The evening times., 1898-05-11
THE PROBLEM IN SPAIN.
Peace !. the Desire Of the sasa.s.
Cabinet.

a.s
Cabinet.
Madrid. May 11.-It is only Indirectly
that attention is paid to the progress Of
the war by the people here.
For the time being. everyone is engros-
rsed with consideration Of the ministerial
crisis. Upon its solution depends the inn
mediate action of SPAIN.
II the cabinet weathers the storm It will
emerge from It either instructed to prose-
cute the war vigorously or else empow-
cred to take steps for the re-establish-
lay.
From careful consideration Of the minis
try's action ever since its investment with
the powers of ofiice. II is more than prob
able-even morally certain-that the lat
ter solution would be more in accordance
with Its members personal desires. The
question is. VIII they be able to follow
their desires?
know only too well that the longer the
war is prosecuted the more severe will be
the loss of Spain. 1t was, perhaps, their
realization of the nations financial en-
barrassment that made their efforts for
peace so decided as to call out the accu-
sation that they were ready to accept
ii at any price-with dishonor, even-so
long as war was averted.
As Is only natural the ministry could
not proclaim publicly in the face of an
enemy who was pushing 1t to the wall
more and more determinedly as the nego-
tiations continued that war ror Spain
meant ruin. Now the opposition is taunt-
ing II for that reticence which was dictat-
ed by the commonest patriotism. and in
SO many words accusing II of having en-
tered into the war light -heartedly. Moth
ing could be more unjust, nor could any,
thing throw clearer light upon the
strength OF political passion in this coun-
Try than this turning of a danger which
menaces the nations very existence into
a tool to serve party ends.
1t Is manifest that the government Is
trying to throw the responsibility for the
continuance of the war on Parliament It
is also manifest that the opposition is
trying to embarrass the government by
refusing to accept that responsibility
without at the same time giving the min
istry any ground for saying later that
peace was concluded by the will of the
nations representatives and not by that
OF the governments party majority.
In fact. the position is this. The op-
position VIII nA help the government to-
secure peace. as later II may overthrow
the liberals upon this ground.
Which of the two parties-ministeria
or the opposition-will be the stronger, il
the one subject Of interest at present.
and this is why say the progress of the
war is only indirectly occupying public
attention.
One thing is certain. There Is growing
a current feeling that to pursue this dis
"strous war. now that 1t has been proved
At, while Spain's courage is always equal
70 any test. her financial, military and
naval resources are inadequate TO cope
w.:h an adversary so vastly her superior
as America. amounts simply TO madness
One of the most prominent bankers here
said to me that TO escape from total ruin
Is becoming more and more difficult ev-
cry day IL the war is prolonged. People
who talk about a war to the death are
IN general people who run the least risk
of dying or even of taking part in the
war. They are In Spain what the lingo
senators and the congressman are in
America-promoters of trouble with no
danger to themselves-but the people who
have already suffered In the short time
the war has been going on are begin
ming TO reflect that the man who can
take his dinner at q principal restaurant
of Madrid and who can drink his favorite
wine still can afford to talk in a lofty
strain about vindicating the national hon
or at the expense of the last drop Of his
blood and his last cen;ime. but Il is the
workingman who finds himself confronted
with tangible proof of what war means.
In fact. he is already paying about twice
as much as formerly for the loaf of
bread that plays such an important role
In his nourishment. and he Is beginning
10 get desperate.
There you have the explanation of the
risings that have been and are still TAX
ing place all over the country. The la
borer mechanic and small tradesman
may not understand the intricacies of the
problem. but he knows that life is becom-
ing impossible for him. and IL may be
that il is even now very near that point
when the exporter of every bag Of grain
becomes his enemy. and the speculator
who is storing breadstuffs in the hope of
a further rise a man to be dealt with as
a noxious reptile.
With the people in this excited state II
is comparatively easy task for the Car
list and republican political agitators to
gain the acceptance of the most absurd
theories. These agitators have naturally
of the disturbances is only a minor one.
Their real cause is the stern suffering,
and the government with a united ma
jority could bring the war to an end
and be applauded-
VIII a majority be obtained? Most
people doubt it. II il cannot, there is scope
for the widest conjecture as to what will
be the result to the country at large.
IT'D TINauATr TNn AODInJnE