The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1917-09-25

like to break away from the Madrid
government, perhaps partly in imi-
tation of Catalonia, but more on ac-
count of what differences In race, Ian
guage, manners and habits of thought.
These three causes of trouble men-
toned are easy for a foreigner to un-
derstand. But when the unfutored
American comes to plunge into the In
tricacies of Spanish political parties,
constantly dividing, changing their
platforms and making new alliances,
the head swir1s.
Three Parties Pro-AiIy.
At the present moment the social
lists, republicans and reformists, max.
ing up the so-called "Block Of the
Left" are combined. Until the recent
internal troubles became paramount
this 'block" was concentrating its eff
forts on throwing Spain Into the war
as an entente ally. Spain's grievances
against the Germans are almost ex-
actly like the United States contfn-
ued outrages on undefended merchant
ships by the U-boats.
Not to go into all the maze Of de-
tails, one may say in general that the
conservatives, the clericals, the high
army officers and the leaders Of the
old aristocractic families favor Ger
many.
But there are notable exceptions to
the general rule that the aristocrats
favor Germany, one being the Duke Of
Alba, whose. family has been famous
In history for centuries.
The king himself is believed to lean
toward the entente. His consort, Ena,
is British through and through. In
fact, she has incurred some unpopular
ity by failure to conceal her prefer.
ence for England to Spain.
But what the king may do matters
little. High officers in the government
at Madrid is confined to group of
about thousand men, bureaucrats
no less stupid If not so brutal as those
of the car. Cabinet follows cabinet
In an endless, wearying round. Each
one is destined to failure from the
start, because Of the brainless hldal-
COS in positions of Importance, If for
no other reason.
Thus, unhappy Spain stumbles on.
She is buffeted by blasts from all
directions. The Spaniard Is natural
revolutionary. There seems little
likelihood of a solution of the coun-
try's troubles-little chance that any
sort of a firm, strong central govern
ment will take control and lead the
people in the ways of modern pros
porous democracy.
CariIsts Also q Danger.
Unusual as 1t would seem In these
days, Spain may even witness con-
fiicts over the crown. The Carlists
are very strong. Most of the pro-
German conservatives are Carlists.
They favor the claims to the throne
of Don Jaime of Bourbon, Duke of
Madrid, only son of the late Don Car
los, who now lives at Frohsdorf, in
Austria, and is entirely identified with
the German party in that country.
One thing is quite certain. Alfonso
would fight for his throne. He would
not yield weakly to forcewhether Of
fered by the Carlists or by any other
Of the many potentially hostile par
ties or combinations. He would not
climb down in trembling, silent impo-
tence, like Nicholas Romanoff. He is
a soldier and real one.
But Alfonso might bow to reason,
where force would not avail. In a
light moment he offered once to run
as candidate for Spain's first president
should the people desire republic.
Yet SPANS troubles are too deep
seated and to involved to be cast off
with a change of constitution. What
would help her most is the ending Of
the great war. If the war goes on
SPANS woes appear certain to In
crease.