The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-09


he made his debut under the patronage of
Seniors Rios, Rosas and Pacheco, as chief
editor of the Patria, in which he defended
conservative ideas.
About this time he published a volume
OF lyric poems and a series of historical
papers. He was in doubt whether to fol-
low a literary or a political career, but
soon found himself turned into politics by
the course of events. In 1852 he was nam
ed deputy for Malaga. In 1856 he was
charge d'affaires at Rome ana prepared
the historical memorandum on the rela-
tons of Spain with the Holy See, which
served as a basis for the Concordat.
After serving the crown as governor of
Calais in 1855, director general of the ad-
ministration from 1858 to 1861 and lastly in
that same year as under secretary of state
for the interior, the queen called him to
the ministry as member of the Mon cab
met. In 1865 he held the portfolios of
finance and colonies in the O'Donnell CAP
met, and 1t developed upon him to draw
up the law for the abolition of the slave
trade.
Shortly before the revolution of 1868 he
became especially conspicuous as one of
the last to defend with energy in the
cortes the principal of blending liberal
and conciliatory ideas with the constitu-
tional monarchy when all the parties that
had supported this political doctrine had
deserted the parliament. He was ban
ished short time before the revolution
occurred and took no part in it.
In the face of the triumphant revolution
after his return from exile and in the full
constituent assembly of 1863 supported by
Seniors Elduayem, Buagllal and two Others
he hoisted the standard of legitimate and
constitutional monarchy. This was his
greatest title to fame His fidelity and
ability finally 70 him no
direction of the Alfonsist party; and on the
proclamation of Alfonso XII as king on
Dec. 81, 1874, Senior Canovas became pres
ident of the council and chief
of the new cabinet called the cabinet of
Cancellation. He retired in September,
1875, because of the demands of the ex-
IRENE conservative party, but he was
called back to the presidency of the coun-
Gil on Dec. 2 of the same year, and
charged particularly with the direction
of the first legislative elections of the new
regime He was himself elected to the
Cortes from the city of Madrid in Jan
uary, 1876. 1t devolved upon him then to
repress the second attempt of the Carlists
10 bring on a civil war and to deal with
the first insurrection in Cuba.
With the exception of an interval of a
few months, he continued to hold the pre-
miership down to 1879 when, on the return
of Marshal Martinez Campos from Cuba,
he retired from the premiership and was
succeeded by Gen Campos, who accepted
as his colleagues the principal associates
of Senior CanOVaS The opposition raised
to the policy of Gen. CampOs soon forced
him to retire. Senior Canovas skillfully
resisted delayed and finally defeated the
free trade and emancipation projects of
Gen. Campos On the reassembling of the
cortes in 1879, Gen. CampOs gave up the
attempt to conduct the government and
cabinet on Dec TO- with
second Cuban instruction to be dealt
with. He charged Gen. Blanco with this
task, but the reactionary tendency of his
home policy became more and more mark
ed, until the financial projects in which he
wished to embark drew upon him the bitter
attacks, not only of Castelar, and the re-
publicans. but also those of Gen. Campos
end Senior Sagasta; and he was compelled
to resign. In 1881 he returned again to
power, but his conservative cabinet was
speedily. overthrow, and a coalition gov
eminent, with Senior Sagasta and Gen.
Campos at its head. took the reins of af-
fairs.
At the general elections of the same
year he was returned to the Cortes from
Madrid and became the chief spokesman
of the intermediate party, known as the
party of conservative liberals.
On Jan. IS, 1884, he was called upon to
form a conservative ministry. In order to
secure a majority devoted like himself
to ideas of order and liberty, in harmony
with the monarchical principle, be dis
solved the Cortes and the new elections re-
suited favorably.
But on Nov 26, 1885, on the question of
the occupation of the Caroline stands by
Germany, he was again compelled to re-
sign, being succeeded by Senior Sagasta
The same day he was elected president Of
40
for Senior Romero Robledo, and he signal
lied his entrance upon mis- new functions
by funeral eulogy Of King Alfonso XII,
who had died the previous day.
In 1890 another reversal brought him
back into power, and on July he took
the presidency Of a conservative cabinet
replacing the liberal ministry of Senior Sa-
gasta. Two years later, the pendulum
swung to the present extreme, and the
liberals under Senior Sagasta won the gen.
eral elections and retained power until
1895, when disagreements in the Sagasta
cabinet led the queen regent to summon
Senior Canovas again to the premiership
Senior CanoVas came last into power on
Feb. T. 1895. A number Of officers had
broken into and pillaged the offices of va
rious newspapers, which had made insin-
uations against the conduct of officers
engaged in suppressing the Cuban revolt
The war minister seemed to support the
officers, whereas the premier, Senior
Sagasta, ordered the Journalists to be pro-
tected This led to the retirement Of the
ministry. Marshal Campos was Temporal
rly made captain general of Madrid and
the greatest excitement prevailed Fin
ally Senior Canovas formed a ministry
although he lacked the support of a sec
ton Of the conservative party. The gov
eminent was defeated on a vote OF censure
on June g. 1895. but did not resign.
The general elections of April, 1895, re-
turned an overwhelming majority 70 the
Cortes in favor Of the policy of the Cano-
vas cabinet though the opposition charg-
ed that the ministerialists carried many
Of the election districts by gross frauds.
on June 2, last. Senior Canovas rendered
the resignation Of the cabinet owing TO the
difficulty the ministers experienced In car
rying on the government in view Of the
parliamentary situation caused by the re-
fusal of the liberals to take part in the de-
liberations of the Cortes. This attitude
Of the liberals was due to a personal en-
counter between the Duke Of Tetuan min
lister of foreign affairs, and Prof Comas
a distinguished liberal senator on May 81
when the duke slapped the face OF the pro-
fessor after a heated debate on the Nor
l..lI eaen1uttora 81