The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-16
TROUBLES OF A QUEEN
DIFFICULTIES THAT HAVE EMBAR-
RAISED SPANS QUEEN REGENT.
The Plots Hatched by CanOyas, with
Something About His Methods and
His Political Allies.
Ex-Attache, in New York Tribune.

just dl lLlS moment II may De OF inter-
est to utter a few words with the object
of explaining the position of Queen Resent
Christina, not only in connection with the
threatened resignation of the Canovas Cab
met, but also in regard to the entire policy
of that administration towards the Philip
pine islands and the Antilles. 1t is a posi-
ton which is thoroughly misunderstood and
misinterpreted in the United States, where
she has been held responsible for much
that should not be laid at her door, and
where she has been considered accountable
for matters which she was the first to de-
plore and to oppose. Possibly the follow
ing remarks may derive additional weight
from the fact of their having been written
by one who is well acquainted with the
court of Spain, and who not for services
rendered, nor yet as mere diplomatic COM
plinfent, but on the contrary a token
of personal friendship, received from the
hands of Queen Christmas husband, the
late King, the star and Gordon of his royal
order Of Charles III.
In the first place it is necessary that it
should be realized that Queen Christina
has been throughout the term of office of
the Canovas Cabinet so adverse to its
policy, both at home and abroad, that had
its leaders dared they would have en-
deavored to put into execution their fire.
quently and even publicly discussed pet
project of depriving her of the regency and
of transferring it to her sister-in-law, the
Infanta Isabella, who is just as much of
an ra-Conservative as her Majesty is an
advanced Liberal.
The ground taken by Canovas and by
his adherents in the matter was that
Article IS of the Spanish Constitution de-
clares that Sin the event of the minority
of the sovereign the regency must be held
by the nearest member of the reigning
family of Spanish nationality" Now If
the term nationality means Spanish
blood, as Senior Canovas and other Spanish
statesmen declare it to be, it is evident that
the regency should be held, not by Queen
Christina, who is a member of the imperial
family of Austria, and as such foreigner,
but in the Infanta Isabella, who is the
young Kings nearest relative of Spanish
BIRTH AT one moment the princess APP
parently gave consent to these views. She
actually took part in a carefully organized
campaign which was destined to prepare
the ground for the change, and which COM
prised a series of provincial tours for the
purpose of arousing enthusiasm in her be-
half.
Indeed the plot might have succeeded had
it not been for Senior Silvelas, at that time
minister of the interior, who declined to be
a party to the plot and went to the Queen
and laid bare the entire maneuvers of Ca
novas and the true object of his attempts
TO remove from the post of military gov
ernOr of Madrid General Pavia, who is
known to be devoted to the Regent.
This incident brought about the final
split-up of the Conservative party, the mi
which lIn6pF SilWQlQS Withdrew ifS
support from the Cabinet and voted on
nearly all occasions with the Liberals, es-
pecially in the debates relating to Cuba
and to the Philippine islands Indeed, Senior
Silvelas and his followers have contributed
in no small measure to bring about the
recent Cabinet crisis, and have enjoyed
throughout the good will of the Regent,
which has been shown to them many
ways. Let me add that it is to tn "tion
of the Conservatives that belong shall
Martinez Campos and Generals ! IeJa
and Blanco. the three most honest > .diers
all others by their stainless integrity in
money matters and by their answering
loyalty to the throne.
The other branch of the Conservative
party namely, the one which constitutes
the ministerial party, was what may be
described as the Conservative machine, and
exceeded in corruption, malfeasance in per-
version of justice, and in shamelessness
every other political machine in existence.
Not content with administering all govern
ment offices for personal and party advan-
tage instead of for public veal, the ma
chine likewise fostered the grossest kind of
dishonesty in all municipal administrations.
There has never been a town or city in the
United StateS-no, not even New York dur
ing the days of Boss TWeed--Where the
official thieving has been carried on 10 SUCH
an extent as is the case with Madrid, where
two-thirds of the municipal revenues are
embeZZled
The Madrid counterpart of New York's
Boss Tweed has been for many years
past a man rejoicing in the peculiar name
of Bosh, who Jointly with the eXbeau, and
arti6oi9I1N nnSp6 Don Romeo ROble-
do, constitutes with Canovas himself, the
triumvirate of management of the Con
was during the last Sagasta adminstra-
ton dismissed in disgrace from the position
of mayor of Madrid, in consequence of the
most astounding disclosures in the courts
of Justice regarding his dishonesty and cor
ruDtion. CanovaS had the audacity to APP
point him TO the post of minister or pubic
Worship in his last Cabinet.
MADE USE OF LIBEL LAWS.
A few months ago the Queen Regents
chamberlain, the Marquis Cabranina,
brought a number of public charges of cor
ruption in the newspapers against the
mayor and municipality of Madrid basing
his assertion on documentary proofs. Yet
in spite of the fact that the marquis en-
loved in the matter the countenance of her
Majesty and the marked good will of the
overwhelming majority of his fellow-cit-
zens. he was sentenced by a corrupt and
seryile bench to three months imprison-
ment and a fine for libel. The fine was inn
mediately paid by public subscription, while
the Queen, previous to his incarceration,
showed her sympathy for the marquis by
insisting on providing him, through the
military Governor of Madrid with armed
protection against the several attempts
made upon his life by those who had hoped
through that means to frighten him into
stopping his attacks upon the municipality.
1t will doubtless be asked why Queen
Christina should have consented to in
trust the conduct of the government to
an administration so thoroughly corrupt,
so disloyal TO herself and with which
she at such variance in all matters
of policy as that of Senior Canovas. To
this it may be replied that Christina,
realizing after the sudden death of her
husband the precariouSness of her posi-
ton a foreigner, made up her mind
that the only means by which she could
for her little boy until his majority would
be by doing what no Spanish ruler had
ever done before, namely to observe
strictly and honorably the stipulations
of the Constitution, which demand that
the administration should be formed OF the
party which has the majority In Par
lament.
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS.
While this has been to her a source of
strength, it has likewise constituted an
element of weakness. For it has rendered
her responsible in the eyes of the world
at large for a number of acts and mis-
takes for which she is in reality in no
wise accountable Thus in spite of her
being by birth a member of the Inn
periaI house of Hapsburg, she is infinitely
more progressive, enlightened and liberal