The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-09
The Queen Regent OF Spain.

The Queen Regent OF Spain.
Upon the shoulders of MARIA CHRISTINA,
Queen Regent Of Spain, there rests at this
time q very great responsibility. She is
called upon to determine questions of
the utmost Importance to the Spanish
monarchy, affecting the domestic pol
icy of the Government, its foreign pol
icy, the security of the Bourbon dynasty,
the fortunes of the heir to the throne, and,
perhaps, the public peace. In Spain, the
royal authority is a thing of consequence,
and the Queen Regent has frequently mani
tested her ability In the exercise of it.
We have always regarded the Queen
Regent as a high-minded and conscientious
woman, one who reveres the memory of
her deceased husband, and who is supremacy
DESTROYS of securing the enforcement of
her son. the young King. in whose behalf she
serves Spain. She is q woman of much in
t%elligence, having been thoroughly trained
in the household of her father, the late
KARL FERDINAND of Austria, and having
received an education by which she was
fitted for any duty that she might be called
upon to perform. She is a woman of large
experience in politics, and well acquainted
with public affairs, not only in Spain, but
in other countries. During the eleven years
of her regency she has become familiar with
the arts of government and with the Span
ish method Of applying them. She has
used her judgment in the determination of
many serious questions Of State, and has
repeatedly manifested q measure of indie.
pendence that was creditable to her intel.
lect. She has used her influence success
fully in the Cortes upon occasions when pub
lie affairs of gravity were under debate; but
she has always recognized the constitu-
tional limitations upon her power. She has
had Liberal Ministers and Conservative
Ministers, and has made her mind known
in their counsels. She has had a sage ad-
wiser in the Emperor of Austria. and has
asked for instruction from the Pope. All
through her long regency, the political ac-
tivity of MARIA CHRISTINA has been made
manifest In the Government Of Spain.
She is aware of the dangers of the times.
She knows of the perils that lie in the plots
against the throne, in the intrigues of the
Carlist pretender, in the Vaccinations of
the Anarchists. in the devices of the Re
publicans, in the revolt of the Cubans, and
80 IN NJ Va al
politicians. She doubtless understands the
necessity of 80 guarding her ways as to
avoid the misfortunes that have overcome
other rulers of Spain in this century.
During the critical period that now ex-
lists in Spain, the Queen Regent has de-
meaned herself in a cautious manner.
When the Liberal Deputies in the Cortes
deserted their places a few days ago. as a
protest against the assault made upon one
of their number by q member of the
Ministry, she strove to compose the dis.
pute; and it was she, we have been
led to understand, who suggested the un
usual expedient that was adopted finally.
She has held consultation with the
leaders of both parties; she has sought for
the Judgment of sundry personages in whom
she has confidence and last week she sent
for that thoughtful old statesman, Mar.
shall MARTINEZ CAMPos, in order that
she might ask for his advice. AS after
all this she determined to retain SeMoI
CANovAs at the head of the Ministry,
we can but suppose that her embar
rassment was SO great AZ to weaken heI
judgment and puzzle her will. In truth, II
her choice lay only between CANovAs and
SAGAsTA, and If she regarded 1t as unsafe tc
offer the Premiership to n competent states
man outside Of existing parties. 1t wa.
as well that she should keep the Con
sentative leader in power as to offer his
place to his Liberal competitor. Both o.
them a been tried in the past, ani
neither Of them is more deserving than tn,
other, or better fitted than the other, II
steer the ship of State through stormy seas
The Queen Regent is in a plight like that o
HAMLET when he uttered that query con
corning the "dread of something" which
"makes us rather bear those Ills we have
than fly to Others that we know not Of"
1t is a solemn period of Spanish his
tory. We can but watch the fortunes O
the Queen Regent and of Spain while pass
5 ing through it.
| The cause of all the trouble is the Cubal
revolt. That revolt has shaken the powe
3 of Spain, brought disaster to her army
Z. shattered her treasury, humiliated her Gov
eminent; and 1t menaces the throne of roy
atty. In the Queen Regents speech of las
. year before the Cortes about 1t, she use,
i, language indicative of the apprehension b
which her mind wal then stirred Will
speaking of 1t, language which also prove
that she had NJ proper u~nderstandin
r of 1t. 1t was manifest that she kne
about 1t only SO much -. she ha