Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-08-12


ovas del Castillo, prime minister of
Spain, was assassinated day at Santa
Agueda by 40 anarchist.
The murderer fred three shots. one
Of which struck the premier in the fore.
head and another in the breast.
The wounded man fell. dying. at the
feet OF his wife, who was with him,
lingering an hour in agony, and than
passing away crying Long live Spain, .
which were the last words upon hiH lips.
Santa Agueda is noted for its baths.
1t is between San Sebastian, the sum
mer residence of the Spanish court, and
Vittoria, the capital of tho province of
Alava. The premier went there last
Thursday TO take three weeks course
OF the baths after which he expected
TO return to San Sebastian to NEST
United States Minister Woodford.
The assassin was arrested soon after
the shooting. he ia Neapolitan, and
gives the name Of Rinaldi, but 1t is be.
lieved by the police that this ia an as
Bumed name and that his real name ia
Michele Angino Gulli
At a special meeting OF the cabinet
to-day Senior Cos Gay0n, minister OF
the interior. announced that he had
heen intruated by the Queen Regent
witn the premiership ad interim.
The murderer says lie killed Senior
Canova6 in accomplishment of Just
vengeance" and that the deed ia the
outcome of vast anarchist conspiracy.
lie ia believed to have arrived at Santa
Agueda the same day as the premier,
and was frequently seen lurking in the
passages of the bathing establishment
in suspicious manner.
CAREER OF POLITICAL EMINENcE.
Senor Antonio Canovas del Castillo
had notable career. He was born at
Malaga February Sth. 1928. Having
taken course in philosophy and law
iu the University OF Madrid, he began
his career as a journalist
In 1851 he became chief editor Of the
Patria, in which he defended conssrra-
tive ideas. About this time he pub.
lished a volume of lyric poems and a
series of historical papers.
After serving the crown as Governor
Of Cadiz in 1855, director general Of the
administration from 1858 to 1861, and
q in 1861 as' under Secretary of State-fu
the Interior, the Queen called Cauovaa
to the ministry as member of the Mon
cabinet. In 1865 he held the port
foiios OF finance and the colonies, and
il devolvei upon him to draw un the
law for the abolition of the slave trade.
A short time before the revolution OF
ls6S be became especially conspicuous
as one of the last to defend with energy
in the Cortes the principle of blending
liberal and conciliatory ideas with tho
constitutional monarchy. when nearly
all the persons who had supported this
political doctrine had deserted the Par
lament. lie was banished short time
before the revolution occurred, and took
no part in it.
In the face OF the triumphant revolu.
tiun, after his return from exile, and in
the full constituent assembly of 1868,
supported by Senors Elduayem, Bugal-
lal and two others, he hoisted the
STANDARD of legitimate and constitu-
tional monarchy, This-is his greatest
title to fame. His fidelity and ability
finally secured for him tho supreme
direction of the .Alfonsist party, and on
the proclamation of Alfonso XII as
King, December 3lst 1874, Canovas
hecame president of the council and
chief of the new cabinet, called the
cabinet Of Cancellation.
lie retired in September, 1875, be.
cause of the demands OF the extreme
conservative party, but he was called
lack to the presidency Of the council
December I'd Of the same year, and was
charged particularly with tina direction
OF the first Legislative elections of the
nav regime. Canovas was himself
elected to the Cortes from the city of
Madrid in January, 1876. it devolved
upon him then TO repress the second
attempt of the Cariists to brug ON a
civil war, and TO deal with the fret
insErrection iu Cuba.
With the exception of an interval of
few months he continued TO hold the
l. : Il
return of Marshal Martinez Camros
from Cuba. he retired from the premier
chip, and was succeeded by Campos,
who accepted us his colleagues the
principal associates of Senior Canovas.
Upon the reassembling OF the Cortes
\ in December, 1879, Campos gave up
the attempt to conduct the government.
II Canovas formed a new cabinet on De
n remher 10th, with second Cuban in
surrection TO he dealt with.
3 He charged Gen. BIanco with thia
# task. but the reactonary tendency of
& hls home policy became more and mare
marked, until the financial projects in
"A which he wished to embark drew upon
"A him the bitter attacks not only OF Cas-
y ielar and the Republicans. but also of
oau2nos and of Sagasta, and he was
compelled to resign.
| - NSH1 ho iObuliDb dSuiu ~ pOWbT,
hut his conservative cabinet was speed.
lily overthrown and coalition govern
ment with Sagasta and Campos at its
head took the Ieins. At the general
elections of the same year Canovas was
returned to the Cortes from Madrid and
became the chief spokesman of the In
ttrmediate party, known as the party
of Conservative Liberals. January
18th, 1884,, no was called upon to form
Conservative ministry. In order to
secure majority, devoted, like himself,
TO ideas of order and of liberty, in har.
Inony with the monarchial principls, he
dissolved the Cortes. and the new cleo
tions resulted favoraby. But on No
vember 2Gth, 1855, on the question Of
the occupation of the Caroline Isianda
by Germany, be was again compelled
to resign, heing succeeded by Senor
Segasta. The same day he was elected
president of the chamber by 232 votes,
ngainst 1l2 cast Tor Senor Romero Ro.
bledo, ahd signalized his entrance upon
his new functions by funeral euiogy
of King Alfonso XII. who had died the
previous day.
In 1890 another reversal brought him