Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-10
CANOVAS'S CAREER.
The Dead Leader Began Life as a
Journalist.


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 10 follow a
literary or a political career, but soon
found himself turned to politics by the
course OF events. In 1852 he was named
Deputy for Malaga, and from that time
to his death never ceased to occupy
seat in the Cortes. In 1856 be was Charge
dAnaires al Rome and prepared the his
torical memorandum on the relations OF
Spain with the Holy See which served as
q basis for the COncOrdat.
CALLED TO THE MINISTRY.
After serving the Crown as Governor
Of Cadz I'm 1850. Director General Of the
administration from 1855 to 1851, and
lastly. in that same year. as Under Sec
rotary OF State for the Interior, the
Queen called him TO the ministry as
member OF tho Mon Cabinet.
In 1866 he held the portfolios Of Finance
and tho Colonies in the O'Donnell Cabi-
net and it degolyed upon him TO draw
no 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 principle 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
banished a short time before the Revo-
luton occurred, and took no part i'm II.
BACK FROM EXILE.
In the face OF the triumphant Revo-
luton. after his return from exile, and
in the full Constituent Assembly Of 1878.
supported by Seniors Elduayen, Bugallal.
and TWO others. he hoisted tho standard
Of legitimate and constitutional monar-
chy. This is his greatest title 10 fame.
His fidelity and ability finally obtained
for him the supreme direction OF the
Alphonsist party; and on the proclama-
ton of Alphonse XII. az King, on De
cember 81, 1874 Senior Canoyas del Cas-
tito became president Of the Council and
chief of the new Cabinet, called the
Cabinet OF Cancellation.
He retired In September, 1915, because
of the demands OF the extreme Con-
servative party. but he was called back
TO the presidency Of the Council on De
cembcr ID Of the same year, ana charged
particularly wiki the direction Of the first
legislative elections OF the new regime
He was himself elected 10 the Cortes
from the city Of Madrid in January. 1876.
II developed upon him then 10 repress
the second attempt Of the Carlists 10
bring on q civil war and 10 deal with
the first instruction in Cuba.
SUCCEEDED BY CAMPOS.
With the exception Of an interval OF
a few months. he continued % mold the
premiership down to 1873. when. on the
return Of Marshal Martinez Campos from
Cuba. he retired from the premiership
and was succeeded by Campos, VINO ac-
cepted as his colleagues the principal as
soclates Of Senior Canoyas The opposi-
ton raised TO the policy OF Campos soon
forced him 10 retire.
Senior Canoyas resisted sklifully, de-
layed and finally defeated the cree-trade
and emancipation projects Of Campos;
on the reassembling OF the Cortes IN
December, 1879. Campos gave up the at
tempt TO conduct the government and
Senior Canovas formed n new Cabinet on
December 10Th. with a second Cuban in
surrection 10 be dealt with.
He charged General BancO With this
task, but the reaciionary tendency CT his
nome policy became more and more
marked. until the financial projects In
which ne wished 10 embark drew upon
him the bitter attacks not only Of Cas-
telar and the Republicans, but also OF
Campos and Of sagasta; and he was com
PEELED 10 resign. In 1881 he returned /
again to power, but his Conservative |
Cabinet was oyerthrown speedily and
government, with Sagasta and |
Campos al its head, took the rens OF !
affairs.
AGAIN \ MINISTER.
At the general elections Of the same |
year he was returned 10 the Cortes from |
Madrid. .and became the chief and spokes-
man OF the intermediate party, known as
the party OF the Conservative Liberals |
OH January IS. 1854. he was called upon |
to form a Conservative ministry.
In order 20 obtain a majority devoted |
ike himself 10 ideas OF order and OF |
liberty. in harmony with the monarch |
cal principle he dissolved the Cortes |
and the new election resulted fdYynbly. \
But on November 2e. 1885. on the Ques- |
ton Of the occupation OF the Caroline |
Islands by Germany, he again was COM /
Deled to resign. being succeeded by Senior |
5asasta.
The same day he was elected president
lI ire AUdiUDfi ~ N'N'H etofi'A IL
asst for Senior Romero Robledo. and be
signalized his entrance upon his new
functions by a funeral eulogy OF King
A lphonso XII. who had died the pre-
Tious day. In 1890 another reversal
brought MIN back into power, and on
July 9Th he took the presidency OF
Cabinet. replacing the Libe-
al ministry OF Sagasta.
OUT OF MINISTRY AGAIN.
Two years later the pendulum swung
20 the opposite extreme. and the Liberals.
under Senior Sagasta. won The genera.
election and retained power until 1875.
when disagreement I'm the Sagasta Cabi-
act led the Queen Regent TO summon
-anoyas again 10 the premiership.
Canovas came last into power on Feb
-uary :, 1855. A number OF officers had
,roken into and pi!iaged the Offices OF