The herald., 1897-06-08
TUESDAY, JUNE 8. 1907.
SPANISH CABINET TROUBLE

During the last few days 1t has SEEM
ed certain that there would be change
of ministers by the Spanish government.
that Senior Sagasta, Liberal. would
supersede Canovas, Conservative, as
prime minister, but later dispatches In
d!cate that Canovas will retain his place.
and that there will be no change in the
personnel Of the ministry, nor in regard
to Cuban policy. 1t appears that the
queen regent decided against making
change after consulting Senior Sagasta
and General Martinez Campos. Embar-
rassmert to Spanish finances by the wars
in Cuba and the Philippine islands, to-
gether with the atrocious proceedings Of
Captain General Weyler, brought about
a controversy in the cortes of a char
acter SO pointed as to weaken the gov
ernment In its efforts to suppress the re-
belhons in the two insular dependencies.
1t will be remembered that about two
years ago General Martinez Campos was
relieved Of his command in Cuba, and
it was said at his own request. Senor
Canovas did not question the ability of
Campos, but he wanted a commandant
who would be more severe than Cam
pos was willing to be, and therefore he
readily complied with the latter's wish
to be relieved. and appointed Butcher
Weyler to succeed him. The Spanish
government has not been in the habit Of
resorting to pacific and humane meas
ures in dealing with rebellious subjects;
on the contrary, its policy has been to
indulge in the extreme brutalities of
war. The atrocities of Weyler in Cuba
have aroused the wrath not only of the
people of this country, but Of those
throughout the civilized world, and they
have even shocked the more humane ele-
ment of the people of Spain, and the
wiser ones there probably see that Wey-
ler's methods are calculated to render in
effectual the efforts for Cuban subjuga-
tion.
1t has been hinted that the Spanish
government was contemplating change
Of policy. which provided for granting
to Cuba autonomy, and it has also been
thrown out that our government is ne
gotiating to bring about that result. The
retention of Canovas in power as pre-
mier. and Weyler in the governorship of
Cuba seem to negative the idea of aband-
onment Of relen tless and barbarous war,
and a resort to measures of pacifcation.
1t is evident that the Cubans will accept
nothing short of absolute independence.
and that public sentiment in this coun-
try will not be placated except by con-
ferring upon the Cubans complete lib
erty, which is their natural and inalien-
able right. The barbarities of Weyler
and his troops have greatly intensified
American feeling and the cessation Of
such methods would modify but would
not remove the sympathy of our people
for the Cuban patriots.
Spain will never consent to grant au-
tonomy to an extent that will deprive
her of the power to tax Cuba to supply
the needs of her profligate and corrupt
government. To tax her dependencies
for that purpose is her only object in
possessing them. None of her depend
encies has ever f1ourished for that
reason, and none has ever achieved pro-
gressive civilization under her in.
spiration. Her finances have ever been
dIecrepit and deranged, even when she
drew most heavily from her possessions
and to deprive her Of those revenue re-
sources would involve her in immediate
and inextricable bankruptcy
1t is to be hoped that should the Span
ish government pretend to favor more
liberal and humane policy towards Cuba
it will not take from our governmen,
what little stamina it has, and lead tht
! United, States to take such action as will
perpetuate Spanish power and oppres~
sion in that rich island. Not only is the
cause of liberty at stake. but large com.
mercial interests are involved. If per-