Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-10

VIII the Portuguese revolution now
succeed in overturning the govern
ment? News comes that the rebels
have captured the President, Gen.
Carmona, although the information
has not been officially verified. Nor
has the report that the revolt In north
ern Portugual has been suppressed
and that only south of Lisbon does
fighting continue been confirmed. At
Oporto the loyal troops were victori.
Gus, but the casualties numbered in
excess of 200. Spain is guarding the
frontier to prevent invasion OF her
territory, and warships Of several ma
tons lie in the harbors Ito protect
their nationals A bomb exploded in
q room from which the American con.
sui general had departed less than five
minutes before, and the American
Minister, with the entire legation, has
been forced to aba the legation
building because 1t has been under
fire and been struck repeatedly by
bullets.
Our Minister Mr. bearing, cables
that the situation is very serious.
vet our Government officials In Wash
ington declare that revolutions in
Portugal are normal" and that peace
longer than three or four months
would be abnormal under the republic.
What will be the outcome IL the
President Is really prisoner? VINO
are leading the unrest The Com
munists or the Royalists? 1t may lead
to anarchy or to the return of King
Manuel, exile in England for Is years,
to restored throne, Yet thrones
have not thrived since the World War,
and Portugal aided in that war 10
make the world safe for democracy,
Portugal Is a little country, but 1t
has had a large part In the develop
ntent of civilization. Its area liz
AZ 4aO square miles, including her pos
sessions OF the Azores and Madeira
Isla nds; Virginia's area Is 42.6z7
square miles In addition, Portugafs
colonial possessions cover S,75S.s 04
square miles. -.
The possessions include. in Asia,
Goa Macao and part of Timor; also
tho Cane Verde Islands, Portuguese
Guinea in Africa, the islands OF sac
Thome and Portuguese East Africa.
In ancient times, Portugal, IKE al
the Iberian Peninsula-Spafn as Wen
as Portugal--was ruled from Gar.
thage. Africa, until Rome conquered
~ &c. Emperor Augustus divided
the Peninsula into three parts. OF
which one. which he called Lusitania,
became later the southern halI OF the
Kingdom of Portugal
The Augustan Lusitania lay wholly
south of the River Tagus, on Whlch ~
now situated the capital, Lisbon
while more than half OF Portugal ex-
tends north Of that river.
North OF the Tagus, the race ~
purer Portuguese than south OF tnat
river. for in the south, after the Moors
were driven out, there were many
settlements OF Crusaders. who took
the vacant places left by the African
Moors. so in the south there is an
ancient mixture of foreign blood
French, English. Dutch and Frisians.
The present revolt against Dictator
Carmona began last week In tne
north, but yesterdays news INDICATED
that the north has already been SUP
dued while the revolution proceeds
only in the south.
1t is an error to assume that there
lis little ethnic difference between the
Spanish and the Portuguese, simply
because both races are OF Latin
origin and have lived together on the
Iberian Peninsula for more than
1000 years. Ridpath, the historian,
asserts that there is greater difference
ethnically than geographically. The
whole peninsular population can be
traced back to settlements by the
Phoenicians in prehistoric ages. Then
came the conuuesis by the carthagin-
ians, centuries. before Christ. In the
| fifth century AID. came the VisiEoths,
Vandals and Alani. From the time OF
| the ceths to the eleventh century