The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-17
4 FIGHTING CABINET.
Eagasta's New Advisers Will Favor
sVigosOus War Policy.
THE WOES OF A SPANISH LEADER.

Men Who Denounced the Policy Of
Peace at any Price Were Not Will
ing to Accept ONCE When Actual
was Faced the Government.
London, May 17.-The Madrid corre-
spondent of The Times telegraphs: Il
am now in position to explain the
mysterious cabinet crisis which has
been hanging for several weeks and
has given rise to SO many ingenious
surmises. Senior Sagasta and the Sa-
gasta cabinet came into office with the
policy of avoiding conflict with the
United States by pacifying Cuba
through autonomy. In pursuing this
policy the cabinet not only ran counter
to the general current of opinion in
the Conservative party, but did vio-
lence to the feelings Of large section
Of its own adherents.
Its attitude was too conciliatory to
suit the bellicose temper of the nation,
and consequently it became very I'M
popular. When the policy failed and
war was seen to be inevitable, In spite
of all the concessions, 1t ought to have
resigned to make way for q fighting
cabinet. Ministers DESTROYS of peace
at any price short Of sacrificing the ma
tional honor were not the men for con-
Quoting affairs in a desperate struggle
against an enemy infinitely superior in
resources.
mo doubt Conservative cabinet
was practically impossible, because 1t
would have required Conservative
majority in the chamber, which Is not
obtainable without subjecting the coun-
try to the dangerous ordeal of a general
election. But such an extreme measure
was not necessary. There were many
Liberals who had condemned the cabi-
net for being too conciliatory, and who
continued to urge it to accept the arbi-
trament of war. They were the men,
it was naturally supposed, who must
be willing to-accept the responsibilities
of office when war was imminent.
$50 1t seemed at least to several
members of the Sagasta ministry, and
on the very day of the opening of the
cortes his colleagues urged upon Senior
Sagasta the ACCESSIBILITY Of the cabinet
resigning Immediately. Senior Sagasta
objected. 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
themselves very bellicose when war was
at comfortable 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 de-
sirous of fishing in troubled waters, adj
vised strongly that the existing cabinet
continue. The queen regent, who is
always strictly constitutional in her
acts, had thus no choice but to request
Senior Sagasta to remain. He consent
ed, but the other ministers were by no
means satisfied.
FINALLY, on Sunday, May 8, Senior
Sagasta, yielding to the representations
of those who wished to retire, rendered
the queen regent the resignation of the
cabinet. Again the same important po-
litical personages were consulted, and
again they declined the responsibilities
of office. Things seemed at deadlock,
but there was still way out of 1t. The
fundamental question of policy that di-
vided ministers was whether the gov
eminent should still seek pacific solu-
ton by invoking the friendly inter-
vention of the great powers or should
abandon all present hope Of peace and
fight to the bitter end.
"Senor Silvela, the leader of party
which had always shown itself more
bellicose than the Liberals, had used
in the chamber certain vague express
sions which seemed to show that he "a
vored making another effort to secure
peace. Senior Moret accordingly launch
ed the idea in the chamber, but Senior
Silvela, instead of adopting Moret's
suggestion, condemned 1t in no meas
ured terms as an attempt of the gov
eminent to evade its legitimate respon-
sibilities. In vain Senior Moret ex-
planned that the government wanted
merely an indication of the national
will. Senior Silvela refused to accept
the olive branch, and the cabinet re-
lapsed into its old difficulties.
1.-THE only course now was for Senior
Sagasta to choose for himself between
the two policies, letting those retire
who objected to the policy adopted.
This he has now done, and it is UNDER
stood that he will choose colleagues
from among those in favor of contin-
uing the struggle with all possible
energy
A Madrid dispatch to The Morning
Leader says: 1.-THE new ministers will
be: Senior Romero Giron, minister of
foreign affairs; Senior Aunon. marine;
Duke of Almodovar, public works. Tho
remainder will form a makeshift until
the budget has been carried"
A late dispatch from Madrid says
that on receiving the announcement
that the cabinet had resigned both
houses adjourned.