The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-17
FALL OF SPANS CABINET.
Sagasta's Policy Too Pacific to Suit
the Nations Ideas

the Nations Ideas.
London, May II, a. m.-The Madrid
correspondent of the Times says: 81 am
now in a position to explain the mysteri-
Gus cabinet crisis which has been hanging
fire for several weeks and has given rise
to so many ingenious surmises.
''Senor Sagasta and the Sagasta cab
met came into office with the policy of
avoiding conflict with the United States
pursuing this policy the cabinet not only
ran counter to the general current of
opinion in the Conservative party, but did
violence to the feelings of a large section
of its own adherents.
Its attitude was too conciliatory to suit
the billicose temper of the nation, and
consequently 1t became very unpopular.
When the policy failed, and war was seen
to be inevitable, in spite of all confessions,
it ought to have resigned to make way for
a fighting cabinet Ministers desirous of
peace at any price short of sacrificing the
| national honor, were not the men for con-
ductng affairs in a struggle against an
enemy infinitely superior in resources.
mo doubt a Conservative cabinet was
practically impossible, because il would
have required a Conservative majority in
the chamber, which was not obtainable
without subjecting the country to the dan
| gerous ordeal of a general election. But
such an extreme measure was not neceS-
sary. There were many Liberals who had
| condemned the cabinet for being too con-
| cliatory and who continued to urge it 10
| accept arbitrament of war. They were the
men, it was naturally supposed who must
be willing to accept the responsibility of
| office when war was imminent
80 it seemed at least TO several MEM
bers of the Sagasta ministry;
| and on the very day of the opening of the
| Cortes his colleagues urged upon Senior
| Sagasta the advisability of the cabinet re-
signing Immediately Senior Sagasta OBJ
jected. He wished to temporize, as usual.
"Even after some useless delay, all he
could be induced to do was to advise the
| Queen Regent TO consult with important
political leaders on the question of
| change of cabinet.
Though some of these had shown them
selves very bellicose when at a comforta-
BILE distance, none was inclined to assume
the responsibilities of office when war was
about TO begin. All, therefore, with the
exception of one or two who were known
to be desirous of fishing in troubled wa
ters, advised strongly that the existing
cabinet continue.
1.-THE Queen Regent, who Is always
strictly constitutional In her acts, had
thus no choice but TO request Senor Sa-
gasta to remain.
''He consented, but the other ministers
were by no means satisfied. There were ir-
reconcila Bile differences of opinion among
them on at least one vital question of
policy; and several of them felt that they
- -c flDf, x..1
leagues were not capable of coping with
the depa rtmental duties Of their office at
a time of great national danger
FINALLY on Sunday, May s, Senor Sa-
gasta, yielding to the representations of
those who wished to retire, rendered the
Queen Regent the resignation of the cab
met.
again, the same important political
personages were consulted, and again they
declined the responsibility OF office and
seemed at deadlock but there was still
way out of It, The fundamental ques-
tion of policy which divided the ministers
was whether the government should still
seek pacific solution by provoking the
friendly intervention of the great Powers
or should abandon all present hope of
peace and fight to the bitter end On that
question, affecting the vital interests of
the country, the nation might as well have
been invited to express an opinion by the
voice of its representatives in Par
lament; and there was a possi-
bllity that a more pacific policy might
be recommended because Senor Sllvela,
the leader of a party which had always
shown itself more beilicose than the Lib
erals. had used in the chamber certain
vague expressions which seemed to show
that he favored making another effort TO
secure peace.
"Senor Moret accordingly launched the
idea in the chamber; but Senor Silvela,
instead of adopting Senor MoreCs sugges-
ton. condemned it In no measured terms
as an attempt of the government TO evade
its legitimate responsibilities and TO trans
form the chamber into a convention of
French revolutionary type.
Senior Moret at subsequent sitiugs ex-
plained that such was not his Intention
and that the government wanted merely
IN indication OF the national will.
''senor Silvela refused to accept the olive
branch and the cabinet containing repre-
sentatives of both policies, relapsed into
its old dihiclties.
''The only course. now was for senor
sagasta 20 choose for himself between
the two policies, letting those retire who
objected to the policy adopted
''1'hls he has now done and II Is UNDER
stood that he wll, choose colleagues from
among those IN favor Of continuing the
struggle with all possible energy"