Evening star., 1934-10-16
Spaniards Called Unprepared
For Real Republican Regime

Spain's revolts and unrest are
viewed by American observers a. in
evitable under new republic made
up Of such conflicting elements and
with . background of centuries Of
autocratic rule.
'It Is far from easy" thinks the
New Orleans Times-Picayune. Ito
build truly popular and stable
republican government in Spain"
while the Rockford Register Republic
declares that IAN ancient monarchy
cannot be replaced by an orderly
republic overnight" The Worcester
Evening Gazette suggests that after
Spain shall have had many kingless
years there Is unfortunately no guar
antee that abe win not sttll be leap.
ing to arms every now and then, In
stead Of settling her real or fancied
disputes at the polls"
'If Spanish democracy fails" &C.
cording to the Portland Oregonian,
democratic philosophers need not be
dismayed. Il has always been ap-
parent that successful democracy
must be based upon the capacity Of
the people. whereas the Spaniards
have been under dictatorial rule con-
tinuously ever since the early days
Of the Roman Empire" The provi-
dence Bulletin agrees that the coun-
try ''was not ready for . modern
government on advanced democratic
lines," and adds that "the showdown
that was In the cards since the crea-
tion Of the republic In May. 1891, has
now come" The Buffalo Evening
News sees the inspiration for the
revolt in the belief on the part Of
the opposition that the ruling faction
was ''out to wreck the republic"
"A law was enacted two years ago"
the indianapolis Star explains, which
permitted the setting aside Of Cata-
lonia ~ IN autonomous region within
the republic Of Spain. It includes the
four provinces of Barcelona, Tarra-
gona, Lerida and Corona with total
population Of about 2,60o 900. It has
its own Parliament and President.
While It remains within the republic,
It's sympathies with the government
at Madrid have been none too strong,
. fact attested by It's insistence on
autonomy. Communism and radi-
calism Of various types have been
prevalent In Barcelona and its neigh
boring communities. That city Is the
greatest seaport and industrial center
on the Iberian Peninsula. It was .
serious problem to the government
back n the days Of royalty and Is
merely living up to its reputation"
Units Of the republic" in the
opinion Of the Pittsburgh Post-Ga-
sette, "have no approach to ths essen-
tial homogeneity Of the States Of our
own Onion. Basque, Castflian and
CATALAN are welded by no common
tradition. Monarchy brought them to-
gethef - provinces: federal entity un-
der democratic forms Of government
can only be developed by slow degrees.
But In these years Of worldwide de-
PRESTON It II perhaps more notable
that republican rule has been MAIN
tained for three and . half years
than that there have been disturb
ances. With . return to prosperity
the republic would presumably gain
. new lease on life. It's troubles are
economic and industrial even more
than political, ct bottom
steadily losing ground since the
revolution Of 1891, which was largely
their victory,s sAys the Cincinnati
Times-star, ''the Socialists and left
wing Republicans have been using
Increasingly radical tactics. Since
the victory Of the Right parties in the
election ol last Winter, protest strikes
and civil disturbances have bean %
1kuQuent Ia Spain that the NORMAL
ccn1uct oe ~ 0atioub business and