Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, AUG, 23, 1907. PORTUGAL'S TROUBLES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11056, 23 August 1907, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, AUG, 23, 1907. PORTUGAL'S TROUBLES.

The old adage "Uneasy lies. the head that wears a crown" is given illustration m to-day's cable news. Whilst a band of conspirators against the life of the Czar of all the Russias is being tried by court-martial at St. Petersburg another plot at assassination has been discovered m Portugal, where, by the untimely explosion of a bomb a conspiracy against King Carlos was revealed. In another direction, at Stuttgart, a mon_ter congress of Socialists, avowed opponents of the present constitutional system, is letting off steam and acting, perhaps, as a safety valve to the underworld of European politics. The situation m Portugal which the plot against the King now fully reveals has been increasing m f;ravity for some months. Trouble aroee argely through the desire of Senhor Franco, the new Prime Minister, to initiate financial reforms. The finances of the country had drifted into a very bad condition, and m order to rehabilitate them Senhor Franco decided to attack the problem at both ends by cutting down sinecures, and increasing octroi duties. In this, work, which naturally raised a storm of opposition from a host of privileged persons as well as from the poorer clasess, who felt the oppression of increased taxes, the Prime Minister would have obtained the hearty approval of the great bulk of the people if he had not set about the business m an unconstitutional way. In order to overcome the obstructive tnctics of an opposition more determined than anything we know m New Zealand, he advised that Parliament be dispensed with, and the Chamber of Deputies was | dissolved. This arbitrary act led to

something m thc nature of a revolution, and adhering to his dictatorial (jOUi.se, the Premier, with the King's assent, ordered suspension of newspapers and clubs, and hundreds of arrests were made. Public opinion pronounced unmistakably against these drastic measures, and the odium wliich the Prime Minister incurred has fastened to a great degree on the King himself. King Carlos showed the greatest loyalty and courage m supporting the policy of his Prime Minister, but made a great mistake m attempting to override tho wishes and authority of the people. The present unrest seems likely to result m thc country being placed under military government and the restoration of capital punishment. The hot blood of the Portuguese resents anything m the nature of official repression, and unless the King and Government give way there may yet bo a forcible deposition of the King. Already there is talk of another claimant to the throne m the person of Dom Miguel, son of the late ex-King Miguel, who was forced to abdicate 73 years ago. Ho is said to possess the support of a large Legitimist party and of a good deal of European influence. Portuguese affairs for the next few weekß will be worth watching.