The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-01
WILL PROBABLY BIZ LIBERAL.
The Indications Point 10 SasaSta as
The New Premier.
CHANGES EXPECTED In CUBAN POLICY
Opinion Divided. However-Church
Affairs Had Part in Bringing
On the Crisis,


ing Premier and General Poiavicia have
bad with the queen Regent Her Majesty
has become convinced that Il is impos-
si0lc TO rc-unlte the conservatives in Or
der to form a strong ministry. There
fore She has accepted the designations OF
the ministers
Tho opinion is general that General Sa-
gasta, the Liberal leader win succeed
General Azcarraga.
Many of the projects under secretaries
and director-generals OF the departments
have also resigned
LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE.
WASHINGTON. Sept ao - Minister
Woodford mp 10 thc hour OF the close of
the department to-day had not informed
tbo State Department of the Spanish
Cabinet crisis.
The main point OF interest here at
present is The composition of the now
Cabinet and it rs said That Mr. Woodford
VIII not neglect tp obtain and cable 10
hi3 government The earliest information
possible ON that subject
Opinions are fairly divided as 20 the
outcome whether the now cabinet be
Liberal on Conservative iu regard 10
Cuba aud ass that is the matter of the
grayest Importance to our government
there is a strong desire to obtain informs
alton as to the prospects. The President
had scarcely reached the White House
this morning before Secretary sherman
called To- see him. lie was closely fol-
lowed by Assistant Secretary Day. and
although it is said the latters visit had
largely 90 do with the State Department
appointments, 10 s not doubted that
there was % discussion of the last Mad
rid Developments.
i'm the absence Of the Spanish minister
Mr. Oppose is the senior official here
but he has not called at the State De-
partmont and has not $50 far as can be
learned, received official adyicCs from
Madrid.
Diplomats familiar with Spanish affairs
say the conditions point to one of two
results namely-the complete collapse OF
tho Conservative regime, which has been
responsible for the Cuban policy. and rs
succession by "a Liberal Cabinet with pa
Cidc and Coucuiat0ry tendencies toward
cuba. or else a. transition ministry with
Azcarraga again in "a as the head as the
temporary eXpedient io tide over affairs
until the Cortos can meet aud % perma-
uent and stable ministry Doe formed.
COMPLETE CHANGE.
Officials believe that complete change
of ministry aud political parties with
Sagasta ass tine new leader is tho more
probable. ln that case it is said. Senior
Moret probably would become Minister
| of Foreign Affairs
Alorct is best remembered in the United
States from the fact that bo was the hrst
t.Ir
tho United States. 30 made him "a target
for criticism m Spain. but he was ult-
matcly Justified hv hi- political opponents
when they paid the claim after the ener-
gatic demands mtic hy Secretary Onoy.
Tho name of SCnor Gdmazo has been
mentioned iu the Madrid cables ls likely
O. tabs, the Foreign portfolio in the S7-
gdsta Cabinet. hut this DIS believed to ho
erroneous. Is G1mazo hd8 never boon
prominent iu State affairs but l5 noted AS
nuaucicr and was Financial Minister
iu former Liberal Cabinet. lie has "a
strong following. and DO is believed by
officials that Do would take the Treasury
portfolio in "a Liberal Cabinet
~ is stated with po-itVencss that
American affairs did not bring on mo
crisis. but that it was due entirely 10 in-
tcrual politics of which tho CX-communi-
cation of Senior Navarro Rcverter MIN
i-ter of Finance iu .hc fa,leG cabinet.
formed % part This fact has been briefly
mentioned iu the cable dispatches. but
tic circumstances of The ek c0mmunic1-
tlon are fully explained here.
THE TROUBLE.
II appears that the Minister ~ Finance
insists, that a church property in an
Interior diocese. should pay taxes as other
property This was opposed hy tho
Bishop. who claimed church exemption.
The minister thereupon resoried to the
usual legal procedure of leylns ON the
church property for default m tax pdy-
monts The bishop responded hy decree
of accommodation against tlp Minister
of Finance. The latter appealed 20 the
Nrtropolitan of the See. who ruled against
the bishop. Tho latter was ins.stant on
his preroeauvcs claiming that "a bishop
was supreme ln matters affecting an eN-
communication.
The case has now been appealed -
Rome for hual determination. ln tho
meantime the CX-c0mmunicati0u ol the
minister stands. and. t0 aomo extent. BIAS
IT'S influence against the entire cabinet.
owing 10 the strong church sentiment in
Spain. and The official union between
Church aud State.
n rs not doubted Chat the Queen Regent
would Doe guided in such q question af-
fectng the Clbinct by the wishes Of
Rome.
The feeling that Slsasta is 20 De tho
coming Premier either at once or atior
the transition ministry retiros. leads 20
many favorable comments on his ability
hy those who know him personally.
A leading American diplomat ono who
has been conspicuous in Spanish-American
affairs. said to-day that Sagasta's as
sumption OF Office undoubtedly would have
an important aud beneficial efTect on the
Cuban question aud the relations between
the United states and Spain.
Sagasta IS now past seventy, but stiii
retains the vlgor that has made him a
natural leader Of the liberals In earlier
days. or all the Spanish statesmen. hc
is regarded as the one that is the most
friendly to this country.
PROBABLY SUORT-LIVFD
Those COuyersaut with Spanish politics
are of the opinion that the present crisis
Is not likely so continue beyond five or
six days. as Spain cannot afOrd 90 be
without cabinet for any length - timo
at this iuncture.
The summonine 0f Sagasta 20 Madrid
/ viii not ~ is said. show positively that
| is for the Queen Regent to summon tne
enc hundred or more. not t0 gei their po-
| liical views. hut 90 learn from them the
| state Of public opinion. From these con-
! sultati0rs fho OuCen is enabled 20 deter
mine what form OF Ministry and what
/ leaders viii he most acceptable 10 the
people Her summoning Of a leader 10
| form Cabinet o. also conditional and it