Evening star., 1928-11-14

Rumanias new government is being
watched with interest by the rest of the
world. The bloodless overthrow of the
Bratianu regime and the substitution
of the rule of the Peasant party under
the leadership of Premier Manu- Is re-
garded as an unprecedented experiment
in modern European politics.
For the first time in generations the
Bratianus are not the ruling force in
Rumania" says the New York Evening
World, with the explanation that the
peasants interests have never received
the slightest consideration from the Bra
tianu group, who, through three genera
tions, have acted upon the theory that
the government could be used by 1t for
the exploitation of the mass of the peo-
pie" The Evening World adds that "the
fact that the regency insisted on the
resignation of Vintilla Bratianu, even
after he at first refused measures the
intensity of the dissatisfaction"
Pointing out that 80 per cent of the
population is peasant" the Columbus
Evening Dispatch states that, lacking
adequate leadership, this vast mass has
been compelled to bow before govern
ment that, while efficient, has been au-
tocratic and despotic in its dealings with
them. Europe, by the new turn of
doubtedly will witness an interesting
ana novel political experiment as the
unsophiSticated but earnest and con-
scientious peasants take the reins.
Maniu promises Rumania an admin
istration patterned on the enlightened
lines of the United States and one that
will insure honesty in government, free
elections, abolition of graft untram-
meled opportunity for domestic and
foreign capital and equality for every
citizen All will hope that these prom
iSes may be realiZed."
x x X
The strength of Manu- Is attested by
the New York Sun, which remembers
the incident when the peasant chief
led his peasant host to Bucharest and
when he organized a vast congress OF
malcontents in Pennsylvania last April.
MANU- preached the doctrine of a
modified rassive resistance" adds the
Sun: "he permitted no violence and he
refused all compromises with the
Bratianu government. He argued that
the rebuffs which Vintilla received In
foreign countries were deserved and
that Rumania must build up a sense
of national responsibility If 1t Is to deal
with the rest of the world. Ru:nanla s
population and area have more than
doubled since the World War. Manu-
representS this new element"
Emphasizing the direct effect on the
Bratianu power of the movement
among the peasants, the Kalamazoo
Gazette advises that this ascendancy
of the agrarian element in Rumanlan
politics is not without its significance,
The Gazette recalls that 1T was rot
so many months ago that some 2O0,0OO
peasants, after long and spectacular
march across country, assembled IN
the ancient town of Alba Julia and
formally placed their demands before
the regency" Although 1.-The regency
refused to be moved by this demon
stration." the Gazette believes that
"Bratianu never again held the degree
of strength that had been his before
the Alba Julia incident"
Observing that Manu- has an
nounced that whatever may be his
views regarding the regency, they 90
not involve the return of Crown Prince
Carol to Rumania," the Manchester
Union declares, nevertheless: 1T is
known that Carol has long been a
| favorite of the Peasants party and II
is not improbable that as time goes on
the sentiment in favor of his return
may grow. With affairs as unsettled as
they are, the position of the present
regency is apt to become Increasingly
unstable, and If public sentiment should
be aroused, 1t would be likely to take
! the form OF demand for Carols re-
turn. The present regency was
creation of the Bratianus. If 1t proves
to be impartial in the partisan struggle