Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-10
.ss,sIyArroN OF cAxovAs.

Premier Canoyas, Of Spain, who was
assassinated at Santa Agueda sunday
appoars 20 have been the victim OF an
archv or anarchical revenge, pure ana
simple There was no political motive De-
hind the dastardly deed. Canovas STOOD
uncompromisingly for the integrity or
the Crown possessions. was the NE Oh
the present Spanish policy in cuba ana
was an unhinching constitutional mon
arcbist. Indeed. he wrote the existing
Constitution Of the Kingdom. But the
assassin was not actuated by sympathy
with bleeding Cuba. or, as was tho case
with the slayers of Prim, Influenced by
sympathy with republican agitation lie
could not even enter the plea Of the Rus
sian Nihilist. which is Of course, no JUS
tiacation for assassination. that he would
tear down to build up destroy to recon
struct. Canovas was killed because ne
represented government, and was the
enemy of anarchism, which would abolish
all government
Looking at the matter from the stand
point of a Spanish loyalist, we must
recognize that in the death Of Canovas
spain has lost a patriot. From any stand
point we view il, we must admit that she
has lost a statesman. AS we have said
Canovas was an incorporating consu-
tutional monarchist and tho life of SPANS
Cuban policy. lie was the friend and
ardent supporter of Weyler and had done
more. perhaps, than any other man to
render abortive all movements in this
country looking TO a settlement of the
Cuban question. But be our devotion TO
a republican form of government what
It may, and be our conviction Of the just
ness Of the Cuban cause never so great
we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that
Canovas was a man OF whom it may be
said. as the Cortes said OF Prim, he de-
served well Of his country.
Canovas was not only the leader Of the
Spanish Conservative party-the party
opposed to liberallsm-but as regards
SPANS internal Affairs, he was conserva
tive I'm the sense that that, word is ap
piled to craftsmanship. This stood Spair
I'm good stead on more than one occasion
when he was recalled TO power at critica
periods, and brought order out of threat
ened governmental chaos. Like all pub
lie men Of his strength Of character ant
individuality, he had parliamentary enc
mics i'm his own party, and at the time o
his death there was a wide breach be
tween him and the moderate Conserva
tives. He had, also, serious opposition il
the Ciericals, with whom he had long
standing quarrel, and though it was con
ndently predicted that what with thes
two elements he would he forced out, n
died master of the situation.
AS might have been expected. the upper
most question in the American mind sug
gested by Canovas's death is: What ef
feet will the tragedy have uDon the fat
of Cuba? As Canovas was known to b
at variance with Campos, it is already as
sumed that Weyler viii be removed an
the late Captain-General viii be again en-
trusted with the task Of paciiying IN
island How far the wish Is father I
the thought remains to be seen. But evel
AZ the substitution should take place. !
does not follow that in consequence there
Of Cuba will be any nearer autonomy tina
she is now. That the policy Of Campo
would be more humane than is that O
WeyIer is not to be questioned. but a
the same all parties lin Spain are unite
for the suppression OF the Instruction.