New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-13
GOOD QUEEN CHRISTINA.
A LIBERAL SPANISH RULER OBLIGED
TO ACT AS A CONSERVATIVE.
HER OBJECT TO PRESERVE THE THRONE FOR
HER LITTLE BOY-HER RELATIONS
WITH CANOvAS AND THE CON
SENTATIVE MACHINE"
SENTATIVE MACHINE"


the outcome Of the recent Cabinet crisis at
Madrid. seems about to begin altogether
new policy with regard to her colonies. and
particularly in Cuba, it may be of timely in
terest to utter few words to explain the
position of Queen Regent Christina. not only
In connection with the CanovaS Cabinet.
but also in regard to the entire policy
OF that administration toward the Philippine
Islands and the Antilles. 1t is a position which
Is thoroughly misunderstood. and misnterpreted
in the United States. where she has been held
responsible for much that should not be laid
at her door. and where she has been considered
accountable for matters which she the first
to deplore and to oppose. Possibly the follow
ing remarks may derive additional weight from
the fact of their having been written by one
who is well acquainted with the Court Of Spain.
and who, not for services rendered, nor yet
q mere diplomatic compliment but, the
trary. token of personal friendship
ceived from the hands Of Queen Christmas hus-
band. the late King. the star of his Royal Or
der of Charles Ill
In the first place, it is necessary to realize
that Queen Christina has been throughout the
term of office of the Canovas Cabinet so adj
verse to its policy. both at home and abroad.
that had its leaders dared they would have
endeavored to put into execution their fire.
Quently and even publicly discussed pet project
OF depriVirg her of the regency and of trans
ferring it To her sister-n- Law. the Infanta Isa-
bella. who is just as much Of an utra-Con-
servativc as Her Majesty is an advanced Lib
eral.
THE QUESTION OF NATIONALITY.
The ground taken by Canovas and by his
adherents in the matter was that Article IS
OF the Spanish Constitution declares that lin
the event of the minority Of the sovereign the
regency must he held 10y the nearest member of
the reigninS family of Spanish nationality"
Now. II the term nationality" means Spanish
blood as Senior Canovas and other Spanish
statesmen hold it to be. it is evident that the
regency should be held by Queen Chris
tina. who is a member of the imperial family
of Austria. and such a foreigner but by the
lnfanta Isabella, who is the young Kings near
est relative Of Spanish birth. At one moment
the Princess apparently gave consent to these
views. She actually took part in a carefully
organized campaign. which was destined To pre-
pare the ground for the change. and which
comprised series of provincial tours for the
purpose OF arousing enthusiasm in her behalf.
Indeed the plot might have succeeded had it
not been for Senior Silvelas. at that time Minis
ter OF the Interior. who declined to be a party
to the plot. went to the Queen and laid bare
the entire man~uvres Of Canovas and the true
object of his attempt to remove from the post
OF Military Governor of Madrid General Pavia.
who is known to be devoted to the Regent.
This incident brought about the final split
of the Conservative party. the minority of which,
under SilVcaS. withdrew its support from the
Cabinet. and voted on nearly all occasions with
the Liberals. especially in the debates relating
to Cuba and to the Philippine Islands. Indeed.
Senior Svc,as and his followers have con-
tributeI in no small mea sure bring about the
recent Cabinet crisis, and have enjoyed through
out the goodwill of the Regent, which has been
shown To them in many ways. 1t is this
section of the Conservatives that Marshal Mar
tineZ de CampoS and Generals Polavieja and
Blanco belong, the three most honest soldiers of
the Spanish Army, distinguished above all
others by their stainless integrity in money
matters and by their answering loyalty to
the Throne.
The other branch Of the Conservative party
namely. the one which constitutes the Minis
terial party, is what may be described as the
Conservative machine. and exceeds in corruption,
shameessnesS every other political machine in
existence. Not content with administering all
Government offices for personal and party ad-
vantage instead of for public veal. the ma
chine likewise fosters the grossest kind of dis
honesty in all municipal administrations. There
has never been town city in the United
States. not even New York during the DAVIS of
Boss Tweed. where the official thieving has been
carried on 70 such an extent is the case with
Madrid, where two-thirds of the municipal
revenue embeZZed.
1t Will doubtless be asked why Queen Christina