SPANISH POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18255, 17 February 1931, Page 6

SPANISH POLITICS.

Concurrent with the fall of the Marques de Eslella, Spain returned to the political morass which has characterised her affairs since the Napoleon era. From that period on her government has been in the hands of the King and an oligarchy o'f autocrats who 1 have jealously guarded their narrow circle so that none of the socalled lower classes, with their more liberal views, could have a voice in dictating policy. Parliament has only been a perpetuation of the system, and has been controlled and run by professional politicians of the worst type. Men utterly divorced from all patriotic sentiments, who have conductel affairs so as to retain their hold on office at all possible cost. To ensure this meant pandering to the autocratic system of Royalty, which has its last European example in Spain. The Spanish King is invested with more power than any other Aryan Monarch, apart from those who have assumed the cloak of dictator. To hold his prerogatives he _ must perforce work hand in glove with those politicians who use him as their tool. Thus King and professional politician, relying on one another for the furtherance of their personal ambitions, must support one another. Not that King Alfonso has ever used his powers with indiscretion. He is a popular monarch personally. It is the system, not the man, that the populace object to. In 1916, fearing that the parliamentarians were gaining too strong a grip, the King allowed the formation of juntas within the army, in the hope that through them he would have the backing of the militarists against the politicians. In doing so he engendered, as time has shown, a weapon against 'himself. The army, which at one time was more or less passive in political matters, has now taken an active hand in them and further added to the troubles of the Throne. That I lie King since his dismissal of Prime do Rivera lias been intent on reverting to the old status was evident by Ids appointment of General Berenguer as the Chief of State, followed by his dealings with Count Romanones and the rest of the autocrats whose activities Primo dc Rivera put a temporary check to. With the news that Senor Sanchez Guerra has returned to the arena a felling of optimism may be felt for Spain’s future. This applies in a lesser degree to Senor Alba. However, so long as the Old Guard are suffered to remain, so long will peace lie denied to Spain. Republicanism would lie fatal to her, but the King must renounce his claims to his undemocratic and hindering pregogativos and give ear to the voice of the younger generation. With the King a figure-head, divorced from politics, the army de-poiiticised, Church and Slate separated, and, given a modern franchise, the Spain that could lie, would lie.