The record-union., 1897-08-09


Republic Instead of the Mon
archy.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-This Gov
eminent has probably already received
the formal notification Of Premier Can
OVas' assassination, but II so, 1t is
locked up with with other dispatches
in the State Department and viii not
be known until Secretary Sherman
reaches the department tomorrow. Sec
retary of State Sherman received the
first news of the affair through the
Associated Press bulletin. He express
ed deep interest in the details. He said:
This deplorable event will have some
effect, of course, on the political af-
fairs of Spain, but to what extent L
cannot say. The death of one man is
not necessarily going to change the
sentiment of the whole country. Spain
is a very tenacious country. Her
money is gone. Her resources have
been exhausted. But she means, evil
dently, to hold on to Cuba. Just how
she can do it, under these circumstan-
ces, cannot see. Yet she is opposed
TO yielding a point Premier Canovas
was a strong partisan. He was the
chief exponent of the element which
was determined to keep the island at
all hazards Seemingly, Spain is al
most a unit on this. Canovas was a
strong factor in the movement of Spain,
but it is not impossible that another
viii be found to replace him in that i'm
portant Office, having similar views and
the same pronounced ideas. How it
may be in this case, L am not able
to say, but the effects, politically, of
such an event, are not essentially far
reaching, and have not always pro-
duced radical developments. AS to the
consequences of the conflict in Cuba,
L do not care to talk. / have no Off
cial information of the assassination
and must refrain from venturing
guesses as to what it may effect in the
future"
Senator Morgan of Alabama, a MEM
Der of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Of the Senate and the champion Of
Cuba in that body predicted, in an in
terview tonight that the assassination
might be the forerunner of a complete
change of Government, a republic re-
placing the monarchy.
sThis, he thought, was the present
tendencX,s and to-day's event he regard
ed as an evidence of the disintegration
Of the Spanish Government. He added:
This affair. is going to create COM
plete reVulsion throughout the whole
of Spain That country is now in a
very shaky condition. 1t is true,
doubtless, that to-day's assassin was an
anarchist, but the act is representa-
Of % al the
country republican party has al
ready gained great strength, though, of
course, it's operations have to be largely
concealed. Then the universal testi-
mony is that the bulk of the Spanish
army in Cuba is made up of young
men. This has broken up families all
over the land and their dispatch to
the island to be led by Weyler has de-
veloped a powerful sentiment in Spain.
Why are the veterans kept at home?
Look at this powerful republican ele-
ment that has grown up, the effect of
denuding the country of its young men
and the personal antagonism thus en-
gendered, the proximity of Spain to
the broad liberal influences of the
French republic, where there are ties
of mutual affection and the Govern
ment exerts itself to help it's citizens.
The act does not mean personal pre-
judice against Canovas. but against his
political stand and views and the ex-
treme element he represented. 1t was
the we'll developed system of the most
deep seated antagonism to the creed of
the Canovas party. The Barcelona in
cident gave evidence of the tremendous
and administration operations,
and the stricken Premier's endorsement
of Weyler, putting him in command of
Barcelona, as that affair greatly added
TO Canovas' unpopularity. The indica-
tions point to the assassin as a victim
of that Barcelona incident
THE suceessorshfp of Canovas is
problematical I believe, however, that
the Administration will realize the
overwhelming influence of the opposi-
tion, and. having seen Canovas gotten
out of the way, win try some one with
Cuban views a degree removed from
those of Canovas in a liberal direction.
1t is not improbable and it is quite
likely that Senior Praxedes Mateo Sa-
gasta the distinguished Liberal states
man, may succeed Canovas as Premier
Sagasta is 20 years old. was Minister
of the Interior under the provisional
Government OF 1865. President of the
Cortes in 1871 and has occupied the
post of Premier of the Spanish Govern
ment a number of times.
7 believe that the Cuban conflict will
be ended at the end of the present
rainy season. This l have frequently
eontended. and now am confident of it,
The termination of the affair would
thus be brought about in October
The only member of the Spanish Le-
cation in Washington when the news
of Senior Canovas' assassination was
received was Julio Calarza, the third
Secretary. Senior De LONE, the Span
ish Minister was at Lennox and all
the other members of the Legation were
scattered for the summer. Until $40
Senior CalarZa had heard nothing Off
eially from Spain, but at that hour a
telegram from Spain was brought him.
and. after reading it. he hurriedly left
the Metropolitan Club. where he was
stopping. saying merely he was going
TO New York. Tt IS probable that he
will join Senior De LONE, either there
or at Lennox. Tt is likely that this
unexpected development viii bring the
Spanish Minister back to Washing
ton.