The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-04-27
No SACRIFICE TOO
GREAT FOR HONOR
This is the Tenor ofthe Queen Regents
Address to the Spanish Cortes.
BITTER ARRANGEMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.


ly intended, in response to hasty
summons issued by the queen regent
and Premier Sagasta-
The opening was truly magnificent
All the wealth and beauty of Madrid
gathered in the senate, where every
available foot Of space was occupied,
and there was a terrific crush at the en-
trance leading to the senatorial seats,
many Of which were occupied by wo--
men.
On few occasions has Madrid witness
ed such scenes Of popular enthusiasm
as when the queen regent, accompa-
MED by the king dressed in the uni
form OF the infantry cadets, with the
insignia s( the Golden Fleece, travelled
in state, with all the pomp that makes
the Spanish court famous, from the
palace to the senate hall.
The queen regent and the king, es-
corted by commissions from the senate
and the lower chamber who had met
them at The gate, took seats on their
throne. The government, the captains
general, the granGees aud members of
the court stood on one side and the di-
plomatie curps on the other Senor Sa-
gasta advanced and handed the queen
regent the speech from the throne.
Her majesty read il, while seated, in a
calm, clear voice, all others standing
In opening her speech the queen
regent said:
"The grave anxieties which sadden-
ed my mind the last time 1 addressed
you have increased and are heigslleD-
ed by public uneasiness ;, conveying the
presenliment Of fresh and greater com
plications as a result of the t1rn which
events in Cuba have taken. These
complications were brought about by a
section Of the people of the United
States, which, seeing that the antOno-
my previously offered in my message
was about to be put in force, foresa1g
that the free manifestation of the Gu
ban people, through its chambers
would Illustrate forever the schemes
against Spanish sovereignty which
have been plotted by those who, with
resources and hopes sent from the
neighboring coast, have fettered the
suppression of the insurreetion in rhat
unhappy island.
"Should the Government OF the
United States yield to this blind cur
rent, the menaces and insults which
we have hitherto been able 10 regard
with indifference-for they were not
an expression of the sentiments Of the
true American Nation-would become
intoIerable provOcations, and would
compel my government, in defense of
the national dignity, to sever relations
with the Government of the Uuited
States
'4In this supreme crisis the sacred
voice of him who represents human
justice on earth was raised in eounsels
of peace and prudence, to which my
| government had no difficulty in heark
| ening, strong in the consciousness OF
its right and calm in the strict per-
formance of its duties.
tSpain's gratitude is due to the pope,
and also the great powers, whose action
strengthens my conviction that Spain's
4 cause deserves universal sympathy and
that her conduct merits unanimous ap-
provaI II is possible, however, that an
act Of aggression is imminent, and that
not the sanetity of our rights nor the
moderation of our conduct, nor the ex-
pressed wish Of the CUBAN people free
/ IL manifested, may serve to restrain
H the passions and hatred let loose against
i the spanish fatherIand.
SIN anticipation of this critical mo
ment, when reason and justice vii
h have for their support only Spanish
courage and the traditional energy o
our people, 1 have fastened the assem-
bling Of the cortes; and the supreme
decision of parliament viii doubles
sanction the unaIterable resolution o
my government to defend our rights
whatsoever sacrifices may be imposed
upon US in accomplishing this task.
although dark and gloomy futur'
is before us, the difficulties are not be
yOnd our powers, and with our glorious
army and navy and the united nation
before foreign aggression, we l-ust II
God that We shall overcome, w'ihou
Stain on our bOnor, the baseless anC
unjust attacks made upon u.s."