The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-30
OPINIONS IN WASHINGTON.
The Cause of the Downfall of Azcar-
raga-Its Eject ON Cuba.


Washington. Sept. 29.-The news of the
Spanish cabinet crisis was first brought
to the attention of the officials of the
state department and diplomatic officials
through the Associated Press bulletin
from Madrid, and up to late hour to-
night from no other source was any in
formation on the subject forthcoming.
It is surmised that Minister Woodford 8
failure to cable the department was at
trlbutable to the fact that it was after
nightfall in Madrid before the news be-
came known.
It cannot be said that the event caused
surprise among the officials of the state
department. or among the members OF
the diplomatic corps in Washington. A
careful inspection of the cable news for
the past few weeks had left the general
impression that the cabinet erected in
haste after the assassination of Premier
Canovas, could not be expected to sur
vive long.
There were several reasons for this ex-
pectation, but perhaps the principal enc
was the belief that the dissensions among
the supporters of the government caused
by the personal encounter between the
Duke of Tetuan the minister for foreign
affairs, and one of the leaders of the dissl-
dent conservatives had not been healed.
but had only been bridged over tempor-
arily The dissldent conservatives at the
time insisted upon the resignation of the
duke. as a condition of their further sup
port of the government. AS the govern
ment depended, not upon a homogeneous
party, but rather upon union of various
elements, generally opposed to liberal
ideas for its existence, that was a threat
ening condition. and a crisis was aVerted
,1tyt ncrh or g. n r
tive leaders.
AS to what is to follow the resignation of
the cabinet officials here are completely
in the dark. Secretary Sherman does not
believe that It will materially affect the
relations of Spain either to the United
States or to Cuba, which seems to indi-
cate an expectation on his part that when
the cabinet is re-organized II will be found
to be still of a conservative tendency. on
the other hand high officials in the admin
istration expect that a liberal cabinet, un-
der the leadership of the veteran Sagasta,
will be erected on the ruins Of the Azcar-
raga cabinet If this should be the case,
the future Is held to be full of promise for
Cuba, for il is recalled that the liberals
have not hesitated to express their op-
position to the great expenditure of hu-
man life and vast treasure in the effort
to carry out the repressve conservative
programme for the conduct of the war.
II Is not believed that the liberals are
prepared to go to the length OF promising
freedom to Cuba but, from the express
sions OF the leaders Of the party, It Is
hoped that they are willing to grant so lib
eral a measure Of home rule and auton-
omy TO the island, that Of Spanish SOW
ereignty nothing would remain save a
shred in the way of a few preferential du-
ties, and perhaps, the power of appoint
ing some official corresponding to the
governor general Of Canada, named by the
British crown. An incident 10 the selec-
ton OF liberal cabinet, 1t is expected.
would be the restoration Of Martinez Cam
pos TO position where he would be In a
position to carry out the programme of