The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-10
THE IOLTTICdL EFFErT.
Carlist and Republican Plots May Bring
Civil War and Cuban Independence.

favorite Of King Philip ". Canovas cI-
ercised an extraordinary control over
the late King Alfonso Nil, who could
never forget that he owed him his crown.
The fact is we'll known that the King
never dared 10 contradict CanoYas. and
in the few instances in which he eX-
pressed opinions contrary 10 those OF
his Prime Minister the latter's angry look
was enough 10 make the King yield The
Queen Regent inherited from her hus-
band the same respect for the lron-h0nd-
ed ruler During the life or Alfonso the
Queen had grudge against the Prime
Minister. because she was jealous Of his
influence over her husband She loved
Alfonso passionately. and her jealousy
of some ladies Of the court gave rise
TO several scandals I'm the palace. Cano-
vas always interfered. rebuking her for
her conduct.
The last scandal was about the spring
Of 1891. The Queen found the King
promenadng in the garden OF the palace
with one Of her rivals. In sudden it
OF anger. she horsewhipped both. The
news spread through the nation. and the
monarchy was threatened. Two hours
after the event CanOvas, without even
announcing himself. entered the private
rooms Of the Queen and said 10 her'
not the common rights Of a wife. Your
marriage was not one of love. but OF
state Before your private feelings are
the interests Of the monarchy Io-mor-
row YOU will leave Spain for Austria.
and Won will await my orders In Vienna.
She did as ne said. a few months after
the Queen returned. and from that time
on she had no other will than mat OF
CauOvas.
Gle saved the crown Of Spain for my
husband" she always SAID, "and ne VIII
put It on my sons head.
Sagasta never had such personal lh1u-
ence over her. Sagasta, a man OF per
hans more ability as local politician, mas
not the strong control over bis party thal
Canovas had over his. nor that power OF
command which made many promin 'ht
Standards side with Canovas. though they
believed that he was i'm the wrong Cano-
vas's main characteristics was his stub-
bornncss. To Weld. even 10 reason. was
for him. "A disgrace 10 statesman. IN "l
public debates he displayed. for TINS rea-
son such fire and enthusiasm that, iol-
y,ithetanding that many other Spanish
noliticians had more reputation than ne
as am orator. none had his great parlia-
mentary success. The important thlH5
was not what Doe said. but how ne sald IT,
greatly helped hy "a strong voice. which
rosounded when be spoke through tie
House Of Congress. He was never oe-
feated I'm a parliamentary debate Nhtn
his spoechcs were read afterwards. dul
and plain and containing many obsolete
words il was hard 20 understand now
they could have such a wonderful erect
on his audience.
Canovas believed that the Spaniards
ought TO be ruled by force. In his hrst
historical work about the House or aus
tria. written I'm his youth. ne eNpressed
some liberal ideas, Of which ne atter-
ward repented. lie said atterward mat
tho only mistake Of the Kings Of the
House Of Austria was i'm involving SPAIN
i'm foreign wars. and that aside from u Is
they ruled the Spaniards I'm the stern
manner through which alone the hation
could be made happy.
Such man i'm his public life. CanoNas
was by a singular contrast exactly the
reverse I'm private life lie married, late
I'm life. a woman much younger than him.
self. who is said 10 have had powerful
Influence over him. When he was
bachelor his valet. an old man whom he
knew when he first went 10 Madrid as
poor student. was his tutor. when Caho-
vas came home late be chatted win the
valet like child. He never dressed hut
AS the valet wished. and many times ne
confessed that he was greatly AFRAID OF
him. With h.s intimate friends he was
overland. and they ail loved him as few
men are loved Ills friends presented to
him the handsome house I'm which he liV-
cd in Madrid. and before his marriage he
had already a large fortune from their
bounty.
The man who told CanOvas that he was
a great poet-although his verses are real
y void. OF any poetcal quahty-was sure
10 gain his favor Iic was great schol-
ar ne had the largest private library IN
Spain. he was "A good historian great
orator. and SPANS mighty ruler but ne
could be satisfied only with the BioileS nc
lacked. those Of the poet
The public did not know these childish
traits Of the man and his private virtues.
lie WAS persoually honest. but no one be-
ieved him % be So What the pubic
saw was the harsh and cruel Minister.
who always resortcd to the sword 10 quell
any revolutionary attempt lie was Tor
an "the proud Cauoyas,' the man VINO
considered himself superior to all span
iards and even 20 bis King the man VINO
refused a title of nobility from Alfonso
MI, saying. "If ! made MIN Sing now
can he make me Duke Nhen the
queen, after her husbands death insisted
again upon giving him Il title, 1t is SAID
that he answered:
Il am perfectly satisfied. Madame
with being Can0vas del Castillo.
He was, therefore. deeply mated espe-
cially by the Republicans, Socialists ana
Anarchists. The latter had sentenced
him TO death several times. on account OF
his terrible persecution OF them. Canovas
had put TO death more than 900 Anarchists
in Spain. either by regular sentences aiter
trials. Of by attacks of the troops on An
archist mobs
At this very moment all Europe is stir
red up over the inquisitoral tortues of
Anarchists I'm Barcelona, and Canovas -
accused by public opinion OF being the M
stigator Of them. lie is the author OF the
law Of 1894 against Anarchists. which -
now in force in Spain and IN which death
or Imprisonment for life Is the only PEN
atty.
The death Of Canovas furnishes one
more hope for the early establishment
Of Cuban independence. All the other
Spanish statesmen were more or less con-
WINGED OF the useless sacrifice when SPAN
was making 10 keep Cuba uhuer her
sway. Canovas was the only man IN
Spain capable Of fighting Tor ms ldeas
until they should involve the rum OF ths
nation.
Now. either a revolution VIII over'urn
the throne Of the Bourbons ana tree una
or the defence OF the queen VIII pIoD"DV
oblige the new government 10 let 'he re-
VOTED colony 90 in order 10 cohcen'ra'o
In the peninsula all the FORCES OF tne
non "a F4hN