The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-19
THE ASSASSINATION OF CANOVAS,
n Sketch OF His Life Work and the
Consequences of His Death.

| "ohihh possessing VIC "CuknCSSGS O
her sex, destitute of any notable ad.
ministrativo or political ability. In
Cuba is revolution against Spanish rule
surging irresistibly toward success.
In the philippine Islands is rebellion
calling heavily on tho Spanish govern
mcnt for troops and money for its sup
preston. In Spain itsclf the spirit OF
revolution is abroad. 1t is the chosen
field for the operations OF anarchists,
who think its tottcring dynasty the
easiest in all Europe to be shaken by
their murderOus crimes.
And to-day Antonio GanOvas lei Cas-
tlll0, the strong statesman who re-
placed the Bourbons on the throne of
Spain and has guarded their interests
there, lies dead-struck down by the
hand of an assassin. If ever assassina-
tion promised to change the map OF the
world 1t is at this moment.
( Canovas was above all things an ar
dent royalist. AS his great rival Sa-
gasta said of him, he was content to b.
the minister OF a king, mover thinking
of being the minister OF the peoulo.
Since the day of his entrance upon
public life in lS5l-hc has mover been
out OF Office sincc--his ilorts have been
always for the protection and strength
ening of the Bourbon dynasty. During
Spain's brief experience with rcpubli.
can institutions Can0v;ts remained in
the background, butby no means Quies-
cent. His every endeavor was bent to
the task Of clecting Cortes that would
pronounce the republic failure and
recall the BourboDs. He possessed two
OF the great qualifications for state
craft, for he knew how to bide his time
and how to keep his temper. Sitting
in the national legislature during the
life of the republic, rcfraining from ir-
ritating attacks upon the existing gov.
ernment, he yet saw that government
fall before the royalist spirit which he
ia his quiet way had done so much to
foment. Alfonso XII, was called
from his school books in an lLnglish
military academy, and Canovas, who
had long held 'plenipotentiary powers
from the cxilcd boy king, became bis
Prime Minister. Af0n>o's widow and
Alfonso's son he has served with equal
sagacity and devotion. His prudence
and tact avertcd, it is believed, a revo-
luton at the death Of the late king,
and by these qualities, reinforced by
an indomitablc will, which has become
more autOcratic with his advancing
ycars-and perhaps with increasing
need for the strong hand and the heavy
hcci-he has kept down the spirit OF
republicanism in Spain even Until tn,
present day. What tomorrow may
bring forth, no man knowing the tom
per of the Spanish people and tho con
} dition OF the Spanish government viii
, attempt TO say with certainty.
Did Canovas pay the penalty 70
S Spain's misuse OF Cuba? The question
D is not so easily answered as it NIGH
: seem. True, they say the assassin wa
( an anarchist, not a Cuban bent on rid
+ ding his country Of one implacable foe
| But suppose it were so. What was
that could have led this agent of the
red terror that periodically unncrves
( Europe to choose tho Spanish premier
for his victim?
/ A certain amount OF system is evil
don't IN the anarchist demonstrations.
The victims are apt to be mon whose
violent death would prccipitato politi-
cal crises out Of which the anarch ists
nope to snatch some advantage. The
crimes are most frequent and most
glaring in the States where the gov
crnment is in the most critical posi-
tion. Had King Humbert fallen be-
fore the recent assault of an assassin.
Italy, bankrupt and tax eaten, would
almost certainly have been tho scene
Of political cataclysm. Spain Is ripe
for a social explosion, hence it is there
that the torch of anarchy has been
fired.
And in the chiefcst part it is from
the prOtractcd effort to re- cnslavc Cuba
that the discomfort Of the Spaniards
has sprung. They have seen the flower
OF their young manhood drafted to
Cuba, whence there return nothing
save reports of futile campaigns, rcgi-
ments decimatcd by virulcnt fcvcrs,
hospitals turned into pest houses, prof
legacy and embezzlement by high Of
licials, misery and'suIering among the
soldiers. Stripped Of It's youth Spain
Is robbed OF its wealth as well. The
Cuban war has already cost moro thaa
500, 'OO, 600 and victoryis further away
than ever. Peasant families, deprived
OF thclr wage earners, fiud the de
mands OF the tax gathercr more cXtOr
tionate than ever. The more conf fort
able classes know that the nation is or
| the verge Of bankruptcy. Disconten,
is outspoken In mansion and in cottage
Anarchy is invited.
For this condition Canovas stood ir
the position OF prime responsibility
His was the governing hand, his tho
voice that time and again declared th al
only ny Iho aOJeCL surrender OF the
'rchcls" could peace be restored IL
Cuba. He sent Wcyler to Cuba ant
has maintained him there despite re
ports OF his barbarity to the Cubans
and his rapacious frauds pcrpetratct
upon the army. Finally Canovas wa
the main prop and buttress of the Bour
bon dynasty, the man who more than
whole brigade OF devoted troops, wa
able to protect the throne and main
tain the existing government.
If Spain is weak Canovas helped II
make it so. With all the mans intel
lcct, with all his magnificent qualitic
o, loyalty to what he deemed the par
T. of patriotism, his hurtiulncss to tn,
\ nation he thought to servo remains un
dcniablo. And SO great was his per
, sOnal power that with him remove,
the most momentous consequences ma
! follow. Cuba may be granted the in
. dependence which at any rate she viii
q surely win. But, more Than this, tn
y Spanish Bourbons may be again exile
. to make way for government by tn
people.
Assassination Is always hateful. al
p most always a block to the dcvclol
k ment OF liberty. But conditions whic
k the unfortunate Primo Minister {
l., ;,,n Too