The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-15
IAN UGLY STATESMAN
WHY SPANS NEW PRIME MINISTER
IS CALLED 1.-THE MONSTER
UnprepossessfnE, but Brilliant and
Witty-How the aucen Regent
snubbcd His Beautiful wife.

vas, rejoices In the nickname Of ssthe Mon
ster,'' and 1t must be confessed that from
a purely physical point of view he merits
the sobriquet for he is without exception
the ugliest statesman of any prominence in
the old world. Short, squat, awkwardly
built, close-cropped. scrubby mustathe,
failing to conceal his irregular and dis
colored teeth, coarse-featured and squint-
ing violently, he adds to all these attributes
an almost ungovernable temper and most
undisguised and unmltigated contempt for
his feliow-creatures. AS witty as he is sar-
castle, his bon mots are as celebrated as his
mordant satire is dreaded, and no one is
safe from the latter. Although a Conserva-
tive of the most ultra type, man who
wo:sid like to restore to monarchy the pre-
negatives which it possessed in the eight
teenth century, he processes the most pro-
found disdain for rank, and apparently pays
no heed to the prejudices and pride of
birth of the grandees and hidalgos of Illus
trious name and lineage. Astonishing to
relate, these men, so sensitive to every
slight so quick to take offense at anything
which can be construed into discourtesy,
bear his brusquere and his Homeric out
bursts of passion and even vituperation
with the utmost good humor and indul-
gence. processing to regard him as their
principal bulwark against revolutionary
This Difference accorded to him, which
only be compared to that formerly paid by
the British ultra-Tory aristocracy to Ben
jamin Disraeli is even yet more SURPRISING
son of distinguished litterateur, like
Lord Beaconsfeld. Canovas is. the son
everything in life to his own. indomi..
table energy, industry and genius OF
to his wonderful powers Of oratory, which
stand forth pre-eminent in country where
all are eloquent, and then, too, ms Ism. I'M
confidence in his own superiority to his
fellow-men have ended py inducing the
and to submit almost blindly to his direc-
ton. He is not merely the leader of the
and among his own followers and adherents
he neither condescends to discuss his policy
nor to brook any hesitation in the execu-
are blindly obeyed. Without referring to
his public career at length. it will be sufii-
ordinate railway employ. then tried journal
ism as a profession, from which he mi
and that his is name will forever be re-
membered in the history of his country
that f the o 10 spaa and Her
dependencies, and also as that of the states
man principally responsible for the restora-
ing been the leader of the Legitimist party
during the six years that INTERVIEWED be-
and the coming to the throne of her son. {
Alfonso XII, it was only natural thai. he
should become the latter's first Prime
Minister, and he may be said to have
signalized the advent of the new, regime
by the repeal of number of popular pre-
negatives and rights that had been con-
coded to the people by King Amadeus, as
well as by the republican governments
cupancy of the throne by King Humberts
PATRIOTIC MAN.
His patriotism, however. is above re-
oft of
Alfonso XII he surrendered of his own
accord the premiership to his political OPP
ponent, Senior Sagasta, in the hope that
the latter would be able to group not only
the members of the Left Center. but also
the Democrats and the Radicals into one
great Liberal party devoted to the defense
of the dynasty and to the support of the
monarchy. His sacrifice of Office, well
as of the emouments connected Herewith
was all the more meritorious he is not
only passionately fond of power. but also a
very poor manor, at least, was SO until
his marriage a few years ago. But it had
the effect of preventing the members of
the extreme Left from joining the Repub-
lcan faction.
Although Queen Regent Christina fully
realizes how much she owes to the
IT cannot be said that she entertains for
him any of those sentiments of warm
friendship and even of affection which she
accords to Senior Sagasta. 1t is not SO
much question of politics as of manner
for, whereas, old Sagasta is most suave
gentle and tenderly deferential toward the
Regent who used to enjoy seeing. the lit
with his eyeglasses, her Majesty can never
forget the brusque and inconsiderate way
the I tme of her husbands death Although
she was overwhelmed with grief, Canovas,
nd an Of the of her
her attending in person to guam
tity Of official business which
days. Nor does the new Premier stand high
in the good graces of the little King. Enter
ago, the Conservative leader addressed him
as "Bubi," the. pet name used by his moth
err. This familiarity greatly offended the
disdain he exclaimed: 'I am only 'Bubi
for mamma; for, you am ell Rey the
ing with which, some time previously.
his mother had been compelled to admnis-
wife of canovas daughter of the illus
triouS and ancient house of Puente Soto
Maor Do on 0 FUR f had apy
years, until her father, the Marquis gave
his consent to the match, enabling her to
thirty years her senior. During that time
of waiting she had been the leader of Mad
rilene. fashion and the belle of the court.
Indeed, even to-day in her fortieth year,
she remains with her tall and elegant figure.
a splendid specimen of the Spanish bru-
nette. SO proud is she of her husband and
of her own lineage that she scarcely conde-
sends to render to the Queen Regent the
tokens of respect and courtesy customary in
Spain This has led to several reproofs
the part of the Regent, who, although kind
hearted and indulgent to degree, is too
much of a Hapsburg to permit anyone to
treat her disrespectfully with impunity.
SNUBBED BY ROYALTY. Esd
The snub to which / have referred above
as constituting the counterpart of that adj
ministered by the little King to the
Premier occurred at Seville in the course
of visit paid by the court to that city
The Queen Regent was in the midst of a
conversation with the Italian ambassador,
and all the ladies and gentlemen were
standing aside, when suddenly Dona Joa-
quina sailed up to the Queen and addressed
her with loud Sonora The Queen,
without answering word. gently raised
her hand by way of indicating that she
was engaged. A few minutes later Sonora
Canovas once more attempted to interrupt
the conversation, and again she
duced to silence by a wave of the Queens
hand. Thoroughly piqued and mortified by
this reproof administered in the presence
of the entire court Dona Joaquina was