The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-04-29
PRIME MINISTER SAGASTA
CHARACTER OF THE MAN At THE
HELM OF SPAIN.
\ Thorough Politician but Without
Rcsolutc Policy-Malleshifts and
Compromises His Weapons.

The government of Spain is carried
on i'm the name of the Queen Regent
Maria Christina, guardian of King Al
fonso XIII. in accordance with the
provisions of the constitution of 1876.
But the real power, and the decision
of the present question of peace and
war; are in the hands of Prime Minis
ter PraXedes Sagasta.
On August s, 1897. Don Antonio Ca
novas de Castillo, Prime Minister. was
assissinated by an Italian anarchist
at a watering place where he was
spending the summer.
In October Sagasta succeeded in
forming ministry and assumed the
reins of power. He had been Prime
Minister several times before and he
was familiar with the duties of the
office.
He was better born than Canovas.
though not of notable lineage. His
family were prominent people at Tor
recilla. and he himself was educated
at the School of Engineers in Madrid.
Entering public life before he was 30,
he rose rapidly and he served success
sively in the Cabinets of General Prim
and Serrano: in 1881 he was the head
of an administration of his own and
again in 1885. 1890 and 1893 he kissed
hands, as the saying is in England.
His opinions have changed since his
public life began, but of late years he
has been identified as the head of the
Liberal party.
He is tail. thin. cadaverous and Gus
tomarily silent But he is a master
of the arts of the politician, the most
adroit of wire pullers with a profound
knowledge of the Weaknesses of men
and of the foibes of the small states
men of Spain. He has never disting-
uished himself by any resolute policy
makeshfts and compromises. He was
once a Republican. and trained with
Gorilla but. like CASTELAR,, he soon
convinced himself that the Spaniards
were not fit for self-government. and
he joined the Liberal party, of which
his adrotness made him the unqueS-
toned leader Canovas was resolute,
positive and fearless: no danger ever
daunted him: Sagasta shrinks from a
conflict. and tries to concilate: thus
it is hard to forecast his attitude on
the question of the hour.
Four years ago when he was Prime
Minister, his Colonial Minister Senior
Maura. and his Finance Minister, Sc
nor Gamazo. introduced in the Cabinet
a measure which would have appeas-
ed the Cubans and averted war. \
stormy cabinet meeting ensued. Sc
nor Maura. the broadcast statesman in
Spain, frankly told Sagasta that he
might as well acknowledge the indie
pendence of Cuba first as last, and so
anticipate the day when the Ameri-
cans would compel him to do so. Sa-
gasta refused to have his hand fore
ed. He declined to accept the bill.
Maura and Gamazo resigned, charg-
ing their chief with breaking his pied
ges to the Liberal party. A new Co.
lonial Minister. Abarzuza, brought in
a new Cuban bill, which, under the
influence of Sagasta, passed the
Cortes: it was treated with derision
by the Cubans, and war broke out.
Sagasta's supporters made no secret
of their opinion that Cuba belongs to
Spain by divine right and by con-
quests, and that it should be ruled as
Rome ruled her proconsulships. 1t is
no wonder that his administration did
not last and that Canovas resumed
power.