THE STATE OF PORTUGAL

New Zealand Tablet, 25 July 1912, Page 43

THE STATE OF PORTUGAL

Awaiting the revolution is the attitude ascribed to about 90 per cent, of the people of Portugal (writes the London correspondent of "the Melbourne Age). There seems to be general agreement among foreigners who are studying the situation that the new republic is a failure. Many faults were attributed by the people to monarchial rule when they had it. Democratic rule has produced corruption, a tyrannous form of political ' bossism, industrial stagnation, high taxation, a consequent increase in the cost of living, and bitter sectional antagonisms. Safety is assured neither to life nor property, although the country is to a* large extent under military rule. We are told that during a trial at Oporto the judges and jury were armed with revolvers and escorted by a military detachment, that outrages are frequent in rural districts, and that Dr. Jose. d'Almeda, one of the republican leaders, has received notice that he will be ■ assassinated at the earliest opportunity ' because he dared to criticise the actions-of Affonso Costa, the reputed chief of the secret organisation known as the Carbonaria, which exercises a strong political influence and is said to have adopted terrorist methods. Costa, who is a lawyer by profession, is described as ' the most •' powerful man in Portugal,' though he holds no public office at present. The Government' party, following a plan not uncommon in other democratic countries, has chosen as its Prime Minister a weak man, lacking both nerve and experience in statesmanship. Chafing under dictation and wearied by his rule as figure-head, Dr. Vasconcellos has twice or thrice offered to resign, but he has been persuaded to remain in his position, chiefly because no sufficiently pliant substitute can be found. A large proportion of the Portuguese people—an overwhelming majority, according to some reports— welcome a restoration of the monarchy. Whether their desire will be realised within the next few months depends upon the extent to which disaffection has grown among the republican troops. ■ , *