The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
CANOvASS RULE IN SPAIN.
MEANS BIZ WHICH HE HELD So
REM " ron 30 YEARS

u..,n-r he op,ortuntty 60 witch he Owed
uere~--Cerruptioa or MS aeshsas-nis
Alliance with ~ssEssfn-Persenai Traits
c,novns owed his high rank and power TO one
81 those happy chances which nckle fortune
often puts into the path Of great men. He was
an obscure conspirntor In 1874. working at
Madrid against the republican Government
and for the restoration OF the Bourbon family,
but without any special prestige or any decisive
influence on the policy OF his country. Hating
IN, military clement, which had for 80 long
,,,ed over Spain before the republic. he
dreamed Of a general movement Of opinion that
should Nv erthrow the existing Government and
call Alfonso XII. to tho throne OF his forefath-
ara without bloodshcd. without even resort to
the force OF arms. But suddenly, without bis
knowledge. ON Dec. "a Of that year. Gen. Marti-
pez Campos revolted ut his barrackso of Sngunto.
and hy an act OF trcachery against the republic
proclaimed Alfonso XII. King Of Spain.
The news fell in Madrid like q bomb. Tho
vs,k Government tried to defend itself, and
several persons accused Of conspiracy, among
,hsm Canovas. were arrested. But it was too
Ia,e 10 repcl force with force. The revolution
triumphantly spread throughout Spain. and .
t.u hours after his arrest Canovas was set at
liberty. He was not tho man to let such oppor
tunity pass in his life. He was the secret agent
in Nsdrid OF Isabel II. and Alfonso XII. and
the credentials. which some days before he
had kept in great secrecy. he now showed
TO all the successful monarchists. From the
dark cell into which he had been thrown at the
1sil of Las salesas he entered the palace Of the
Government as provisional dictator of Spain.
A few days later, In January, 1878. Alfonso
XII. crowned at Madrid as constitutional
King. made Cnnovas his Primo Minister. and
Gen. Martinez Campos, in spite OF his soldiers
and his services. had to yield tho arst rank in
the nation to the lucky politician. Such are
the fortunes Of men in revolutionary times.
Martinez Campos, who did al, accepted the
modest title Of " arm Of the restoration" Can
ovas. who did almost nothing. was called - the
soul and brains OF tho new regime.
Both were traitors, Martinez Campos to his
oath OF fidelity as a soldier. Canovas to the
noble ideals OF his youth. In 1851 In his His
tory of the Downfall OF Spain from Philip Ill
70 the Death Of Charles H." one Of the best
books published in Spain in this century, Cano-
vas exposed to his countrymen the crimes OF the
kings OF the house OF Austria. followed by
those OF the Bourbon family. which FASTENED
the ruin OF the nation He was then q man OF
liberal ideas. and there was nothing to indicate
In his character the ruthless tyrant that be be-
came years after. He was in those days a zcal-
Gus partisan Of the liberty of the press. which
was gagged by him when in power later in .
way that no autocratic ruler has ever surpassed.
More than thar, as o psmphleteer and . jour
ualist. when he had not the faintesc idea that
he was going TO be the sroiter OF the fate OF his
country. he proved q fierce demaFogue. and the
few issues Of Ell hurcietdoo, a paper with which
he stirred up all Spain, are to be considered as
the work of . libeller. who respected neither
the private life nor the honor of his enemies.
He soon understood that this was not the way
to power. He became more conservative. and
under the Cabinet OF ODonnell held high offices
as q partisan of Isabel II. even that of Minister
Of the Colonies. His ambition. nevertheless.
was not yet satisfied. The liceutious Queen fell.
despissd by all her subjects. and canovas fell
also with her few supporters. He waited then
for better times. His attitude OF expectancy
during the short reign Of Don Amadeo of Savoy
dimmed his political Individuality. The repuh-
lie came shortly afterward, and he found him
self during the year 1873 without influence to
compete with such men as Figueras. Salmeron.
Pi. and CASTELAR,. He waited still. He con-
spired in the dark. hating the Republicans be-
cause he could not have the first place among
them. For men like Canovas not to be first
means to be nothing.
It was during the republic that he conceived
that contempt sor bis own countrymen which
inspired his whole political life after the resto-
ration. The Republicans certainly presented 3
sad spectacle in Spain Figueras. Pr Salmeron,
Ruiz Zorrilla, were divided among themselves.
and in spite OF their high standing as orators
and writers. lacked the practical talents OF the
Statesman and the personal courage necessary
10 brave the adversely OF political life. Caste
lar, also, was only good for pronouncing long
declsmatory speeches before the Deputies. To
such a degree were the leaders of the Republi-
can party feeble and poltroons that one morning
in the month Of June, 1878, the nation was sur
prised by the news that Don Estanis-
lao Figueras. the man who n few days
before had been proclaimed President OF
the republic. had abandoned his office without
the least notification to his Ministers or to the
country. and had fiei to the frontier Of France,
terrified by the rumors OF eonspiraeies and out
RACES Pi. the most courageous Of all. strove in
vain to restore permanent order. Besides the
deep discussions among the Republican leaders,
some OF them being Centralists and others FEEDER
alists. the discouraging fact was that the people
themselves did not understand the true spirit
Of democracy. The lower classes, always ready
In Spain to commit the most barbarous out
rnges against life and property. believed
that the republic was anarchy and tina,
democracy meant the plumber Of the rich. The
same principles which in 1871 brought about
the Commune in Paris inspired the Spanish can
tonales OF Cartagena. All was then disorder
and crime in Spain. A country for so many cen
burioo Eufcl ny aDhOIuJism "hS not prtphteu IOi
those liberal institutions which arc equally op
posed TO the dominion Of an antoeracy and tn,
whims Of an ignorant mob. The reaction cam,
soon, and the republic disappeared at the mer,
threat OF Gen. Martinez Campos.
Canovas felt the reaction. and at the yer!
moment Of victory assumed to represent il. HI
was 700 keen sighted, he had too much knowI
edge OF the political situation, to take the sid,
OF the pretender. Don Carlos. who waged a ierc
war for his rights TO absolute monarchy
Canovas saw that an absolute King, with
court framed in the sixteenth century style. be
sides meeting The opposition of the mlddl
classes and the Republicans. would give Blu
little chance TO mon like himself. Of humble
plebeinn birth, to rise TO power. He chose tn
constitutional monarchy. with all the power an
responsibility centred IN the Prime Ministe
and his Cabinet, and with a Parliament divide
In Congress OF Deputies, elected BY The people
and n Senate. Controlling both bodies, he coul
have "A much power nA Don CarIoa himaalf an