The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-12
THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN THEIR PRIDE And THEIR LEADERS

course of the government. His appear
ance is disappointing. There is moth
ing in it to arrest attention. He has a
Jewish cast of countenance, and per-
| haps has Jewish blood in his veins, as
/ there is Jewish blood everywhere in
I Spain He is not tall, but lank, and We
might almost say rawboned. His fig
ure is so awkward and angular that
! he made me think of Lincoln, and he
mas truly Lincolnian way of sprawl
ing over the desk in front of him. He
had heavy wearied look, as though
he was extremely tired; but when he
arose to his feet every trace of fatigue
had vanished. Strengthening himself
up, he stood with folded arms, looking
at his assailants with an air of disdain.
After pausing for a few moments, he
unloosed his arms, and soon began to
strike as the smith strikes the anvil,
bringing his hands down with violence
on the desk before him, as if to clench
his argument. He made no apology
for failures, but defended the course
OF the government as the only wise,
and, indeed, the. only possible one for
1t to pursue. 1t was a strong speech
and he closed it with a picture of the
widowed queen (the king had died only
few months before) drawing to her
all hearts by the dignity with which
she bore her great sorrow, and carry
ing in her arms the young life which
was the hope of Spain. This last al
fusion, of course, touched the Spanish
heart, and the house broke into a tu-
multi of applause. An hour afterward,
at the American legation, Leon Y Cas-
tillo said to me: 1T was the greatest
speech of his life He was inspired
Castillo, himself a member of the
present cabinet, has a great reputation
as an orator, and possesses Stentorian
voice. He has a commanding presence
and is reputed to be one of the ablest
of Sagasta's Heutenants.
Senior Moret, until recently minister
of foreign affairs, is another man of
pleasing presence. Indeed, he is said to
be one of the handsomest men in Spain
tall, erect, with fine, open counte-
nance, and winning style of address.
He is favorite in diplomatic circles
and in general society, for he is ex-
tremely COURTHOUSE man to make
many friends and no enemies. General
LoDez DomingueZ, who is generally
reckoned the ablest of Spain's generals,
is big, fiery man of military bearing,
violent partisan, a strict dscipln-
arian. and a steadfast supporter of the
policy of military dominance.
THE REPUBLICAN LEADER.
But to me the most interesting man
in Spain was CASTELAR,, the leader of
the republicans, the representative of
modern progress and political freedom,
in this land, which has always been
looked upon as the rock of monarchy
AS in the case of Sagasta, the first look
at him was disappointing. He has not
the physique of a man of whom we
would make hero. He is rather I'M
der-Sized, thick-set, broad-Shouldered
and broad-chested. with neck and
breast like a bull. His head is of I'M
common size, and round, dome-like.
When I heard him speak he began
very deliberately, as though he were
still the professor of history in the
University of Madrid. His voice was
low and sweet, but as the fire kindled
within him his voice rose and his words |
came faster and faster Then his ges-
lures answered to his voice. His
hands We're unclasped and his right /
arm extended, quivering as with cleo
tricity, his finger pointing wherever he |
would that the lightning should strike. !
The effect of his eloquence it is impos-
sible to describe. 1t was the man be- |
hind it all that gave it power.
1T is surprising to the uniformed |
American to find how few of the lead |
ers, of whatever party, bear titles. Sa-
gasta was an engineer. His predeces-
Sor. CanoVaS, was schoolmaster
CoSlclli 10 oll du Suudl IOOllHS WIN /
these men so far as position is con-
cerned. He was-perhaps still is-a
professor in the University of Madrid /
These men may be considered fair rep
of the education and in
telligence of the country, not solely
offshoots of the aristocracy. That they
are all supporting the crown in the
present war shows that Spain is with
the crown. From what L know of
Spain and the Spanish, I think that
the Americans who are prophesying
that the Spanish people will overthrow
the government for bringing on the
war, are mistaken. The Spaniard will
continue to fight as long as he can.
The deluge may come for the govern
ment, but it will come after Spain has
made her settlement with the United
States.''