The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
CANOvASS CONSERVATISM.
IT CURSE THAT HAS BLOCKED THE
W<Y FOR sPAIY'S PROGRESS.
aevsre structures on the Dead statcsman's
methods A skepticnt Opportunist - Pope
leo,s inception OF the French workinEmen.

Nothods A skeptcnt Opportuniht Popo
Leo,s Reception OF the French WorkinEmcn.
ROME. Aug. 12.-seGor Canovas's death has
caused a certain amount Of emotion at the vati-
can. 1, IL not merely a man that disappears. but
.,v,,om that goes out. The Holy SEQ kept up
correct relations with him. After the incident
~ the Caroline Islands Leo XIII. conferred on
him the highest distinction at the disposal Of the
p,naoy. tho Order Of Christ, although Senior
Oanovas objected to tho last moment to the
pone'r arbitration and showed less Difference
than Prince Bismarck, who wished to get rid
Of the unfortunate episode quickly and at any
nrice, But Rome never took to the statesman.
Born at tho moment when Germany shone In all
tho uplendor OF its intellectual revival, his mind
was impregnated with German science. With
delicate intelligence and broad. brilliant imaRl-
nation, philosopher, historian. writer. he was
more German than Spanish. His literary
and philosophical origin drew him away from
the national traditions of which Catholicism is
the framework and marrow. Though putting
aside the inheritance Of his nation, however, he
remained q conservative. This explains the
contradiction in his life, tho lack of results in
his actions. He was a brilliant t~actician and q
consummate leader. Yet he was prominently
pterile as O statesman, because his system of
political philosophy was founded on an incon-
uistency and q contradiction. Inconsistency and
CONTRADICTION nave marked MS ministry OF I'M
potence. An unbeliever, drawing his inspira-
tion and strength no longer from the living
6pr1ngs OF national life, he wished. nevertheless.
10 lean upon conservative and religious ideas.
He has therefore been The type of the oppor-
tunist, of the politician Thence the barrennsss
bf his government. He did not go as far as to
conceive and practice a distinctly lay and lib
kral policy; neither did he support the tradi-
tional religious ideas. A skilful manager. he
Settled down. moticr'ess and serene. between
the two poles of life into an easy egotism Of en-
oyment. That is why. being hostile in politics
70 the ideas OF progress. skeptical in morals rs
10 the recuperative forces in Catholicism, he re-
eembaed Cardinal Alberoni, whose skepticism
plunged Spain into impotence and the lcthargy
out Of which tho revolutions awakened her.
This elegant opportunism has been the bar to
the revival of Spain. for Spain is blooming once
moro In tho upper branches. Theology, philoso-
ply, art. tho stage. tho novel. history have
taken unexpected flights upward. Tho sources
Of life were opening again, the roots were grow
ing green, the sap was rising In the trunk Of
the olb Iberian tree. making the ancient foliage
terdant once more. Like tho daughter of
JaIrus, Spain was not dead; she slept. Yet II
benefcent genii struck new sounds on that
proud and hieratic soul. no political man put 1t
back in it's proper place. And 1t is Senior Cano-
vas who checked from his powerful and lofty
station the harmony of national life; 1t is he
who preserved the partitions set up between tho
rooms Of the paternal home. Thanks to him tho
revival stopped, timid and resultless. In tho
presence OF the government; 1t has not penetrated
political life; o whole portion of tho Iberian
conscience remained wrapped up in tho swad-
ding clothes of Q harmful opportunism.
This is the reason that Spain has wallowed in
decadence. There Ii no essential difference be-
tween Canovas and Sagasta. Tho two heads
Of tho conservative and liberal parties took
turns at power with exasperating monotony.
Tho State was . beast Of burden, mounted and
made use Of In turn by the two political groups
and tho army Of their greedy creatures. Par
liamentary government was . government OF
the lobby or Of absurd Generals. Tho Chamber
Of deputies voted a. the Ministers wished, in.
different to the great currents Of the age. and to
the revival turning tho treetops green. The
people kept Its thoughts to itself. making use
Of Q contemptuous and Olympean disdain. 1t
had no. confidence In the machinery Of govern
usnt, and whom o nation loses interest In tho
interests Of the country. decadence becomes tho
mistress In the place where the country's heart
should beat. Spanish elections are notorious
for absurdity, for fraud, for insincerity. To-
day Canovas. tomorrow Sagasta, the ballot box
inevitably sent out but one sound.
1t thus that Canovas has been the bar to tho
~ hO@oNChoSioh VI hS ohhliy ~ q
been 3 conservative in the most vulgar and pitt
able sense of the word; no preserved a theory
And practice of government that are a negation
ofthe popular conscience and of the art of lead
Ing men. He had the gifts and defects OF the
Bourbonic. epicurean eighteenth century; the
biting wit. the refined culture. the lofty distInc-
ton. but also the stupid. blind conservatism. the
diSdain for moral forces, the contempt for the
people. and the weak philosophy.
The man has gone; will his system disappear
with himi Will tho Spanish nation take pos
bession of itself againi Will she at last break
hway from that impotent game OF seesaw that
was called Canovas-sagasta. sag~asta-Canovas
As this resisting nature has been removed, will
IT be possible to establish an immense ventilator
pyer the present parties. in order to let some
tivifyinR air penetrate into public lifel
Leo XIII. and Cardinal Rampolla long ago
made preparations for the revival. They have
made the Bishops and the clergy abandon their
u~ncompromising Carlist attitude. They have
been told to let the dead bury their dead
and to think Of the higher welfare of a people.
Relying on the imperishable vitality of Iberia,
they assume that as she is Catholic and religious
to the very soul there is need of a distinctly
Catholic and religious policy. For is not q pol
Icy the garb in which a social body clads itself
1.-THE garment and the national organism donot
ut each other Is there not suffering. torpor,
Abasementi Have we not here the mysterious
Gltimo ratio OF the condition of the Latin races
IN genera. Of Italy. Portugal. and Spain in par
hculari TO favor an anti-religious Government
with a religious people is to ask an orange tree
TO produce apples and an apple tree TO produce
oranges. But for the main part Of the country
TO get into possession OF power again 1t must &C
cept, the conditions OF the Government. 1t must
BAY farewell to the absolutist Bourbons and en-
tor resolutely into modern life.
Under the lead OF tho Vatican there 10 then
being formed in Spain. in accordance with the
lOCialiatic idaaa NJ the panarv n Drnaf damn
religious. At its head we see the Cardinal o
Valencia, the Bishop of Vich. the learned Cepedi
monks. and a legion of devoted laymen. .Theii
programme is that OF Cardinal Gibbons. Of Mgr
Ireland, Of Leo Kill, of Mgr. Ketteler. 1t is the
doctrine Of that great international democratic
christian party. which. in all countries is en-
the eternal principles OF the Gospel into a higher
unity. Tho French workingmen's pilgrimage
which Leo XIII. has Just received as thu
ambassador Of the Fourth Estate" thu
Harmed. Of Cardinals Agliardi. Ferrata
y%ecobini, have shown that every foo