New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-27
by borrowing. II might better borrow Slo,VV,vW
more than collect sectional and unjust tax



The Ministerial crisis at Madrid was Pc
ciar one. The SIgasta Ministry had not
been defeated in the Cortes. nor even been in
danger Of IT, There is every reason 10 suppose
that Schor Sagasta enjoys to-day the confidence
OF the country just as much rs when. two years
ago. /, gave him ihrec-fourths majority in the
Cortcs. Yet he persisted in his resignation. and
the man who hiss been called TO succeed HIN
is Senior tanovas del Castillo. the leader OF the
Conservative opposition: statesman OF hiSl
character and great ability. who will have the
support in partisan matters. Of less than one
fourth OF the CoTtcs'
Briefly stated. the situation was this: The
newspapers criticised he army officers so freely
rs 70 enrage them The army officers retaated.
first. by clustering talk % duclS. then by open
rioiing. ard finally by Demanding that the Gov
eminent suppress the offending newspapers ana
abrogate the liberty of the press. The Govern
mont refused 20 acrodc 10 this demand. and al
tempted 70 suppress the riotins But the police
fraterniZed with the disordcrly officers. ana
SYMPTOMS OF similar characterization appeared
throughout the army. The"eupcn the MINISTRY
decided 10 resign. leaving the work Of restoring
order to the competent hand OF General Campo>
As TO what ha would do there was little douoi.
He had shown il more serious crises than TINS
Of what stuff he Is made. The Crown has no
more loyal subject. and the Constitution ana
laws no more faithful and resolute defender
There is apparent a.tendcncy. not alone NJ
Madrid. to blame the newspapers for what mas
occurred 1t is entirely possible that some
sheets have degraded liberty into license They
have done that in lands OF moro temperate pas
siops than Spain. And il that be so. General
Campos may without injustice remind the Of
Tenders Of the meaning of the military code.
But there can BE- little doubt that the chief fault
lies with the army or with the unfortunate sys-
tom under which the army is organized The
Spanish Army is overburened with officers.
II nav not be exactly true. as some have de-
cIored that there are two officers for every
prlvate; but II is fact that there are thou
sands of officers in excess Of any possible need.
The result is that promotion is slow. discomfort
wakes apace. and the capital is constantly the
loungng place Of enough colonies and brigadiers
out OF Job to make by themselves regiment
or two. Again and again it has been proposed
10 make such sweeping changes in the military
organization rs would rid the country Of this
incubus Of shouder-straps, but in vain. The
hosts Of officers retain their commissions. draw
their salaries and rage against their critics.
This Is phase OF militarism somewhat differ
pnt from that to be observed in France or Ger
many. or elsewhere In Europe Ii Is, however.
a phase of miltarism, and an evil one Spain
does not need standing army at home OF
50 900 men, nor half Of IT, She certainly does
not need thousands of officers. loungng about
the streets and clubs Of Madrid at the expense
Of an impoverished people, with nothing to do
but to strut and swagger and ilrt and gamble.
Surely she should not let euch gentry endanger
her liberal institutions, nor endure ut their
hands more than one Ministerial crisis