Evening star., 1934-01-07
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very men are the same. 1t is very
similar to the case of some Latin
American countries where the old po-
litical parties recently gained control
after a period of revolution.
In the new conservative regime of
Spain may be noticed the same political
and parliamentary weakness Of the
monarchy. It is also a characteristic Of
the last so years Of Latin American
politics.
I do not know what premise Lenin
had to predict that Spain would be the
second Communistic country in the
world. Her fiery opposition to dis
cipline permits a doubt as to the accu-
racy OF this forecast. Yet some Spanish
Socialists are already saying that ex-
perience has shown them that ''it is not
possible to achieve social justice without
social revolution"
Fernando de los Rios, noted university
professor, who did such brilliant work
In the ministry Of education, explained
the problem Of the Socialists.
I'm order to put down the monarchy
on April IA 1891" he said, I'VE had to
accept help from the bourgeoise parties
and share the government with them.
we COulO not, therefore, IMPOSE Gil III
teRral Socialist program"
The Socialism of De los Rios was a
ray Of hope. 1t was Socialism with lib
erty and democracy as opposed to a
ruthless Communism which holds that
the propertied classes will never give up
their privileges and must be destroyed.
It is Socialism without class struggle,
without a proletariat, dictatorship and
without Fascist conception Of the state.
Who knows but that the failure Of the
Socialist reform in Spain may mean
the end Of a hope that our race might
yet produce some means Of conciliatlng
social revolution with a political democ-
racy based on liberty?
The Socialists claim that the An
ercho-Syndicalist Left is to blame for
the reaction - that they fought the
government to the point OF revolution
and threw the country into the hands
of the Right and possible fascism.
The only way to prevent reaction,
the Anarchists answer, would have
been MARKHAM dictatorship set up the
day that Alfonso fied-but the So
cialists could not do It because they
are petty bourgeoise with a slight taste
for revolution.
Spain Is at Cross Roads.
Today Spain is at the same cross
roads and is faced with the same
dilemma as our countries in Latin
America. We know that we have to
find some new form Of social hierarchy
and new organization of the state,
but we do not see it. The choice is
not as simple or as certain as it was
100 years ago, when We were born to
political independence with a demo-
HratiH otiva rnndolnd
eSer that Of the United States, France
and England. Where are we to turn
for our models now? Our form OF
government was baSed on ideals that
were then in fs mon but which have
failed in praC ice. What MuSsoltnl
and Stain Ne now saying aho'it
democracy was said about the demo-
t-atlc regimes in Latin America by
Bolivar 100 years ago.
Too busy with our growth. we in
America neglected to study our society
and to interpret American life. 1t is
only recently that our scholars and
thinkers began their criticism.
Without having greatly profted by
the systems which are universally chal-
lenged today, We have assim1ated
their defects in Latin America an3
have become saturated with tk<r
spiritual vices; the biological violence
u the struggle for existence, the lure
OF profit, utilitarian philosophy. The
rebellion In our countries never as
sumed any other form than that of
personal dictatorship. Now we are
offered collective relationships of
fascists. proletariats, kuomintangs.
The ruling classes which took power
in our countries after independence
found in our democratic systems the
means Of sharing political practice and
sharing their wealth. That is why, of
the three basic principles of the
f, French revolution, they emphasized
Nberty but neglected equality and