The Waikato Times Wtih which ls inoorporates The Walks to Argus. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1930. SPAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18140, 3 October 1930, Page 6

The Waikato Times Wtih which ls inoorporates The Walks to Argus. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1930. SPAIN.

The Spaniards are apparently going through a political crisis. The Government has had several changes of a far-reaching nature. General Primo de Rivera was Dictator for some years hy appointment of the King, but owing to the insistent demand for constitutional government, the General surrendered office, and freedom of speech and of writing was granted. The first use that has been made of this unusual freedom is to demand a republic in place of a monarchy. The King is by law a constitutional monarch, called on to act by the advice of Ministers. It is possible that he has at times acted on his own initiative, and excuses can readily be found for this. General Primo de Rivera admittedly ruled well, and it is fair to suppose that despite the demand for a Republic the Spaniard is not yet fit to govern himself. The speech of Senor Lamora at the conference where the demands were put forward confirms the idea that Spain has not reached the stage when she is fit for self-government. Senor Lamora drew the attention of the conference to the manner in which affairs were managed in Britain and contrasted their politics, their education of the people, their respect for law and clean politics with the official corruption in Spain. Those who call out for a Republic are doubtless inspired by an honest desire to put an end to the

corruption, but they are mistaken in thinking this can be done by abolishing monarchy and setting up a Republic. If men are inclined to be dishonest it does not matter whether they are acting under a monarch or a republic. In practice it will be found rather easier in the republic. A monarch cannot himself be bribed; he usually objects to his Ministers receiving bribes. He may have many faults, and carry out his duties in a very imperfect manner, but he is seldom corrupt. In a country where the capacity for self-government is very limited a king is likely to be more successful than a president. He is there for life, and has the opportunity of creating some personal loyalty, and this is especially valuable in a country like Spain where respect for the law is by no means strongly developed. Spaniards are a strange race with very strongly’ marked characteristics, which are due partly to history and partly to geography. Historically they were part of the Roman Empire, not distinguished by any strong marks of individuality. After Rome fell they came under the dominion of the Moors, the most educated, civilised and advanced of those who embraced the Mohammedan faith. Under the Moors Spain was considered the home of learning and science. Medicine and law were studied and its universities attracted students from other countries. Those Spaniards who had been driven into the north of the country did not abandon the hope of finally expelling the Moors, and for generations a orusade was waged for motives partly religious and partly national. The Moors were finally conquered and most of them were driven out of Spain to its great impoverishment, for the Moors were much more capable than the Spaniards in all the arts of civilised life. The long crusade identified the people with the Catholic Church more firmly than was usual in other countries. The Inquisition had a stronger hold there than elsewhere. Monasteries and nunneries were more frequent, and in spite of 1 some reaction the faith would be found to-day' stronger in Spain than in any other country of Europe. This is the historical element in the Spanish character. The geographical element is due to mountain ranges which cut off separate parts of Spain from each other, and led to the development of strongly marked provincial characteristics. A Spaniard might be a patriotic citizen of Aragon, of Leon or of Castile, without rising to the dignity of being a good Spaniard.-, The Catalonians are to this day a race turbulent, suspicious and ready to break out against the Government. The individualism of the Spaniard may carry him far, but for two or three centuries the country has been slowly recovering from the meretricious splendour of its flowering period, when in. possession of Flemish wealth and with the consideration attached to the control of the Holy Roman Empire, it overran Europe; conquered Italy and Portugal, annexed Sicily, dominated the Mediterranean, defeated the Turks at Lepanto, and the French at Paria. Spain was the centre of this enormous effort, and was exhausted by it. Her possessions, scattered over the world have gradually been lost, but the South American republics which started as Spanish colonies bid fair to carry the Spanish spirit into the coming years. Spain itself is wonderfully situated for world trade, but the country is not rich. The centre is an elevated tableland with insufficient rainfall, suitable for sheep, but, for little else. There is considerable mineral wealth, and much wine production in the warmer part, but until government becomes more settled the country is not likely to make any great advances in prosperity. At present Spain is not ripe for a republic, and not rich to afford a revolution. It is quite possible, how-ever, that something of the kind will be attempted, and will set back the country for a longer or shorter time.