Page:EB1922 - Volume 32.djvu/147

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PORTUGAL
129

operation with the establishment of civil government under the American flag (the Hollander law), as modified and adapted to meet changing conditions. Ordinary expenditures for the fiscal year 1920 were $7,258,970.57, as compared with $3,685,613 in 1911. The total assessed valuation of all property for purposes of taxation in 1920 was $264,235,686, as compared with $133,817,931 in 1911.

The pop. of the island in 1920, despite appreciable emigration to the United States and Santo Domingo, was 1,299,809 (an increase of 181,797 in the decade), with a density distribution of 378-4 per square mile. In consequence of this continued growth, education and health remain grave problems. The total enrolment in all schools supported by public funds was 184,991. Of the 228,829 children of compulsory school age (8-14 years) only 61 % attended school. The death-rate for 1920 was 23-33 P er 1,000 inhabitants as compared with 24-97 in 1911. But in 1920, tuberculosis, malaria and uncinariasis (hookworm), together with infant mortality, still accounted for 60 % of the total death-rate. The enquiries of a commission sent by the Rockefeller Foundation upon the request of the insular authorities confirmed the opinion that about 90 % of the people of the island were infected with uncinariasis. " Our population is one of the densest on earth," the insular commissioner of health, himself a distinguished Porto Rican, wrote in 1920. " More than 70% are in the country, badly housed and fed, ill in health and ignorant of the first principles of hygiene. Until the people have learned to preserve and protect their health and have more ample means to provide better houses and food so as to reduce their miseries, no positive result, no recompense for all our efforts, can be obtained."

The governors were George R. Colton, 1909-13; Arthur Yager, 1913-21; E. M. Reily, 1921- . (J. H. Ho.)


PORTUGAL (see 22.134). The effects of the Portuguese Revolution of Oct. 1910 fell most heavily on the poor of the country districts, who suffered from the loss of charities sustained by the expelled religious bodies and of the care of the sisters of charity, and from the exile of many of the richest families and the transference of capital abroad. In consequence, emigration in the years preceding the World War increased to an unprece- dented extent, rising from 6 -83 per 1,000 in 1910 to 14-85 per 1,000 in 1912. In one district, that of Braganza (Braganga), it rose to 6 % of the population. In the towns unrest was less passive and discontent with the working of the Republic was prevalent; lavish promises had aroused impossible hopes among the people, and by many the Republic was regarded as but a.first step towards a more Radical workmen's republic. Socialism and syndicalism developed rapidly. The right to strike at 24 hours' notice, con- ceded on Dec. 7 1910, was followed by strikes of all kinds, including several serious railway strikes. The disorders culminated in the demonstration against Parliament on Aug. 2 1911 and the general strike at Lisbon on Jan. 31 1912, when the city was placed under martial law and over 1,000 workmen suspected Sf syndicalism were arrested. The new governing class, largely composed of professional men, chiefly lawyers and journalists, had not the necessary authority to prevent excess.

The Provisional Government of the Republic consisted of Dr. Theophilo Braga, President, Dr. Antonio Jose de Almeida (Home Affairs), Dr. Afonso Costa (Justice), Col. Correa Bar- reto (War), Dr. Amaro Azevedo Gomes (Marine), Dr. Bernar- dino Machado (Foreign Affairs), Dr. Basilio Telles and, later, Dr. Jose Relvas (Finance), Dr. Antonio Luiz Gomes and, later, Dr. Brito Camacho (Public Works). It lasted till Aug. 24 1911.

The Constitution. On March 18 1911 the new electoral law came into force. It gave the vote to all Portuguese over 21 years of age who could read or write, including priests and officers of the army or navy, but excluding naturalized Portuguese, officers on the active list and persons proscribed politically. Lisbon and Oporto (voting on the proportional system) were to return ten deputies each, the other districts four and the colonies one each. By a modification of Jan. n 1915 Lisbon received 20 deputies, Oporto 10, the remaining constituencies between i and 4 each. By a decree of March n 1918 universal suffrage for all citizens over 21 was established, but illiterates (75% of the. pop.) were again disfranchized in 1919. By the law of 1918 the number of deputies was reduced to 155, returned by 5 1 constituencies, of which Lisbon returned 14, Oporto 6. The representation in the Senate, consisting of 77 members, was made regional and profes- sional. By a decree of April 26 191 8 soldiers and sailors on active service were allowed to, vote. In the elections held on May 28 1911 many of the candidates were nominated by the authorities

xxxn. 5

without opposition and, even where there was an election (in 28 out of 50 districts), the Government candidates were returned without difficulty, no Royalists offering themselves.

