GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN

Shannon News, 25 January 1927, Page 1

GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN

'*■'" • ..•:•--■ i * ' ••• ">»*' -j'm.'. r -. -'■•■ ACUTE PROBLEMS AHEAD. ■ POLITICAL INCAPACITY. "A dictatorship," says Signor Nitti, "is a confession of political incapacity £n4"floMlii the governed." Mr. Horsl'all Carter, in the October "Contemporary Review," affirms that this ia true of .Spain. f .-Tho position 4n» ,that is from that in Italy. * "Unlike ~Fas&Bm," he says, "the movement in Spain ha,s never laid' claim reyohftionary or Messianic cliai-acter,-' it depend upon popular enthusiasm or a rabid nationalism. So far from being worked:; up th<i"man in talks a 'Miguclito' and his Government with mild;'amusement, a£f?e'ed<fth \vhieh. 'lie wouldi "have to forego iii Italy \ .or igi nores the subject altogether. For him it is.just the Government, and as good as any other. Such is the political apathy of' the average Spaniard who prefers to console himself for centuries of- migr ; uje - andrrjroaladministration with his favourite proverb, "May Gpd lest a worse one take his place.'" Mr Horsfall quotes Count Romanones, leader of the Liberal Party, who has vindicated the leaders of the old regime in a reden¥%ookv l iie insists on the paralysing effect on Spanish policy af? BOfiJe*, and *abro&d of this absence sit -"political <4ke%lißiu in the electorate. He Bayg that to blame the political leaders for tha which is due to a national failing is to take the effect for the cause. Spain, according to ' Mr-'- r Hbrsftflli' 'is wrestling with problems which have bpen; sblye,d ij;in.-, other ;. lands.' -iThc problems of political life in Spain are complicated, .and<> dominated, by .; the, fact that Churcli'ahd State have never yet been placed on a satisfactory'basis, vital'energies are still to-day being wasted ia the age-old struggle for the political supremacy of the Church.

Mr Horsfall thinks that the regeneration of Spanish life can only proceed from a satisfactory system of education.; Forty-six per cent of the people are still illiterate, and the traditional;"system? of-teaching, both in church and State schools and universities, ,is condemned by all enlightened Spaniards. There is now - :ui earnest movement toward complete religious toleration and modern inethod 3 in Spanish teaching. General Primo de Rivera has met with widespread support for two ' reasons The first is. his insistence on the temporary nature of his suspension of constitutional rights. The sepond lies, in .practical emergencies, which he has |tri<§d ftp meet. Conititutional 'reform ivas' compliQated -by < the spread of Syndicalism. The apathy and inefftcioncy of public servants nyUified good legislation. Political* "bosses" exploited public ignorance. Then army discipline began to break up, following reverses in Morocco and attempts/ to restore efficiency. The. forces of disorder seemed to," be about to overwhelm the State, Strict censorship- makes it hard to judge the Government on its merits, But the evidence of'•unwarrantable persecution of Ideas' is damning. A regime which sends Senor Unamuno into exile, while pandering consistently to the religious orders, would seem to deserve the epithet o reactionary, But the 1 Government has Improved public services,- given somewhat more education, and brought the Moroccan campaign to., an end. Its hardest task,-the'restoration of efficiency in the army "and tti'e cai'rying out of certain economics, brings It in conflict with -the strongest and niicfet- conipact"i&dyp;in the' States—the arfny th e mutiny in the artillery, and it wi'l cause other disturhanes, The support I of the King arid * tie "Rivera^ - •own prestige with the forces alone giv hope that the storm will be weathered. The Catalans,"Who possess all the business and industrial energy,of Spain, , are being allowed to unite their four provinces," and are beln,? given mor e home-rule, but their language is still forbidden in the Courts. The country, clergy, have been organising rrural .co-operative societies, which have been arousing l the backward farmers. Good work Is being done in forestry.. ; On the other hand, i the prolonged muzzling of the Press is indefensible, j and -the Marquis do Estella cheapens himself in the eyes of all thihglrigiMn when he affects to sneer at Parliamentary institutions and 'liberties. The future depends a good' dealt thinks Mr Horsfall. on tho Patriotic 'Union, ■■• &■■ ■- heterogeneoua collection of opinion which has formed round the Government. On the basis Of-recent' reforms sound !gress may be possible tinder a restored democratic; system; J