Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-17
WEEKS AGO SENIOR sAcAsra rr-
DEAvORED TO RESIGN.
No One Could he Found, However.
Who Would Assume the Task of
Forming . Ministry-Out.
come Means . ViEOf.
ous War Policy.

form q makeShift until the budget has been
carried. rs
Marquis Vega -d'Armi1o, president Of the
chamber, has advised Senior Sagasta to end
the crisis as quickly as possible. Senior
Montero Rios. president OF the senate. has
offered his support. but does not desire to
is Ill, also declines to enter the cabinet.
but he promises to support any ministry
organized by Senior sagasta.
Tho general impression is that the cabinet
crisis will be protracted.
senor Romero y Robledo thinks that Mar
shal Martinez Campos ought to be tho chief
of the new ministry.
|.' Senior silvela expects that the business Of
the quickly formed cabinet will be to carry
the budget and to facilitate the formation
Of dednitive ministry. which will solve
existing problems. =. -
LONDON. May 1.-THE Madrid CORE
spondent Of the Times says:
Il am not in q position to explain the
mysterious cabinet crisis which has been
hanging fire for several weeks and has
given rise to 20 many ingenious surmises.
Senior sagasta and the Sagasta cabinet
came into office with the policy Of avoid
ing q conflict with the United States by
pacifying Cuba through autonomy. In pur-
suing this policy, the cabinet not only ran
counter to the seneral current Of opinion
In the conservative party. but did violence
to the feelings of large section Of its own
adherents. -.
'Its attitude was too conciliatory to suit
the bellicose temper Of the nation, and,
consequently. 1t became very unpopular.
When the policy failed and war was seen
to be inevitable. In spite of all the con-
cessions. 1t ought to have resigned to make
way Of fighting cabinet. Ministers de-
sirous Of peace at any price short Of sac
rihcing the national honor were not the
men for conducting afRairs in q struggle
against an enemy infinitely superior in re-
sources.
mo doubt Conservative cabinet was
practically impossible because It would have
required a Conservative majority in the
chamber. which was not obtainable without
subjecting the country to- tho dangerous
ordeal Of . general election. But such an
extreme measure was not necessary. There
were many liberals who had condemned the
cabinet for being too conciliatory and who
continued to urge II to accept the arbitra-
ment Of war. They were the men. It was
naturally 6drDosed, who must Be Wiling
TO accept the Responsibilities Of ONCE when
war was imminent $50 it seemed 1t
least to several members Of the Sagasta
ministry. and on the very day Of the OPEN
ing Of the eoftes. his colleagues urged
upon Senor Sagasta the advisability Of the
cabinet resigning Immediately. Senior Sa-
gasta objected. He wished to tempofixe,
az usual. Even after some useless delay
all he could be induced to DO was to ad-
wise the queen regent to consult with i'm
portant political leaders on the question
Of . change Of cabinet.
Though some Of these had shown them
selves very bellicose when war was at
comfortable distance. mono was inclined to
assume the responsibilities Of ONCE when
war was about to begin. All. therefore.
with tho exception Of one or two. who were
known to be desirous Of fishing In troubled
waters. advised strongly that the existing
cabinet continue. The queen regent, who Is
always strictly constitutional in her acts.
had thus no choice but to request Senor
Sagasta to remain. He consented. but the
other ministers were by no means satisfied.
There were irreconcilable differences Of
opinion among them on at least one vital
question Of policy; and several Of them felt
that they themselves. as well as some Of
their colleagues. were not capable Of cop
ing with the departmental duties Of their
Office at 4 time Of great national danger.
"FinaI,v an sunday NAV & Sagas,a.
v,eld,r, "a tbe renresentatives Of those who
xisbed 20 retire rendered the queen regent
m. restrn.tion Of the cabinet. Again the
same important political personages we're
conaulted. and again they declined the re-
snonsibilitv Of office. Things seemed at
a deadlock: but there was still a way out
Of II. The fundamental question of policy
which divided ministers was whether the
government sbould still seek a pacific So
Iution bv provokinr the friendly interyen-
tiou 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 country, the ma
ton might well have been invited to ex-
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