Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

There was one mystery in connection
with yesterdays cabled news from Paris
regarding the revolt in Spain. 1t was
this:
1.-THE premier, according to advices
from Madrid, did not appear greatly
perturbed by the latest turn of events.
He attended mass this morning with the
royal family. He said he was less con-
cerned about the actual events than he
was about the general tendencies OF the
country. He believed the measures
adopted vastly increasing the dictatorial
powers would be able to smooth out the
situation"
What are "the general tendencies of
the country" which are allegedly caus-
ing to high official authority, the ex-
PLANTATION is that these general tend
encies" amount to nothing more than
the possibility that the masses of peo-
pie, unable to get reliable news from
the scene of revolt and conspiracy,
might be misled to eXaggerate the seri-
BUSINESS of the situation, through the
Vaccinations of certain refugees hiding
in France and busying themselves with
false propaganda--of which the cum
ming phraSing of the above is sample.
An official cablegram received from
Madrid-not from Paris, the seat OF
Spanish Observation-Disclosures to the
embassy in Washington announces that
the revolt is fully suppressed and all
is quiet throughout Spain"
It was explained at the embassy that
the uprising was confined to just few
officers of the army at Valencia, who
expected their soldiers to follow them,
but when Premier de Rivera sent Lieut..
Gen. Sanjurjo to the scene as supreme
representative Of the government Gen.
Sanjurjo took over the command and
the soldiers at once recognized his SUI
perior authority. The disturbing OH
GERS were placed under arrest and joined
the leader, former Premier Jose San
chez Guerra, in prison. The failure Is
attributed to a delay OF Guerra's YES
sci en- voyage from France two days by
the breaking down of its machinery.
The garrison at Real, without waiting
for the radio signal, revolted on pro-
gram time, but other units waited for
the code word from Guerra, which
failed to come because of the trouble
at sea. That is the full explanation OF
how easy it was for De Rivera to quash
the rebellion before it got fairly started.
Still the propaganda refuges in
France are carrying on their propa-
ganda and undertaking to represent
that all Spain is in sympathy with the
revolution, while the government boasts
that the revolt is over.
X X X X
While the world seems to be trending
toward republicanism and away from
monarchies since the World War. 1t Is
generally recognized that no King is
more popular with his subjects than is
Alfonzo XIII of Spain. The premier,
Primo de Rivera. Is serving by appoint
ment by the King and not in antag-
onism to his majesty. He Is dictator,
but not Mussolini.
The present situation in Spain cannot
be appreciated without review OF the
last centuryS developments. In 1908
Napoleon beguiled the Spanish prime
minister, Goodyear ignorant young
man with whom the Queen maria
Louisa of Naples) was in love-to
sanction the passage through Spain OF
his army to conquer Portugal, the ally
of England. Godoy was bribed with the
self, and discovered, too late, that Ma
poleon had in mind the conquest not
only of Portugal but of Spain herself.
So ensued the Peninsular War and the
loss of the throne of Charles w. who
was forced to abdicate in favor of his
son and heir. Fernando, at the time a
prisoner of Napoleon.
* X +
Then, in 1912, the Cortes met in
Madrid and adopted a new constitution,
which Fernando repudiated on his lib
Grafton and return to Spain in 1914. In
1921 King Fernando was forced to &C
cept the new constitution, limiting the
powers of the throne, but two years
later, backed by French forces. he re-
asserted his absolute power. He died in
1888, leaving as successor his infant |
daughter, Isabel II, and the regency 10 |
his widow, Maria Christina Of Naples, |
with the injunction to maintain all the
absolute prerogative of the crown.
y X X
There rose revolt led by Carlos, |
brother OF the late King Fernando. I'M |
der pretenSe Of the Sale law foIhidding |
rule by woman. A long war ao5ued, |
and Carlos was beaten, yet the Corlserv- !
atives opposed the absolutism of the |
Queen Regent, and in 1868 revolt led |
by Gems. Prim and Serrano was success !
full and Queen Regent Isabel fled to |
France. A limited monarchy under |
Amadeos of Savoy in 1870 was followed |
by republics and civil war continued :
until, in 1875, the son of Isabel was re-
stored to the throne as Alfonzo XII, |