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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 8 May 5, 1938

Intellectual Undercurrent in Spain

Intellectual Undercurrent in Spain

The principal excuse that the Fascists have pleaded for their rebellion in Spain is the inability of the Republican Government to protect Spanish citizens from the lawlessness of its extremes! Partisans.

We might ask whether Franco and his land-owing friends had more interested motives for stepping in "against the enemies of human order and decency" and whether the Spanish citizens have appreciated the change from the fear of Red lawlessness to the sense of security afforded by the public-spirited gentlemen of Salamanca —questions which might well tempt the enthusiastic investigations of some passionate and full-blooded Seeker after Light.

Pulse

Such a seeker would soon come up against a theory which was advanced some two years ago in an effort to put the finger on the reason for Republication mis government from 1931 to 1936. (We must except, of course, the palmy days of Senior Leroux's administration.) This theory ascribed the weakness of the Socialists control over the political situation to the fact that the Parliamentary leaders and those behind them were not experienced and practical politicians but mere idealists, influenced by and including in their number, writers and intellectuals of leftist tendencies, and ipso facto, devoid of what has been exquisitely termed "le tact des choses possibles."

Once again let us leave to our Seeker the question of mis government and turn the spotlight on to these a fore-mentioned writers and Intellectuals. The point we wish to make in this article is that for the last 40 years. Spanish writers have been labouring to bring into being a democratic republican form of government, and that these writers are not professional propagandists but the front rank men of letters whose words enjoy a world reputation.

Break-Up.

In 1898, Spain lost Cuba and the Philippine Islands, last remnants of that great empire, the exploitation of which had provided her with her means or subsistence For 300 years, while her own territory had lain undeveloped in the hands of a few grandees. The economic and political situation was impossible, and from 1898 onwards, every Spanish man of letters (except the few who took refuge in mysticism) has striven for social, political and economic reorganization so as to bring Spain into line with her European neighbors.

In 1898, no fewer than 30.000 intellectuals and artists formed themselves into a league of progress called "At the Service of the Republic."

As might be expected the writings of this first generation of Reformers were characterized by a spirit of powerful but rather vague and sentimental idealism—the kind whose chief merit is its ability to rouse enthusiasm. The younger writers have shown themselves more definite and realistic into their attitude to Spanish problems, but they are really In the same literary tradition.

Transformation.

As the textbooks on the subject so carefully tell us, a national literature translates the successive historical phases of a nation, and the modern historical phase of unrest and social, political and economic transformation In Spain is reflected in practically all the great productions of modern Spanish literature. In the works of Azorin, Baroja, Ayala Benavente, Ibanez, Unamuno, Sender, Fernandez and countless others.

Are these the intellectuals and writers who are blamed for Socialist misgovernment? Blame them If you like, but remember you are condemning 90 per cent, of the great men in modern Spanish literature.

Remember These Names.

When Franco poses as the champion of Spanish culture against the Red iconoclasts. Let him remember Ibanez, most widely read of ail Spanish novelists except Cervantes, was imprisoned 30 times for his democratic ideals, and died in exile just before the coming of the Republic for which he had struggled. Let Franco remember that Ayala, the greatest Asturian poet and novelist of our day, was the first Republican Ambassador to the Court of St. James: let him remember that much of the work of Fernandez, most influential or the younger Spanish writers, was written in exile during the dictatorship or Bevenguer. There is no question as to which side in the struggle is being supported by the majority of the representative or modern Spanish culture.

Once again, as in 1898, the force of circumstances has brought them together no longer merely "At the Service of the Republic." but now at the Service of International Democracy.

Percival.