The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-07
Weighed and Found Warting.

If the Spanish government had de-
liberated in solemn conclave over the
most expeditions and certain method
of running the existing dynasty, it
could not have more effectively let
loose the pent-up forces of anarchy
and revolution on the unhappy mon
arch to whom it owes and no doubt
gives its allegiance. When Admiral
Cervera's fleet was destroyed. Senior
Sagasta would have been doing his
whole duty in informing the country
of the fact forthwith. He knew it, be-
cause the kilograms from London in
which our great victory was made
known were suppressed and a false
dispatch, purporting to come from San
tiago. in which Cervera was alleged to
have escaped, with minute circumstan-
tial details. was made an official bull
letin. 1t gave this ridiculous ministry
respite of few hours, probably to
make some futile arrangement or de-
wise still more puerile plans of action
which never can be and never will be
put into operation, but it added i'm
istry will eventually have to settle
with the Spanish people.
In the meantime we are told in a dis
patch from Madrid that the cabinet
council, after a short session, decided
not to open negotiations for peace but
to continue the war at all risks, while
| single soldier remains in Cuba. Span
| ish honor is a peculiar product in the
| evolution of the human race. 1t seems
more like the blind instinct of a polar
bear protecting its dead cub. than a
| process of the understanding. What
| has Spanish honor, as the Paris Temps
| asks, to gain by prolonging the
struggle in which she has been so hope
| lessly worsted? Is it TO see the agon-
| izing dissolution of the nation that
| Sagasta and his ministry make these
| announcements? Spain has now lost
| the last remnant of her once world
| wide colonies in a desperate attempt
| to maintain a feeble and bloody grasp
| on one of them. The Temps has been
| the best friend Spain has had in this
war. Its counsels to her have been
| prompted by the sincerest desire to re-
| strain her in her insane and headlong
| folly. We had hoped on the strength
of the extract given in The Tribune
from the influential Diario of BARGE
| Iona that Spain was at last beginning
to recognize the hopelessness and the
helplessness of the unequal contest
but it seems not.
| 1t is worthy of note that Don Car
los has stood by his promise not to
| hamper the government while it con-
tinues to prosecute the war. 1t seems
however, that he has let slip his chance
The discomfort is gaining ground
among the people; they are arming
and the loyalty of the army is dubi-
Gus. That a revolution is imminent in
the peninsula there seems no room fol
doubt; but the country is too distracted
to coalesce in placing on the throne
| disreputable pretender whose adher-
ents are neither numerous nor power.
full. republic has been tried before
and was altogether unsuccessful. A
dictatorship under Weyer or a mill.
tary oligarchy under Campos seems tC
fit i'm more harmoniously with the
temper of the people than any form OF
government that can be devised on tn,
ruins Of the monarchy. The sooner
this comes and opens the door of Spair
to peace the better will it be for al
concerned.