The Constitutional Assembly was opened on June 19 1911 and a decree was passed declaring the monarchy abolished and the House of Braganza forever banished from Portugal. On Aug. 20 the new constitution was voted. It provided for two Chambers, that of the Deputies, consisting of 163 members to be elected every three years, and the Senate, consisting of 71 members. The President of the Republic was to be elected by both chambers for four years and could not be reelected. His salary was fixed at 3,600, with 1,200 for expenses. On Feb. 19 1920 he was given the right to dissolve parliament, after consulting a special council appointed for this purpose.

The first President under the new constitution was Dr. Manuel de Arriaga (born in 1840, at Horta, in the Azores), who, on Aug. 24 defeated the Radical candidate, Dr. Bernardino Machado, by 121 votes to 86, the Conservative candidate, Senhor Braamcamp Freire, having withdrawn. The members of the first Constitu- tional Ministry were: Dr. Joao Chagas, premier and minister of Home Affairs; Dr. Augusto de Vasconcellos (Foreign Affairs); Dr. Duarte Leite (Finance); Gen. Pimenta de Castro (War); Senhor Joao de Meneses (Marine); Dr. Celestino de Almeida (Colonies) ; Dr. Diogo Tavares de Mello (Justice) ; Dr. Sidonio Paes (Public Works). The Government was opposed by the Radicals under Dr. Afonso Costa and faintly supported by the other groups the Evolutionist followers of Dr. Almeida, the Unionist followers of Dr. Brito Camacho and the Independents. One of the first measures was to vote the payment to each deputy of 1 73. for each sitting of the assembly. . .

Church and State. -The anti-clerical policy of the Provisional Government had entailed serious difficulties. The bishops signed a pastoral letter of protest and on March 8 1911 the bishop of Oporto was removed from his see, with a pension of 240. The religious orders had been expelled by the decree of Oct. 8 1910, their property confiscated and the convents closed. By that of Oct. 22 the teaching of religion in the primary schools was forbid- den. Marriage of priests became legal. The decree of separation between Church and State was drawn up, under the date of April 20 1911, by Dr. Afonso Costa, then Minister of Justice. It granted full liberty of conscience to all Portuguese citizens. The Roman Catholic religion ceased to be that of the State, which recognized all creeds as of equal authority, making no payment for their support. Among other proscriptions, public worship was to be open to the public and was held to include religious instruction, public or private. The congregation might only contribute to the expenses of their worship through the miseri' cordias or other Portuguese charitable institutions. The churches were declared inalienable without the consent of the Minister of Justice and might be expropriated at any time. Local authorities were given full power to restrict or forbid processions, funerals or other external acts of worship. An inventory was to be taken (June-Sept. 1911) of all Church property, including churches and cathedrals, which became the property of the State. The clergy were granted a salary under certain conditions and all ecclesiastical property was made liable to taxation. The priests were forbidden to wear the cassock except at services. No foreigner or naturalized Portuguese might take part in any service except in the case of international agreement or ancient custom. Papal edicts might not be promulgated in Portugal without the consent of the Government.

This decree, in a country where over 90% of the inhabitants were Roman Catholic, was considered to be the subjection of the Church to the State rather than its separation, and contributed towards alienating the north of Portugal from the Republic. The patriarch of Lisbon and the bishop of Guarda published a pastoral letter forbidding the clergy to accept salaries from the State. For consistent opposition to the law of separation the bishop of Guarda and the patriarch of Lisbon were banished from their dioceses for two years.

The value of the Church property confiscated was 6,000,000. Owing to official protests on behalf of some of the foreign congre-