Abstract

The Crisis in Spain

No better picture of complete political disintegration can be imagined than the Spain of midsummer, 1923. Harassed by troubles in Morocco, enervated by petty bickerings of incompetent politicians within, cursed with a party system that offered no stability even in the best of times, the Spanish monarchy was lying prone, a ready victim for whatever "strong man" might come along with the whim to rule. And naturally Primo de Rivera in his bluff and hearty way came along and offered to run the country for Alfonso, most genial of all monarchs. Primo had made a remarkable record as a general in the army, saving it from an utter catastrophe in Morocco. Furthermore, he was known to be a "safe" man-in the same sense that Mr. Harding was known to manufacturers to be safe.