
outspoken for France and England.
Add to this the army-by which |
mean not the conscript rank and hle.
but the officers and the men in high
control. Just why they are pro-Ger-
man no one has explained to me eX-
actly, but they are. Perhaps 1t is be-
cause soldiers are ..lways conserva..
tive; perhaps, also, 1t is admiration Oh
the German military machine, upon
which, as a model. they have built the
Spanish army. There are exceptions;
several high Spanish officers have re-
signed their commissions in order TO
offer their swords to France; but the
rule holds.
The very court is divided. The
Oueen-mother was an Austrian prin-
cess. She has gathered about her a
pro- German party. That high spirited
and popular young King who rules
Spain would probably be heart and soul
for the Allies even without the in
fuence of his British Queen; she
serves only to make him the more con-
WINGED. Alfonso is decidedly liberal
in his views. lie is also not without
ability. The very revolutionary Re-
publcans admit that; only, as one OF
them expressed it TO me, "he is sur
rounded by men who do not know how
to think" He it was who. speaking
some years ago TO an eminent Amerl-
can concerning the attempts to assassI-
nate him, said: There are two things
they won't do to me; one is TO make
me quit, and the other is to drive me
into reaction" Being liberal. he is
naturally on the side which the liberals
have taken all over Europe.
King at Odds with Mother.
This conflict of opinion between the
King and his mother has produced a
singular state of social affairs in the
court. So far as general conversation
goes, there might be no war in Europe;
mention of the matter is absolutely
taboo. Madrid gossip has it that the
wife of German diplomat came out
u
remark concerning France. According
TO the story, silence fell on the table,
which was broken by the Queen Mother
who had been training her lorgnette
upon the offending lady. "Who dares
mention that subject in this place p
said the Queen Mother. Since VII CHI.
conversation at court has been much
restricted; for il is almost impossible
oil Of N EnrOna
without bringing in some aspect OF the
war.
One more element must be added TO
those favoring Germany-the CarlistS,
those who support the claim of Don
Jaime as rightful heir to the Spanish
throne. Since the men of his party
make a question of monarchical sue
cession the chief article in their po-
litical creed, they are naturally ultra
conservative. and they follow the rule
| have set down for Europe by fav-
oring Germany. Don james chief
adherents have openly ayowed SYM
pathy with the Kaiser.
On the other side is the growing
and active Liberal party. varying from
Socialists and revolutionary republic
cans to liberal supporters Of consti-
tutional monarchy. They, like the
clergy, take sides because of France -
bu. they DO 20 because they admire the
French ideal Of democracy or hope for
a republic modelled u on that OF
France. There is, too, the call of the
blood France counts with them as a
Latin nation, and the other great Latin
nation-It aly-has broken an old al,
lance to take sides with France and
England. The solidarity OF the Latin
nations S-sws them toward France