measures towards their wavering
quondam foes. Persons who had been implicated in the rebellion
were re-arrested on trivial trumped-up charges and imprisoned,
whilst others were openly treated as seditious suspects. The priests
started a furious campaign of persecution, and sought, by all manner
of intrigue, to destroy the compact, which they feared would operate
against themselves. More executions took place. Instead of the expected
general amnesty, only a few special pardons were granted.

There had been over two months of nominal peace; the rebels had
delivered up their arms, and there was nothing to indicate an
intention to violate their undertakings. Primo de Rivera, who
believed the rebellion to be fast on the wane, shipped back to
Spain 7,000 troops. The Madrid Government at once appointed to vacant
bishoprics two friars of the Orders obnoxious to the people, and it is
inconceivable that such a step would have been so speedily taken if
there were any truth in the rebels' pretension that the expulsion of
the friars had been promised to them. Rafael Comenge, the President
of the Military Club, was rewarded with the Grand Cross of Military
Merit for the famous speech which he had delivered at the Club. It
was generally lauded by Spaniards, whilst it filled all classes of
natives with indignation. Here are some extracts from this oration:--

You arrive in time; the cannibals of the forest are still there;
the wild beast hides in his lair (_bravo_); the hour has come
to finish with the savages; wild beasts should be exterminated;
weeds should be extirpated. (_Great applause_.) Destruction
is the purport of war; its civilizing virtue acts like the
hot iron on a cancer, destroying the corrupt tendons in order
to arrive at perfect health. No pardon! (_Very good, very
good_.) Destroy! Kill! Do not pardon, for this prerogative belongs
to the monarch, not to the army. . . . From that historical,
honoured, and old land Spain, which we all love with delirious joy,
no words of peace come before this treason, but words of vigour
and of justice, which, according to public opinion, is better
in quality than in quantity. (_Frantic applause, several times
repeated, which drowned the voice of the orator_.) Soldiers! you
are the right arm of Spain. Execute; exterminate if it be
necessary. Amputate the diseased member to save the body;
cut off the dry branches whi