The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-17
LEADING UP TO THE CRISIS.
Cabinets Inside History Pr-War Cabi
net Coming.

London, May 1.-THE Madrid CORE
spondent of the Times says:
II am now in Il position to explain the
mysterious Cabinet crisis which has been
hanging fire for several weeks and has
given rise to so many ingenious surnises.
Senior Sagasta and the Sagasta Cabinel
came into office with the policy of avoid
ing 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
violence to the feelings of a large section
of its own adherents.
Its attitude was too concliatory to
suit the belIicose 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 re-
signed, make place for a fighting Cabinet.
Ministers DESTROYS Of peace at any price
short of sacrificing the national honor
were not the men for conducting affairs
in a struggle against an enemy infinitely
superior resources.
No doubt a Conservative Cabinet was
practically impossible because it would
have required a majority in the Chamber
Which, WIS llOI NiIuDuI SUI
jeeting the country to the dangerous or
deal of a general election. But such An
extreme measure was not necessary.
There were many Liberals who had con
demned the Cabinet for being to concilia-
tory, and who continued to urge it to
accept the arbitrament of war. They
were the men, it was naturally supposed,
who must be willing to accept the re-
sponsibilities Of office whenta war was
imminent.
so it seemed at least to several mem
bers of the Sagasta ministry; and on the
very day of the opening of the Cortes
his colleagues urged upon Senior Sagasta
the ACCESSIBILITY of the Cabinet resigning
Immediately. Senior Sagasta objected.
He wished to temporize. Even after
some useless delay all he could be in
duced to do was to advise the Queen re-
gent to consult with important political
leaders the question of Il change OF
Cabinet.
Though some of these had shown
themselves very bellicose when war was
at comfortable distance, none was
inclined to assume the responsibilities of
office when war was about to begin.
All therefore with the exception of one
or two were known to be DESTROYS of
fishing in the troubled waters, advised
strongly that the existing Cabinet con-
tlnue. The Queen regent who is always
strictly Constitutional in her acts, had
no other choice but to have Senior Sa-
gasta remain. There were irreconciIable
difficulties of opinion among them on at
least one vital question of policy: and sew
eral of them felt themselves as well as
some of their colleagues, were not capa-
bic of coping with the departmental
duties of their office at time Of great
national danger.
THE POINT OF DIVISION.
FINALLY. on Sunday, May 8. Sagasta
yielding to the representations of those
who wished to retire. rendered the Queen
regent the resignation of the Cabinet
Again the same important political per
sonages We're consulted and again they
declined the responsibilities of office
Things seemed ut deadlock but there
was till way ont of it. The fundamen
tai question of policy which divided Min
listers was whether the government
should still seek pacific solution by
provoking the friendly intervention of thu
great powers or should it abandon al
present hope of peace and fight to thu
bitter end On that question, affecting
the vital interests of the country, tn,
nation might well have been invited t.
express an opinion by a voice of its rep
resentatives in Parliament. and there wa
n possibility that more pacific polio.
might result because Senior Siyela, thu
leader of party which had always
shown itself more bellicose than the Lib
erals, had used in the chamber certain
=