Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-09
D E A TIL OF CAN VAS
His Assassination Believed to Have Political
Significance.
In Official Circles the Crime is Be-
lieved to BE Due to Spain's
Disordered Condition.

The general impression here in circles
where foreign subjects are discussed ap-
pears to be that the assassination of Cano-
vas, the prime minister of Spain, cannot be
entirely without political significance. The
designation of the assassin an anarc hist
does not relieve this impression. The opin-
ion generally expressed is that whether or
not the assassin is an anarchist, the crime
| is the result of the generally disordered
condition Of Spain. 1t is thoroughly under
stood that the situation of the Spanish gov
eminent is almost desperate, and that there
Is a general discomfort and unrest among
the Spanish people, who can infer from
| the burdens that are placed upon them that
| the government cannot long maintain the
struggle in Cuba, and that a crisis in the
affairs of Spain may be expec ted at any
time. revolution is regarded as a possi-
bihty by no means remote. While the
assassination may have had no connection
with any revolutionary movement, yet II is
regarded as very probable that the death
OF Canovas will hasten a crisis.
Secretary Shcrmnn's Frankncss
The frankness with which Secretary Sher-
| man spoke in commenting on the assa ssina-
ton of Canovas. in an interview with the
Associated Press, is regarded as indicative
of the feeling on the part of this govern
nient that the situation of Spain is too
r&tent for corcealment. The statement of
Mr. Sherman in this interview that Spain s
money Is all gone and her resources eX-
hausted, but that she means evidently to
hold on to Cuba-just how, under the cir
cEmstances, he cannot see-is significantly
frank, coming from the head of State
Department. 1t is assumed that Secretary
Sherman realized in making this reference
10 Spain that the punctilous Spanish Off
Gals would be apt to take umbrage at it,
but 1t is in accordance with other express
s.ons he has been quoted for and is un-
doubtedly a very mild statement of the
case. Its most important significance lies
in its open straightforwardness indicating
that the Secretary sees no occasion for this
country to be hypocritical in reference to
Spanish affairs.
Probable Course of Senior dc LONE.
In view of the fact that Spain appears
to have been seeking for some time for an
excuse for being irritated az the United
States, it is regarded as probable that
Senior Dupuy de LONE will take exception
to these expressions of the Secretary OF
State, and that there may be some corre-
spondence on the subject. 1t is said even
that the Spanish minister may go so far
as to demand a disavowal under pain OF
his retiring from the country if it is not
accorded. 1t is understood that the Spanish
minister is disposed to be peculiarly pune
tilious of late. While the utmost political
disorder exists in Spain and factional dis
agreements threaten the stability of that
government, there is believed to be per-
feet agreement between all factions in a
hostile sentiment toward the United States
4 Quarrel to BE Sought.
Therefore, the more desperate the sitGa-
tion becomes in Spain the more likelihood
there is, it is believed, of the Spanish gov
ernment seeking a quarrel with this coun-
try, with the idea of creating a diversion
and uniting the Spanish people against a
country regarded by them as common
enemy. This being the situation, it is
fully expected that Senior Dupuy de Lone
will make a display of irritation on ac-
count of Secretary Sherman's 5 remarks. 1t
is believed that Spain is practically at the
end of her resources in Cuba; that the
death of CanoyaS viii result in serious po-
litical disorder to Spain, and that out of
the general shakeup there is the possibility
of rupture with this country.