The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-05-18
CONFESSES SPANS DIVISION
AND WEAKNESS.
As a Shrewd Parliamentarian and a
Politician He Seems to be Getting
Ready to Light Safely.

ish Prime Minister, gives full utter
ance to his thoughts today in an eX-
haustive, impressive interview, dur
ing the course of which he presented
the whole Spanish case against the
United States, and denounced the en-
emies of monarchy in Spain. This in
terview should rank as national
declaration, made in the bitterest
hour of Spanish history.
"The sad events,' said Sagasta,
(which have just taken place at Ma
Mia have saddened all Spaniards. but
have not made them lose heart, and
we feel consolation in these days of
mourning in thinking that our sal
lors did their duty valiantly, and sue
cumbed only before the great superb
ority of the hostile feet.
after behaving so heroically, we
can say with confidence that in this
disaster nothing occurred to wound
our pride. | myself had much salts
| faction in publicly rendering tribute
to the commander of the Reina Girls
| tina and other heroes who met their
death in this unequal combat, giving
their lives for the honor of Spain.
Much has been said regarding the
causes of the catastrophe, but all dis
cussion has been beside the question.
| The truth is that we were too few;
| that we were overwhelmed by the
great superiority of the enemy's for
ces. and by the fortunes of war,
which unhappily, went against us.
"However, at the present juncture
there is no time to lose in useless de-
bate. We must reserve all of our
strength, all our energy, for tomor-
row. Our first duty is to unite in or
der to vanquish our foes, or, at least,
to defend ourselves valiantly, and to
uphold the honor of Spain. 1t is nee
essary. too that the government
should be supported by all, without
| considerations of party, exclusively
on patriotic grounds.
parliament. too. must grant the
| government the resources required for
war. Now, this is precisely what
grieves me. | believed that the first
cannon shot fired by the United States
against our troops would be a signal
for the union and fraternity of all
| Spaniards, as all were equally affect
ed by the assault of the United States.
! was mistaken. Certain parliamenta-
ry groups are in disagreement with
the government. and have the preten-
sion to make conditions in return for
their support They thus paralYZe
our efforts and diminish our strength,
which is indispensable to the govern
ment in such n difficult time. Some
are ceaselessly intriguing: others are
full of reticence, and all is done in
the name of the fatherland. What
deriSion!
attempts have been made to assail
the monarchy without the authors OF
these attempts appearing to imagine
for a moment that this is simply
Weakening the country, lowering the
prestige of the flag which guides our
soldiers, and that it tends to discour-
age our troops and encourage our
enemies. When our political adverse
ries attack the government, when
they criticise the acts of the Crown,
while war is proceeding, they are
committing a crime for which some
day perhaps, they may have to an
Swer before the country.
"On principal, / am opposed to war,
which is always disastrous, even to a
victorious nation. God is my witness
that | did not wish for a rupture
with the United States. | realized
perfectly that we were exhausted by
the war which we have been waging
so long. and that we needed rest. On
the contrary, | desired peaceful so
luton. which would have protected
our interests, the honor of the coun-
try and the rights of sovereignty. The
government did everything to avoid
this conflict, more even than it should
have done.
NnVaur adversaries began to treat us
with contempt, and war became in
evitable. We were compelled to ac.
cept it, with all its consequences
whatever they may be.
"Our colonies have cost us dear
Within the last twenty-five years we
have spent in them 5000, 100000 francs
in defensive works. Only the mos
important cities and points have beer
fortified, as we could not erect works
everywhere. The cost would hav,
been seven or eight billion francs
Spain could not afford that sum.
up to the present time we hav,
had some insignificant losses i'm Cuba
1t is because the Americans have nat
urally attacked the weak points of tn,
! Island where there are no fortified
jtions. The Spanish government ough
not to be blamed for having gone tC
7 war i'm such unfavorable conditions
nor can it be held responsible if Spair
does not possess the immense financia
n resources of the United States. Il
must not he forgotten that civil wal
was draining our treasury while the
United States was prosperng and it,
lponulation increasing to 74,OOO,OOO in
Ihabitants.
"The situation is very simple, and
unfortunately, cannot be concealed
Spain is desoate and ruined by inter
nal troubles. The United States pros
per and increase their riches and theiI
strength daily. There is no use il
saying that the condition of affairs i,
the fault of the present system OF
government Would the Spanish re
Continued on Page Five.)