Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-01
OUR OFFICIALS NOT SURPASSED.
Think II will Male No Difference In Our
Relations With Spaia.

washington, Sept 29.-The news of the
Spanish cabinet crisis was first brought
to the attention of the officials Of the
state department and diplomatic officials
through The Associated Press bulletin
from Madrid. and up to late hour to-
night from no other source was any in
formation on the subject forthcoming. 1t
is surmised that Minister Woodford's
failure to cable the dispatch was attribu-
table to the fact that 1T was after night
fall in Madrid before the news became
known.
1t cannot be said that the event causes
surprise among the officials Of the state
department or among the members of the
diplomatic corps in Washington. A care
full inspection of the cable news for the
past few weeks had left the general inn
preston that the cabinet patched in haste
after the assassination of Premier Cano-
vas, could not be expected to survive
long.
There were several reasons for this ex-
pectation, but perhaps the principal one
was the belief that the dissensions among
the supporters of the government caused
by the personal encounter between the
Duke of Tetuan, the minister of foreign
affairs, and one the leaders of the dissi-
dent Conservatives, had not been healed
but had only been bridged over tempo-
rarily.
The dissident Conservatives at the time
insisted upon the resignation of the duke
as a condition of their further support of
pended not upon homogeneous party,
but rather upon union of various ele-
ments generally opposed to liberal ideas
for its existence. this was threatening
through strenuous efforts of Conservative
leadership.
AS to what is to follow the resignation
of the cabinet. officials here are complete
~ In the dark. Secretary Sherman does
not believe that 1t will materially affect
the relations of Spain either to the United
States or Cuba. which would seem to in
dictate an expectation on his part that
when the cabinet is reorganized 1t will
be found to be still of Conservative
tendency.
High officials in the administration ex-
pect that a Liberal cabinet under the
leadership of the veteran Sagasta will be
erected on the ruins of the Azcarraga
cabinet. II this should be the case, the
future is held to be full of promise for
Cuba.
1t is not believed that the Liberals are
prepared to go to the length of promising
freedom to Cuba. but from the express
sions. Of the leaders of the party. it is
liberal measure of home rule to the
island.
Among the diplomatic officials the res
!gnation of the Spanish cabinet excited
the keenest interest and was the chief
topic throughout the evening. The Span
ish minister left at o'clock for Lenox,
about an hour before the first word of the
resignation had been received.
The ministery which resigned, 1t was
explained by diplomatic officials entirely
familiar with the facts. was Conservative
throughout. AT the time OF the selection
of the ministry. 1t was considered tenn
norarv. as the Queen Regent was then at
San Sebastian, without the opportunity
of conference with leaders, including
the leader OF the opposition. which takes
place on the formation OF new cabinet.