The Dominion. SATURDAY, OCTOBEE 7, 1911. REVOLUTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 4

The Dominion. SATURDAY, OCTOBEE 7, 1911. REVOLUTIONS.

Portugal and Spain, at the present time, taken together, present a situation probably unprecedented in the history of Europe. It is a situation that should provide much pregnant material for the future historian. In Portugal the army and navy have successfully turned against tho Monarchy, and a Republican Government rules at Lisbon: in Spain the naval and military forces remain true to tho King and the Republicans rail in vain against the Monarchy. Herein lies a fruitful theme for the historian. The standing armies by which in former days Continental Sovereigns kept themselves in power, over-awed the populace, and destroyed popular institutions, are now, as in the case of Portugal, being employed on behalf of one section of the 'people against another section, and against the Monarchical system which called them into existence. In tho event of internal disruptions success must always attend the side which com-mands-the armed forces of the country. Chiefs of the military slaughtered King Alexander of Scrvia and his Queen, doubtless relying on having the army at their back. It was the support of more than tlircefourths of the. army that secured the triumph of the Young Turks. Macaulay's brilliant pages describe tho gradual extinction of limited monarchy on the Continent through the instrumentality of great standing armies. "Where a great regular army oxists.", bo nointji out, /'limited monarchy, auui as it was in the

Middle Ages, can exist no longer. The Sovereign is at once emancipated from what had been the chief restraint on his power; and he inevitably becomes absolute." That is, provided ho retain the allegiance of lijs army. England, while bestowing on its Kings the power of the sword, wisely retained for her people the power of the purse. On the Continent no safeguards for public liberty were devised with the result that, one by one, the old-established Parliamentary institutions ceased to exist, in particular, those of Erance and those which flourished in Spain and in Portugal.

The destruction of national assemblies and the creation of absolute Monarchies were due to self-willed Kings and ambitious Ministers, but, above all, to powerful and loyal armies. Absolute Monarchies, now out of fashion in Western countries, have given place to constitutional modes of government; but standing armies remain, potent as ever, to uphold or upset any rules, whether dynastic or Republican. The Spanish army, it. is believed, can, for the present at all events, be trusted to support the King. So long as Alfonso commands the allegiance of the army and the navy his throne may be considered safe. Manoel was less fortunate: when the hour of crisis came he was, for all effective purposes, deserted by both army and navy. The Monarchists are s'tronp in Portugal, they arc undoubtedly active, and their strength is increasing. All the regiments did not declare for the Republican cause. The ultimate success, alike of Republican and Monarchist, depends almost entirely in tho first place upon tho temper and the attitude of the army and navy. Were the country's armed forces won over by the friends and adherents of ex-King Manoel the days of the Republican Government would be numbered. To contemplate the probability of a great popular rising with the object of reinstating the young King appears to bn both idle and illusory. If King Manoel over return to the throne of Portugal it must be as head, in a real sense, of the Portuguese army and of the Portuguese navy. Tho fall of the Braganza dynasty was so easily accomplished, and seemed to find so ready an acceptance by tho Portuguese people, that erroneous impressions undoubtedly prevail about tho country being tired of Monarchy and ready for a new regime. On tho other hand, it is considered by probably the majority in Portugal, and by many outside of tho country, that the revolution of a year ago passed so swiftly and smoothly that it could not have been a real revolution, one effecting a complete change in the polity of an ancient country. The_ vast majority of Portugal's inhabitants are unfortunately illiterate. They are, of course, altogether ignorant of the science of govcrnmonfc and are credulous to a degree which is amazing. Where what may be termed tho people were, in a.manner, consulted by members of the Republican party prior to the revolution, grounds exist for believing that the public had its mind well filled, beforehand, with information about the King and Court which was untrue, and by.promises of benofits which it was impossible for tho Republicans to confer. Tho Republican Government has done littlo to usher in the millennial days it predicted on reaching power. It initiated a legislative _ campaign against tho_ Church—chiefly in the hope of adding something toa sadlydiminished exchequer—a procedurewhich, considering the mind and condition of the people, was scarcely diplomatic. The unsatisfactory financial condition of tho country has been emphasised by tho relative failure of the wino and wheat harvests, two of the staple resources of Portugal. The price of food has not bsen reduced, as the populace was led to believe it would be when tho old Government was removed, while a new law providing every worker with a weekly rest-day has, at the same time, lowered the weekly incomes of the working classes. The people arc disappointed, and thoy aro discontented; being both, they offer abundant facilities for the attempting of further changes. This failure of tho Portuguese Republican party to make good thoir claim of being the saviours of society will not only open the eyes of the Portuguese, but will also help to remove) misleading and dangerous conceptions touching the same party from the minds of the Spanish people. Tho Republicans of Portugal hayo bestowed on Kinq Alfonso of Spain a great, a timely, and, probably, a lasting service. The Spanish Republicans cannot adduce Portugal as a striking example of the valuo and success of non-Monarchical government. The present situation in Portugal is unhkoly to continue indefinitely. While it would be hazardous to predict tho return of Manoel, the fact must bo remembered that tho dethroned King retains great influence and many supporters within his former kingdom.