New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
By JACQUES D'URVILLE

| opdlH, IKE many olneI ndbiOho' 10 az
the moment suffering, to use a medical
term. from a crisis of suppression. She
longs to get rid of the German virus
| that is poisoning her. But will she
prove herself strong enough to combat
the evil that threatens TO overwhelm
her, and the menace of most serious
complications The patriotic action Of
Count Romanones in spontaneously re-
firing from Office in order to be free
TO speak his mind to- his fellow coun-
trymen as to where their interests lay
and what was their obvious duty gave
rise for a moment to high hopes. I'm
happily, certain acts of the Garcia
! Prieto Cabinet, contrary to the assur-
ances of neutrality given to the En-
tente. dashed to the ground the expec-
tations of the friends of Spain, who
were looking forward to a glorious
, future for her.
! Doubts Power Of Dato Cabinet
II is doubtful if the new Cabinet,
under the Premiership of NJ. Dato, will
have sufficient authority for any nota-
BILE modification of the existing state
of things. The most important per-
sonality Of the new ministry is per-
haps the Captain General, Primo de
Rivera. who has the very difficult task
Of bringing calm into the barracks Of
| Madrid. Valencia and Barcelona. II the
army does not act against the throne
il will act independently of it. 1t is
a very delicate situation, for the throne
ia lust as unprotected against the
perils Of a coalition Of the Right or
the Left.
Unfortunately, Spanish psychology Is
n mass of contradictions, which renders
the task of the German plotters or pro-
German propagandists at the present
iuncture an easy one, and it is, there
tore superfuous to anslyze it con-
cisely. But superior to the rivalry Oh
rar.ies stands out the chivslrous and
+ smiling personality of a monarch VINO
ia universally popular, whose sym
natbies are on the side of that which
Il noble and good, and who, above all,
knows how to respect the liberties Oh
his subjects.
Rivalries of Glass and Greed Problem
With the Cortes alone rests the dell
/ cate task of settling the numerous po-
Iitical differences that arise among
particularly proud and distrustful peo-
Mo in which the rivalries OF castes'
of classes and of creeds form part OF
their natural existence. Taken alto
Gather. the Left" by congeniality OF
sentiment and of doctrines, leans toward
the group of Democratic and LIBERIA
rowers The Conservatives, on the
contrary. the army, and a part OF the
clergy. hypnotized by the military
might of Germany and the religious
prestige of Catholic Austria, are openly
on the side of the Central Powers.
In certain privileged classes sym
nathv for the German cause Is regard
Cd as a mark of elegance and good
breeding. The Kaiser cult, IN fact' fas
become a kind of snobbery. 1t IS ne
who will punish France for her pollt-
;cal and religious "misdeeds," to him
is given the task of wiping per-
fdious Albion, the principal cause OF
the downfall of Spanish hopes, from
Of the map, and thus assure to the
descendants of Chapes V that place
in the world to which their past glories
entitle them.
Inspired by Germans
These grand prospects were inspir'd
hv the German propaganda VI. Maurs,
leader Of the Conservative marty, who
d,sregarding the political wisdom OF
! Silvela. outlined them in the resound-
! ing speeches he made some few weeks
ago in the Plaza de 1oros at Madrid.
IL il maliciously whispered that Al
| fonso XIII listened to the Grafton
with a telephone receiver glued 10 MS
ear, and great was his astonisnment
when he heard the orator declare that
the Spanish ministers governed only
bv the will Of the King. not by that OF
/ Spain. But VI. Maura did not stop at
/ ,hjs. After his indirect appeal TO he
divine right Of the monarchy, ne turned
"a England and France. demanding
from them the restitution, while wait
/ ing. without doubt, for something bet
tor of Tangiers and Gibraltar.
Ills outbursts, condemned by all On
Snain who are not Germans, would
be Of little Importance were II not tnaI
/ they reveal the alarming state OF al
! fairs brought about by the German
propaganda. Is the leader of the Con-
! seryative party ignorant OF the designs
! OF the Wilhelmstrasse on Morocco, the
Balearic Islands and the Canarles
Public opinion in Spain, hitherto
welded to a policy Of absolute neu-
trality, is beginning to get unnerved'
II is not so much excited over the re-
crudescence OF the submarine peril as
over the unbridled insolence and dis.
honesty Of the Germans and the hold
/ Germany seems TO have over the home
and foreign affairs Of Spain.
Germany IS greatly mistaken if she
thinks to make another Greece OF
Spain. The growing unrest may IN
: volye such serious consequences that
all precautions will be thrown to the
winds. Will il lead to another minis
terial crisis, or to something more
serious7 1t is . terrible leap into the
unknowni