SPAIN FACING THE CARLISTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10587, 18 October 1910, Page 2

SPAIN FACING THE CARLISTS.

Tho Prime Minister of Spain, in the •present crisis, finds himself on the horn's of a, dilemma. If by undue haste or zeal he should excite a Catholic tiprising, the Carlists will raise an army, so Don Jaime declares, and, fighting for the Church, claim the succession. If, on' the other hand, he j'ields, he will lose the support of those who now back his measures, and his fight will end in a fiascc. Every one will remember that the Carlists were originally followers of that Don Carlos, Duke of Madrid, who, asserting his right to the throne, entered Spain, and raised an army against the Government in 1872-3, but failed in effecting his purpose. The Carlists are Ultramontanes, and when the present Pope, Pius X., was Sarto, .Bishop of V-onice, in whose diocese Don Jaime has his castle, the Bishop naturally came into friendship with the royal claimant. The Cardinal Archbishop.of Miadrid was even instructed to oppose Bishop Sarto's election, says the same organ, because of his close intimacy with Don Jamie. A good deal of importance is attached to the Carlist element in the: situation by the very influential and well-inform-ed Koelnische Zeitung, which informs us that many Carlist members of the Cortes, Deputies and Senators, have betaken themselves to Frohsdorf, where Don Jaime has his residence, and have framed a party manifesto. Speaking of this address, which was recently uttered by the Bourbon pretender, the Frankfurter Zeitung expounds it as follows: I

"The tenor of it is that, if:the present monarchy fails to still the rising tempest of revolution, it will find itself quite helpless before the face of its own enemies. The day is not far off when the friends of Christian order - and the whole Spanish Army must "' marshal themselves under the banner of Carlism, and in order to bring to'destruction the enemies of 'true liberty' Don will assume the post of honor which is his real birthright." This paper then shows its own leanings by remarking, that in his manifesto \ I)qn Jaime threatens with revolution, ,in the name of tie Church, those' who 'oppose papal authority," and goes on in "the"same tenor: | "We must wait to see whether the Carlist- military leaders will be! able to raiso a sufficient number of soldiers v/ho hold the Vatican "dearer thali their mother country, to effect this.aim. It is, of course, quite possible that the forces of the <3arlistsr will be-able once more to throw Spain-into a condition of conflict, as has been.-'so often clone in the oast. For this the - Vatican" must be held responsible." ; The Pester Lloyd, too, believes that the Vatican is in "the closest with the followers of Don Jaime,'' and it predicts that "this is the very thing that will prove fatal to the Vatican in

Spain, 1 ' for the Carlists are insincere and ''the enthusiasm they profess for the Church is merely a ruse for gathering recruits." The case for Canalejas is given in a letter to the London Times sijiied "Spanish Liberal," which is quoted m full by the Catholic Osservatore Romano. This writer thinks the Carlist movement a real peril to the monarchy. As he puts it: "There are regions, such as Navarre, certain parte of the Basques, Aragou, and Catalonia, where an army Loukl he raised - at short notice to defend the Romish Church. Any too;violent actioii might imperil the monarchy; and for this reason it is sought to proceed with great wariness." In this conflict of arms, he says, "Canalejas would be beaten, but the question has an economic aspect." The Church, -he claims, has too much of the revenue: "In a budget of little more than £40,000,000, of which half goes to pay the interest on the public debt and pensions, the sum devoted to the clergy is £1,600,000; and this does not include other large sums paid in fees. For the 49 Provinces of the Peninsula there are 58 dioceses; there are 61 bishops or archbishops, and some 21,000 canons and minor' dignitaries." Moreover, the Church, says this follower of Canalejas, knocks out competition in Spain and leaves many trades and professions, and largo tracts i of landed property the monopoly of tho 1 clergy and religious orders. Hence the popularity of Mr Canalejas' measures even among some faithful Catholics. The Spanish Liberal explains this as follows : "The desire felt by the Spanish nation to be relieved'of some part of this heavy annual charge of rearly £2,000,000 has contributed largely to the popularity of the Radical Government; but indignation, at the privileges enjoyed by the religious communities is an even greater influence in its favor. These pay no territorial -contribution. Tho magnificent properties of the monks pay no rates whatever, and in consequence of this the Spanish citizen living in their neighborhood has to pay an exorbitant rent. Neither do these religious communities pay the industrial tax or the personal tax. At the same time their inmates are exempt from military service, and from the redemption fee of £6O in lieu of military service which is exacted from (ither Spanish citizens. Tho result of this is that in certain towns of special industries the workers, especially the women, cannot live. The elaborate working in linen which formerly gave so much employment to tho wives and daughters of the wage-earners has passed entirely into the hands of the convents. The workwomen of Saragossa .were dying of hunger last year while in the convents an elaborate trousseau valued at many thousands of dollars was being worked. Such facts as these explain the peculiar vindictiveness of the women against the religious houses—a vindictiveness seen in its full extent during the 'tragic week' of Barcelona last year. The male worker suffers also-by the competing industries of the monks. This is especially true in the matter of teaching. While a. religious college 'pays''no'.'tax, a secular school is compelled; to pay its tax six months in advance. A private teacher can scarcely find occupation." The article concludes with this sketch \ of the outlook:

"The Vatican scarcely realises the strength which such a state of tilings gives to its enemies'. If Eome resists, a rupture, followed by a series of measures applied by the Spanish Government to remedy these evils, would meet with hearty approval in the large towns, not only among the rationalist element, but also among the working classes. A prolongation of the present state of things can only lead to a repetition of the tragic week of Barcer Ipna, and perhaps. to anofhpr -.nassacro of .monks such as that wnich disgraced the year 1835. ..-•

"The positron of Senor .Canalejas .is nevertheless a difficult one. In case of a. rupture with Rome he will be compelled to give effect to ■ a considerable part of his programme without further delay, and it is very doubtful if the Crown will give its sanction to measures which constitute a declaration of. war against the Roman Church."

On/ the other hand, .the Catholic party, supplemented by the Carlists, have a' strong card to play in their preponderating numbers and their daring enthusiasm. In answer to a> remark of Mr Canalejas, reported in the Heraldo do Madrid, "Wchavo no fear of a civil war" the challenge is taken up by the Catholic Correo Catalan (Barcelona) in the following words: "We, too, can talk about civil war! If he does not fear it, he ought to be told that there arc hosts of Spaniards who would not sin-ink from it. If Canalejas breaks with the Vatican.it"is right for him to know that the Ministry, the Government, and the King break with the Catholic people who form an enormous majority' of our glorious Spanish nation and who can and will secure for themselves a regime whose thoughts and sentiments and wishes accord with their .own."

Rome, a weekly intended to enlighten . English-Tspeaking people with the views and plans of the Vatican, says "that the Holy See- has known all through tho deliberations that rupture, immediate rupture, was Senor Canalcjas', aim, and a member of the Cabinet unfortunately let the public into the secret a short time ago," but this organ adds that "no sophistries will soothe Spain if she knows her faith is attacked, but she must know it. All honor to the Biscayans who are bent on showing her what is at stake. Her fato is in her own hands. We hope earnest Catholics in. Spain will preach a. crusade and all decent men will join in it." The article concludes by saying that "the present Government does not represent Spain. 1 ' "For the people have not lost their chivalry, their lovo of their country, and their devotion to their faith."