New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-09


must have excited to vengeance the frlends OF
the Barcelona Anarchists. and the result Is told
by the cable dispatch announcing the assassiha-
tion of Canovas del Castillo.
SPANS FOREMOST STATESMAN.
CAREER OF THE MURDERED PRIME MINIS
TER-ACTIvE IN POLITICS AND
LITERATURE.
Don Antonio Canovas del Castillo. Prime
Minister of Spain, was considered the foremost
statesman Of his country SO Tar as accom-
p,ishment is concerned. Though born OF tne
common people, Of humble parents ne was
an aristocrat OF arstocrats. conservative
Of the most ultra type, a man who would
have liked 10 restore 10 monarchy .he pc
rogatives 1t enjoyed in the eighteenth century,
Canovas was born at Malaga, February o.
1923 At Madrid he studied in the University IN
the philosophical and law courses, ana took up
the newspaper profession. AT the same tiIle
he devoted himself TO serious work In histor!
and general literature. One OF the fruits OF TINS
was his publication in 1891 OF volume oi
Lyric Poems; also La Campana de Huesca'
a study in twelfth century history. 49,. when
appeared in a second edition in 1894. But poll
tics was his predestined field and he was soon
drawn into 1t. In 1882 he was elected 10 ths
Cortes by the city of Malaga, and never ceased
thereafter to occupy seat In the Spanish Par-
lament In the same year he was employed IN
the office Of the Minister of the Interior, ana
two wears later was made Charge dAnaires at
Rome In the latter capacity he prepared the
noted memorandum between Spain and the
Holy See. ..ox
After serving at the head of the administration
OF the Interior Department as Director General
from 1858. and Under Secretary OF state from
1861 Canovas became Minister of the Interior
in 1864 in the Mon Cabinet. In the O'Donnell
Cabinet. which succeeded it, he was Minister
OF Finance and OF the Colonies. One of his ofh-
cal acts in this capacity was the presentation
of a tin to free the negro slaves in the Spanish
colonies. He turned out of ONCE by tne
success of Narvaez and Gonzales Bravo. ana IN
1868. just before the outbreak OF the revolution
in September he underwent a short Punishment
HIS GREATEST TITLE TO FAME
His greatest title to fame, according to some
Of his admirers. was that of having hoisted the
standard of legitimate and constitutional mon
archy in the full Constitutional Assembly or
1865 in the face OF triumphant revolution MS
fidelity to the Alfonsist party and his capacity
obtained for him the leadership of that party.
In the Cortes he persstently opposed the demo.
cratic constitution. AS natural sequence OF
his political attitude he 1t was with Mart!nez
Campos who planned the coup d'etat of 1874
for the overthrow of the feeble republican gov
eminent and the restoration of the Bourbon
dynasty The result of this movement was the
ascent OF the throne by Alfonso XII. 1t was
Canovas who wrote the Constitution under
which Spain Is governed to-day On me !ass
day of the year 1874 he was made President or
the Regency Ministry. and after the accession
of the Prince he remained at the head OF the
Cabinet. called the Cancellation Cabinet. He re-
tired I'm September 1873, but was recalled in
December. and intrusted with the conduct
OF the first legislative election held under the
new regime
In 1876 Canovas was reelected to the Cores
by the city of Madrid There he was one OF the
most active in the suppression OF the second At
tempt 10 arouse a civil war on the part OF me
Carlists and the first rebellion in Cuba. In the
latter long struggle Canovas was the ruling
spirit of the Spanish Governments action. Mar
tnez Campos commanding the spanish
forces in the island he was AT the beginning
of the present struggle He recalled. and
was put at the head of affairs at the capital TO
manage the Cuban war according 10 MS own
ideas. becoming Prime Minister and accepting
his Cabinet the associates of Senior Canovas
Campos's free trade and emancipation projects
were delayed and defeated by Canovas's skiifui
resistance. so that on the reassembling of the
Cortes in December. 1879, Campos was compelled
TO resign and Canovas was recalled and formed
a new Cabinet
THE CUBAN INSURRECTION
He found the Cuban instruction still on his
hands and sent General Blanco to quell it. But
his reactionary policy in internal afalrs, ana
especially his financial projects. aroused con-
tinually increasing opposition in the Cortes; he
was attacked not only by the kepupllcans uhuer
Castelars leadership. but by the coalition formed
10y General Campos and Senior Sagasta The
result was his retirement from office in 1881, ana
the succession OF Sagasta
He continued his activity in the Cortes there
after. and was especially prominent IN leao. nas
the Conservative campaign against the proposed
electoral reform granting universal suffrage III
Spain and against the radical propositions or the
Possada Cabinet The latter being overthrown
Cabinet in January of that year. TO assure
majority favorable TO his policy he had the
Cortes dissolved; the succeeding elections Went
in his favor In 1885. however, he was again
obliged to quit the Ministry. owing TO the re-
fusa of King Alfonso to visit cnolera raVaged
province of Spain. Before the END OF 'hat year
Alfonso died, and his widow took up the Re-
gency and the entire Ministry resigned. She re-
placed it with one formed by Sagasta
On the same day Canovas was chosen Presl-
dent of the Cortes. In that capacity he frequent
" mad himself
One of the most noteworthy demonstrations
against him was made in 1SSS ~ the students OF
Seville which took almost the character or
a riot. Nevertheless. the fortune of politics
again brought him to the head or the Govern
rnent in 1890 and he formed a Conservative CAB
met to succeed Sagasta's. He was then espe-
c,allv engaged i'm devising measures to lessen the
disastrous effect of the tariff of France on span
ish industries. In 1881 the CABINET was again
the Queen Regent with the formation OF new
one which he did. after crisis or seVerai DAYS
duration, by practically reappointng the OLD
members. ~.
mated several times in forming Cabinets; the
last time being in March. 1895, when Canovas
was restored to the Premiership.
PROMINENT AS \ WRITER.
Besides his political activity Senior Canovas
has found time for considerable work in ltera-
ture He Is the author of numerous WORKS IN
moral and political science, and OF history ot
the House of Austria" which is highly thought
OF nv historical students, and several other
books These publications were the warrant fof
his admission to the Royal Academy or Spain
IN 1867 He was decorated with the Order OF the
Golden Fleece by King Alfonso. the Grand Cross
OF the Order OF the Tower and Sword by the King
OF Portugal and the Order Of the Red Eagle by
the Emperor of Germany.
Senior Canovas had the nickname in Spain OF
The Monster" From purely physical point
OF view he merited the sobriquet, for he was
without exception the ugliest statesman or any
awkwardy built: a close-cropped, scrubby mus
tache failing TO conceal his irregular and dis
colored teeth, coarse featured and squirting
violently he added 10 all these attributes an
almost ungovernabe temper and most I'M
disguised and unmitgated contempt for his
fellow creatures. AS witty as he was sarcastic.