The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-17


Conservatives the Cause Which
Held Rack the designations of
the Ministry-War Party Now
Holds the Reins Of Government.
LONDON, May IA dispatch to the
Morning Leader from Madrid says:
The new ministers will be: Senior Ro-
nero Giron, minister of foreign affairs
Senior Aunon, minister of marine.
The Duke of Almodova, minister of
pubic works.
The remainder will form a makeshift
LONDON, May 1.-THE Madrid cor
respondent of the Times says
1 am now in a position to explain the
mysterious cabinet crisis which has
been hanging fire for several weeks
and has given rise to so many ingeni-
Gus surmises. Senior Sagasta and the
Sagasta cabinet came into office with
the policy of avoiding a 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 a large section
of it's own adherents.
Its attitude was too conciliatory to
suit the bellicose temper of the nation.
and consequently it became very un-
popular. When the policy failed and
war was seen to be inevitable in spite
of all the concessions, it ought to have
resigned to make way for a fighting
cabinet. Ministers desirous of peace at
any price short Of sacrificing the ma
tional honor were not the men for con-
Quoting affairs in a struggle against
an enemy infinitely superior in re-
sources.
No doubt Conservative cabinet was
practically impossible, because it would
have required Conservative majority
In the chamber, which was not obtain
able without subjecting the country to
the dangerous ordeal of general cleo
ton. But such an extreme measure
was not necessary. There were many
Liberals who had condemned the cab
met for being too conciliatory and who
continued to urge it to accept the ar
pltrament of war. They were the men
IL was naturally supposed who must
De wiling to accept the responsibilities
or office when war was imminent.
URGED TO RESIGN.
SO 1t seemed at least to several mem
oers OF the Sagasta ministry; and on
the very day of the opening Of the
cortes his colleagues urged upon Sa-
gasta the advisability Of the cabinet
res1gning Immediately
Senior Sagasta objected He wished
to temporize as usual. Even after some
useless delay all he could be induced
to do was to advise the queen regent
to consult with important political
leaders on the question of a change Of
cabinet
Though some Of these had shown
themselves very bellicose when war was
at a comfortable distance none was in
cnned to assume the responsibilities of
once when war was about to begin.
All, therefore, with the exception of
one or two who were known to be de-
sirious of fishing in troubled waters
advised strongly that the existing cab
met continue. The queen regent, who
Is always strictly constitutional in her
acts, had thus no choice but to request
Senior Sagasta to remain.
He consented to, but the other minis
tiers were by no means satisfied. There
were 1rreconciliable differences Of opin-
lon among them, at least on one vital
question Of policy, and several of them
some of their colleagues were not
capable of coping with the depart
mental duties of their offices at a time
of great national danger
Finally on Sunday, May 8, sa nsta,
yielding to the representations of those
who wished to retire, rendered the
queen regent the resignation Of the
cabinet. Again the same important
political personages were consulted and
again they declined the responsibilities
Of office.
AT A DEADLOCK.
Things seemed at a deadlock; but
there was still a way out of it. The
fundamental question Of policy which
divided ministers was whether the gov
eminent should still seek a pacific So
luton by provoking the friendly inter-
est of the great powers or should aban-
don all present hope of peace and fight
to the bitter end. On that question.
affecting the vital interests Of the coun-
try, the nation might have been in
vlted to express an opinion by the
voice OF it's representatives in parlia-
ment; and there was possibility that
a more pacific policy might be recon-
mended because Senior Silvela, the
leader of a party which had always
shown itself more bellicose than the
Liberals, had used in the chamber GER
tain vague expressions which seemed
to show that he favored making an
other effort to secure peace.
Senior Moret, accordingly, launched
the idea into the chamber, but Senior
Silvela, instead Of adopting Moret's
suggestion, condemned it in no meas
| ured terms as an attempt Of the gov
eminent to evade it's legitimate respon-
| sibilities and to transform the chamber
| into convention of French revolution.
airy type.
In vain Senior Moret at subsequent
| sittfngs explained that such was no.
his intention and that the government
wanted merely an Indication of the
| national will. Senior Silvela refused to
| accept the olive branch and the cah-
| met continued roceivino rorro.a,, 30 IT,.