The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-01-14
81 ,,cns. of the New Spanish MIN
isters-
Marshal Francisco Serrano. Du

Marshal Francisco Serrano' paee
do Ia Torne, who is once n'ore 10
mower in Spain. is now IN Ms oiln M
roar and has been, during many
yesrs a prominent figure in Spanish
noIitic, He was the son of Span
i,b general, and having entered the
army in his youth, won distinction
lin the civil wars which followed the
death of Ferdinand VII, attaining
the rank of general at the age OF 80
He supported the cause OF the Queen
Mother against the Carlists, and
PLAYED a leading part in the political
contentious which succeeded her re-
turn to power Shortly sfter the
marriage Of Queen Isabella IN 1876,
he acquired an influence over the
roval mind, which occasioned differ
ences between the King consort and
herself. and caused some scandal
His power at court enabled him to
overthrow the Ministry of the Duke
de Sotomayer, which opposed him,
while that Of NJ. dc Salamanca, which
he supported, yielded in turn to the
storm of popular Indignation which
assailed it. After this Serrano turn
ed Liberal, and was o steadfast sup
porter of Marshal O'Donnell, receiv-
ing important Offices when his party
happened to be in power.
He was Captain General of Cuba
for some time, and while such made
resolute but abertive efforts to recon-
quer Santo Domingo. He acted in
concert with General Prim during the
revolutionary crisis of 1853, and was
head of the Provisional Government
which controlled the country from
the fight Of the Queen until the mon
archical constitution. was adopted,
when he was elected Regent, and
continued so until the accession of
King Amadeus. He Loyalty support
ed that monarch, and was placed in
command of the forces engaged in
suppressing the Carlist revolt. Hav-
ing concluded q convention granting
amnesty to the Carlists, he returned
to Madrid, resigned the rank Of gen.
eralissimo, and was charged with
forming . new Ministry in which be
held the position Of President of the
Council and Minister of War.
As the Carlist troubles continued
and as the Radicals, whose leader,
Gorilla, had resigned his seat in the
Cortes and retired in disgust to pri-
vate life, threatened to unite with the
Republicans, Serrano proposed TO the
King, in June, 1872, suspension Of
the guarantees of individual liberty
and popular rights contained in the
constitution. The King at once re-
fused to approve this measure, and
not only accepted the resignation of
the Ministry, but invited the leader
of the Radical party, Gorilla, to form
new one Serrano according retir-
ed from Office and has not since taken
an active part in public affairs.
LaHreano Figuerola, the Minister
of Justice, is a native Of Barcelona,
and prior to entering public life was
a professor OF political economy. He
was elected to the Cortes in 1854,
and there gave constant attention to
fiscal questions. He was Minister of
Finance under the Provisional Gov
ernment, and took energetic measures
to improve the credit of the nation
Admiral Topete, Minister of the
Marine, was born in 1920, in Andalu-
sia. He entered the navy and rose
rapidly to distinction. In 1866, he |
was seriously wounded at Callao,
and when Admiral Pareja committed
suicide he assumed command of the |
feet, and brought it back to Spain.
His adhesion to the revolutionary
movement in 1868 was of the great |
est advantage, and virtually assured
its triumph. He held the same Office
as at present under the Provisional
Government, and made vigorous cf
forts to crush the Cuban revolt. The
Admiral is avowedlv an adherent Of
the Duke de Montpcnsier, but has al
ready by his frank and manly con-
duct secured the esteem and conf
dence of his colleagues.
The other members of the Minis
try, with the exception Of Senor Ia
vala, were all members OF the Minis
try formed by Marshal Serrano when
elected Regent in June, 1869. They
hold conservative opinions, and are
as sincere supporters of the
liberal constitution of 1863.