THE REVOLUTION IN PORTUGAL

New Zealand Tablet, 1 December 1910, Page 1965

THE REVOLUTION IN PORTUGAL

VIOLENT AND DISGRACEFUL SCENES Iho revolution in Portugal has been, completely successful (says the Catholic Times). The outbreak took place before the day originally fixed for it, being precipitated by the false rumor that Dr. Lombardia, a Republican, who was shot by an officer of unsound mind, a former patient of his, was the victim of an emissary of the Jesuits. A large number of the troops took part in the insurrection. 1 here were a couple of days* fierce fighting, in the course of which some hundreds of people are believed to have been killed. The warships in harbor attached themselves to the Republican cause, and joined in the bombardment of the Royal Palace, from which King Manuel was unwillingly persuaded to make his escape, his Majesty and the other members of the Royal family arriving at Gibraltar on Xhursday evening, October 6. Of the scenes in Lisbon on Tuesday Mr. Donohoe the special correspondent of the 'Daily Chronicle, in the course ol a graphic narrative, ’wrote — Shops and offices were closed. Tramcars ceased to run: streets were deserted. Lisbon, save for the rival armed camps, was as a city of the dead. I walked through the streets, and, except on the quayside and in the parts of the city held by troops did not encounter a living soul. Shortly afterwards began the bombardment of the Royal Palace by two rebel cruisers the King, who was surrounded by advisers, numerous and undecided, and, if report spoke truly, in a state bordering on panic, had remained in the Palace until the beginning of the bombardment. Then many of his craven entourage fled, but a loyal and staunch few remained by the side of the young Monarch. Throughout the crisis King Manuel comported himself bravely. . One of the most discreditable incidents of the revolution was the attack on the Quelhas Convent of the Jesuits the correspondent of the Standard, telegraphing on October 8, says : —‘ The mob has now shown its fangs against the religious Orders. Monasteries and convents have been forced and sacked, their priests killed, and disgusting acts of sacrilege committed. , At daylight the Quelhas Convent as attacked. The priests defended themselves with bombs and rifle fire. The ancient building was enormously strong, but an entrance was finally effected, and the troops found three priests— dead and two wounded The remainder of the occupants had escaped by underground passages, apparently carrying their wounded with them ’ It is now admitted that the story of the bombs, the defence by the priests, and the underground passages is all imagination. * & ,

Repulsive Scenes. ‘."When. Quelhas was taken,’ says the correspondent, ‘ an angry mob of young ruffians, armed to the teeth with knives, revolvers, crowbars, and hammers, poured in with the soldiery. 1 saw no officers and no attempt to exercise control. In a few moments every room in the great house was invaded.. The scene of senseless destruction which followed beggars description. Nothing was spared. Holy Images and the vessels on the altars, priceless volumes in the splendid library, the treasures in the sacristy, magnificent sacerdotal vestmentsall went to pillage and destruction. Half-drunken ruffians, long knives in hand, searched for hidden priests to kill. Others smashed the sacred things, relic cases, and ornaments. Some, putting on the priestly vestments, intoned mock Masses before the high altar, or pretended to pray from the pulpit. Soldiers and sailors lounged about, smoking and expectorating. Ribald songs were shouted where only solemn chants had been heard. It was the most repulsive scene which I have looked on.’ The_ attack on the Quelhas Convent was suspended on the British flag being hoisted over the building. 4 The fusillading by sailors and soldiers and the riff-raff of the town of the Jesuit Convent in the Quelhas quarter, and its eventual pillage,’ says the correspondent of the Daily News, ‘might easily have been prevented by the Government.’

Reuter’s correspondent in Lisbon telegraphed on Saturday : —‘ During the night armed parties effected an entrance into another convent where there are about 150 Portuguese Sisters of Charity. It is stated that some of the nuns pluckily resisted the intruders, and a scuffle ensued in the course of which twelve Sisters were slightly hurt. The injured were conveyed to the military hospital, and the other Sisters were removed in waggons to a place unknown. The convent is now occupied by the military. A rather numerous band of men on Friday tried to enter the College of the Portuguese Colonial Mission at Cintra, where the Papal Nuncio is in residence. The men stated that they had come to search for concealed arms. The Nuncio, acting on the advice of. the Mayor, refused to allow them to enter, and hoisted the Papal flag, but as the men did not make an attack and formally asked for permission to make a search, he ultimately yielded and allowed them inside. No arms were found. The Republican Programme. The Republicans have published their programme, and prominent items are the expulsion of the monks and nuns, the separation of Church and State, and the establishment of lay schools. In fact, it is a thoroughly Masonic programme. The expulsion of the monks and nuns has already begun, and some harrowing scenes have been enacted in the process. Innumerable parties of nuns and their girl pupils, many of the children carrying dolls, have been conducted through the streets by troops with drawn swords and accompanied by yelling mobs. The nuns, some of whom are of high birth, and many of them wearing disguises, were obviously almost frightened to death. The property of the religious has been confiscated. The King and Queen at Gibraltar. King Manuel and the Portuguese Royal Family became the guests of Sir Archibald Hunter at Government House on their arrival at Gibraltar, and have said farewell to the crew of the yacht Amelia, in which they made their escape from the scenes of revolution. On Sunday King Manuel, Queen Amelia, and ladies and gentlemen of their suites, were present at High Mass at St. Mary’s. Captain D Arcy and Lieutenant Farquhar attended them, and they were met by Sir Archibald Hunter, who had provided carnages for them. On their arrival at the church they were received by Monsignor Chincota and a large gathering of clergy. Moiisignor Chincota kissed the hands of the King and Queen and conducted them to seats inside the predella near the high altar. .... The Queen Mother could not hide her grief and wept bitterly, laying her head down upon her arms, shaken with silent sobs. This, in her prominent position, was so apparent that m spite of the reverence of the other worshippers they could not avoid being spectators of this living tragedy. It stirred them to profound emotion, and many people were in tears. * r In his sermon, Monsignor Chincota spoke of hope and resignation, and of the healing which faith in God gives to poor suffering hearts. He referred also to the warm hospitality which has been given to Portuguese monarchs by the English colony of Gibraltar.