The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-10-07
HAPPENINGS At MADRID
OFFICIAL INFORMATION RELA-
TIVE TO THE SPANISH CRISIS
COMING SLOWLY.
THE OPINIONS IRE FAIRLY DIVIDED
As to the Outcome-Americnn Az
fairs Did Not Bring on the Crisis.
Conservative Regime May Col
Iapse-DiplOmaticG Gossip.

Washington, Sept. 30.-Minister
Woodford, up to noon today, had not in
formed the state department of the Span
ish crisis and the department was still
officially ignorant of yesterdays happen
ngs ut Madrid. The main point of in
! terest here ut present is the composition
of the new cabinet. and it is expected
| that Mr. Woodford will not neglect to
obtain and cable to his government the
earliest information possible ON that
point. In administration circles today
opinions are fairly divided rs to the out
come, whether tine new cabinet will be
! liberal or conservative. and rs that is
| the matter of gravest Importance to our
government, us influencing the line of pol
! icy TO be followed us to Cuba, there is
Il strong desire to obtain information rs
TO the prospects. The president had
scarcely reached the White House this
morning before Secretary Sherman called
to see him. He was closely followed by
it is understood that the latters visit
had largely to do with state department
appointments it is not doubted that there
was discussion Of the last Madrid de-
! velopments.
In the absence of the Spanish minis
| Ter MI. DuDOSC IL lHe SclllOT NpuHlSI
| official here, but he has not called ut
the state department and has not, so far
as can be learned, received official adj
| vices from Madrid.
Diplomats. familiar with Spanish af-
| fairs, say the conditions point to one of
two results, namely:
''rhe complete collapse of the conserva
tive regime, which has been responsible
for the Cuban policy, and its succession
by Il liberal cabinet with pacific and con-
ciliatory tendencies toward Cuba, or else
II transition ministry with Azcarraga
again at the head as Il temporary eX-
pedent to tide over affairs till the cortes
can meet, and II permanent and stable
ministry with Sagasta as the new leader,
said Senior Moret probably would become
minister of foreign affairs. Moret is
remembered in the United States from
the fact that he was the first to recog
nize the Mora claim presented by the
United States. He was made the tar
get for much criticism in Spain. but he
was ultimately justified by his political
opponents when they pad the claim after
the energetic demands made by Secretary
Olney.
The name of Senior Gamnzo has been
mentioned in the Madrid cables as like
ly to take the foreign portfolio in the Sa-
gasta cabinet and this is believed to be
|
prominent in state affairs. but is noted
as Il financer and was financial minis
ter in former liberal cabinet. He has
II strong liberal following. and ii is be-
lieved that he would take the treasury
portfolio in n liberal cabinet.
1t is stated with postiveness that
American affairs did not bring on the
crisis. but that it was due entirely to in
ternal politics, of which the cXcommuni-
cation of Senior Reverter, minister of
finance in the fallen cabinet. formed II
part This fact has been briefly men,
toned in cable dispatches, but the cir
cumstanccs of the accommodation are
more fully explained here. 1t appears
that the minister of finance insisted that
the church property in an interior diocese
should pay taxes rs other property. This
was opposed by the bishop. who claimed
Il church exemption. The minister
thereupon resorted to the usual legal
proceedings of levying on the church
property for default in tax payments.
communication against the minister of
finance. The latter appealed to the
Metropolitan see, who ruled against the
bishop. The latter insisted on his pre-
negatives, claiming that n bishop was
supreme in matters effecting an eXcom-
munication.. In the meantime the ex-
communication of the minister stands,
and to some extent has its influence
against the retiring cabinet, owing to the
strong church sentiment in Spain. and
the official union between church and
state. 1t is not doubted that the queen
regent would be guided in such a question
affecting the cabinet by the wishes of
Rome.
The feeling that Sagasta is to be the
coming premier, either at once or after
the transition ministry retires, leads to
many favorable comments on his ability
by those who know him personally. A
leading American diplomat. and one who
has been conspicuous in Spanish-American
affairs, said that Sagasta's assumption of
office undoubtcedly, would have an import
ant and beneficial effect on the Cuban
question and the relations between the
United States and SPAIN. Sagasta is now
past TO- but still retains the vigOr that
made him a natural leader of the liberals
in his earlier days. OF all the Spanish
statesmen he is regarded as the one most
friendly to this country.
Those conversant with the Spanish sys-
TEN say the crisis is not likely to continue
beyond five or six days, as Spain can not
afford TO be without a cabinet for any
great length Of time at this juncture. The
summonng of Sagasta to Madrid will not.
il is said. show positively that he is TO
form n cabinet. The procedure is for the
queen to summon the leaders of all ele-
ments to the number of 100 or more, not
to get their political views, but to learn
from them the state of public opinion.
From these consultations the queen is en-
abled to determine what form Of ministry
and what leaders will be most acceptable
to the people. Her summoning n leader
to form n cabinet is also conditional, and
it remains for him to learn, after confer
ring with his party associates, whether he
can present ministry acceptable to the
crown and capable of commanding public
support For the present the crisis has
had the effect of postponing action upon
questions between the United States and
Spain.
| Statesmen still Consulting.
| Iondon Sent 2O-A dispatch to the