Evening star., 1916-05-14

The elections, the speech OF htnG Al
fonso XIII on the opening of parlia-
ment. reiterating the
Suhmor;ra maintenance OF Spain's
neutrality. the threat
Tragedies. ened general railroad
strikes and. finally. the tercentenary OF
the death Of Cervantes. are subjects of
interest certainly. but they are domi-
mated completely by the intense excite
ment and indignation provoked by the
torpedoing OF the SUSSEX. on which the
Spanish maestro. Don Granados. was
killed.
This excitement has been increased
by the incident of the torpedoing of the
Vigo and again OF the Santanderino.
Echo OF the feeling in Spain has reach
ed Brazil. where. according to dis
patch from Rio de Janeiro, the Jornal
de Commercio protests vehemently
against the sinking of the Rio Branco.
1T is impossible, says the Jornal,
that America will continue to witness
with folded arms the continuance OF
these tragedies. and suggests the CO.
operation of the United states thus:
To have the United States to act alone
would be equivalent to the collapse of
the pan-American idea. Our duty is to
protest against the brutal and unjusti-
fable crime with the United States.
with which We ought to unite abso-
lutely.'
A dispatch from Madrid declares that
Spain is disposed to support the policy
of the United States regarding subma-
rine warfare. The press of Madrid re-
echoes the profound feeling throughout
Spain.
The elections have resulted in large
ministerial majority. as predicted by
the Spanish premier. The results. ac-
cording to the reports at this writing,
are: Liberals elected. 255: conserva
tives. so: Maura followers, is: Lacurva
followers, 8; reformists. 10: Jaimists. 3;
nationalists. 2; radicals. 4: union re-
publican. 3; regionalists. 13; independ-
ents. s; Catholics. 4; divers, 4.
Count Romanones. on the eve of the
elections. expressed himself thus to a
CORES ondent al
Observations by NJ d ri d; Parties
had not sought SEN
homanones. sational effect ir
their platforms and professions. Ger
tainly I can have very large major
ity in the cortes, but there would be
disadvantages and ] have abstained
| The majorities of 300. as in the time o'
Canovas and Sagasta, caused serious
and constant protestations. The press
at that time was nevertheless neither
so powerful nor so active as at present
| If I receive complaints it is IRON
| friends aggrieyed that government does
not aid them. | refuse to exercise pres
sure The result to me is indifferent
What | desire is the reform of our po'
| litical methods. Our friends may suf-
| fer. but no one can accuse me OF aouse
| of power"
Count Romanones thus becomes &
model for the progressive politician
Referring to the torpedoing OF the
Santanderino. he characterized the ac'
| as Illogical absurd, and even incredible
The Circle of Fine Arts in Barcelona
had held an important public meeting
and demanded that government eNac,
that Germany indemnify the son o1
Don Granados and seize German shlps
| The Chamber of Commerce of Spain. a.
| Paris, had addressed a note to govern
ment. expressing regret at the 1niqui'
tous acts of which SpaniardS We're vic
Tins and protesting with energy
against such unqualifiable proceeding:
which destroy the most sacred right:
of international law"
a Madrid correspondent expresse:
the hope that the royal government
will find in the general reprobation o.
German submarine aggression Una
unanimity finally of opinion which ha:
too long been wanting" very
marked evolution of sentiment il
Spain, at one time Germanic in it.
sympathies. now tends toward tht
allies a Spaniard of distinction, Dor
| Jorge L. de Sagredo. has undertaken tt
resume the sense of this evolution. q
valuable contribution at this moment
when Spain's real situation was an in
soluble enigma synopsis of Dor
Sagredos opinion is interesting and in
| structive.