The evening times., 1897-08-09
POSSIBLE POLITICAL EFFECT.
Carlist and Republican Plots MAY
Overthrow the Monarchy.

Carlist and Republican Plots May
Overthrow the Monarchy.
Canovas del Castillo was the greatest DO
liiical factor and power in Spain since the
time Of the Duke OF olivares. the favortte
OF King Philip Nv. Canovas exercised an
extraordinary control over the late King
Alfonso XII, who could never forget that
be owed him his crown The fact is well
known that the King never dared TO con-
tradict CaRovas, aud in the few instances in
which he expressed opinions contrary to
tbOse or his prime minister. the latter's
angry lock was enough to make the King
yield. The Queen Regent inherited from
her husband the same respect for the iron
handed ruler. During the life of Alfonso
the Queen had d grudge against the prime
minister, because she was jealous OF his
Influence over her husband. She loved
Alfonso passionately. and her Jealousy of
sone ladies ofthe court gave rise to several
scandals in the palace. Canovas always
inlerfered. rebuking her for her conduct
The last scandal was about the spring OF
1891. The Queen found the King prone
mailing in the garden OF the palace with
one Of her rivals. In a sudden fit of anger
she horsewhipped both. The news spread
through the nation and the monarchy was
threatened. Two hours after the event
Canovas, without even announcing him.
self, entered the private rooms of the
Queen aid said to her:
''Madam, a Constitutional queen has not
the common nghtsofa wife. Your marriage
was rot one of love, but of state. Before
your private feelings are The interests OF the
monarchy. Tomorrow you willleaye Spain
FOR Austria and you will await my orders in
vienna "
Shedid ashesaid. A few months after the
Queen returned, and from that time on she
had no other viii tina that of Canovas.
''Fie saved the crownof Spain for my hus-
band" shn always said, land he will put
il on my sons head"
Sagasta never had such personal infiu-
ence over her. Sagasta, a man of perhaps
more ability as a local politician, has not
the strong control over his party that Cano-
VAS hah over his, nor that power of COM
mand which made many prominent Span
iaT'ls side with Canovas, though they be-
lieved that he was in the wrong. Canoyas'
main characteristic was his stubbornness
To yield, even to reason, was for him a dis
a
he displayed. for this reason, such fire and
enthusiasm that, Notwithstanding that
many other Spanish politicians had more
reputation than he as an orator none had
his gleat parliamentary success. The i'm
portant thing was not what he said, but
how he said IL He was a master of elocu-
ton, and was greatly helped by a strong
voice, which resounded, when he spoke,
through the House of Congress. He was
never defeated In a parliamentary debate.
when his speeches Were read afterward.
duh and plain aud containing many obso-
lete words, it was hard to understand how
they could have such q wonderful effect
on his audience.
Canovasbelievedt thatthe eSpaniar'isC ought
20 be ruled by force. In his first historical
work about the house of Austria, written
in his youth, ,heexpressed someliberal ideas,
of which he afterward repented. He said
afterward that the only mistake Of the
kings OF the house OF Austria was In In
volving Spain in foreign wars, and that
ASIDE from this they ruled the spaniartis in
the stern manner through which alone the
nation could be made happy.
Such a man in his public life, Canovas
was by singular contrast, exactly the
reverse in private life. He married, late In
life, woman much younger than himself,
who is said to have had powerful in
fluence over him. When he was bache-
lor his valet, an old man whom he knew
when he first went TO Madrid as poor
student, was his tutor. When Canovas
came home late he chatted with the valet
like q child. He never dressed but as the
valet wished, and many times he con-
fessed that he was greatly afraid OF him.
With his intimate friends he was overland,
and they allowed him rs few men are loved.
His friends presented to him the handsome
house In which he lived In Madrid. and