The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-08-18
The Assassination of Canovas.
Charlotte Observer.

The most shocking OF recent
events was the assassination, Sun
Law. of Canovas del Castillo, the
Spanish Prime Minister, by a
olood-thirsty anarchist. He was
not good man, nor even a wise
one-ability and wisdom are not
SYNONYMOUS terms-but these facts
relieve his takingzeff of none of its
righteousness. We find in the
New York Mail and Express an in
teresting editorial telling some
thing of the nam, and extracts
from this article are worth their
space:
Canovas was without doubt the |
ablest man in Spanish public life.
He was more than o. premier he
was the government-he was the
throne itself, for no one will other
than his moved the government or
dictated the opinions of the throne.
An autocrat by nature, age and
unlimited power had blinded him,
and his country has been blinded,
to the fact that the world moves.
His very strength, therefore, be-
came bis weakness, and his I'M
compromising policy impelled the
kingdom steadily toward that des-
| perate condition where now she
lies, victim of sixteenth century
methods in the midst of nineteenth
century civilization. = y He
knew only force in domestic affairs
and, all his talents We're devoted to
a study of its uses. He served the
King 50 zealously that he forgot
the people-and the people hated
him in Consequence. 1t is true that
} he had to deal with problems
more complex than any that hae
agitated Spain in the present cen
fury. Yet the more complex the,
became, the greater the necestit,
t for diplomacy and compromise
the sterner became the stubborn
ness that was giants fatal weak
1 ness. His self-rellance blinde,
s him to his danger. His sanction
e of official corruption and broke
+ promises in Cuba precipitated
q revolution that wisdom might hav
y avoided. His attempted suppress
sion of that rebellion earned tn
It contempt and indignation Of tn
IS world for its cruelty, robbed Spai
y of the flower of her youth an
1t plunged the country into banl
St ruptcy. Yet he would not Sc
1t His barbarous government of Il
30 Philippines compelled an uprisi1
st at a time most inopportune for tt
a Spanisilinterest; yet he refused
n detect the inevitable influence
u this upon popular sentiment
lie home. He appealed to SPANS
Sc patriotism until patriotism turn
IN upon him with denunciation, in,
OF ting revolution at the very door
ey the palace and placing the weap'
~ of death in the grasp of anarch
And what of the future? Spa
is is PROSTATE, without allies, wit
ur out money and without resource
% Viewed with indifference abroa
DIV she is torn by the spirit of revol
lit ton at home. The King is CHI
IFS of eleven. The Queen Regent i
he woman without especial force
'm character and in no way dist
p guished for executive ability.
no Cuba and the Philippines
,ty spirit of rebellion is fercer th
lty ever. On the peninsula the L
on erals will seek to seize the reins
led government. Don Carlos, in
er- exile, dreams again of the GRO
ase that. once he nearly wore, q
do which by all the laws of royal j
las tice is his The Republicans, "
rst a generation ago toppled from
tn, throne the ancestor of young
TAT fonso, have reason once more
hope. And above all the conf
ave ing interests rises the hideous h.
co of anarchy, grinning over it's
Dor test achievement and plott
put fresh deeds of blood.
ent'ii In the death of Canovas ther
No hope forFGuba. The shepherd
ion been smitten and:tAe sheep viii
low scattered. Hatecis as he was,
an wise as he ofteni WEES, he- at Il
of kept the home government togt
'ple er and it is doubtful if there
MP livingrSpaniard who can do tt
tier -----
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