Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-10
SACASTA ADMITS HIS MISTAKE
Thought the First Shot Fired by Americans
Would Have United Spain.
Is DesoIated and Ruined by H.
ternaI Troubles.

London, May 1o.-The Madrid cor
respondent of the Morning Post has
had a long interview with Senior Sa-
gasta, the premier, in the course of
which the Spanish statesman said:
THE sad events at Manila have sad
dened all Spaniards but have not made
them lose heart. We can say with
confidence of this disaster that moth
ing has occurred to wound our pride.
Much has been said regarding the
causes OF the catastrophe. but all the
discussion has been beside the ques-
ton. The truth is we were too few
and were overwhelmed by the great
superiority OF the enemy's forces and
by the fortunes of war which, un-
happily. went against us.
In the presnt juncture there is no
time to lose. 1t is useless to debate. We
must reserve all our strength and all
our energy for tomorrow. Our first
duty Is TO unite In order to vanquish
our enemies and uphold the honor OF
Spain.
Now this is precisely what grieves
me. l believed that the first cannon
shot fired by the United States against
our troops would be n signal for the
union and fraternity of all Spaniards,
as all are fully affected by the assault
OF the United States. l was mistake
en-. Certain parliamentarian groups
are In disagreement with the govern
ment and have the pretenslon to make
conditions in return for their support.
They thus paralyge our efforts and di-
minish the strength which is in
dispensable to the government. In
such difficult times some are even
ceaselessly intriguing, others are full
of reticence, and all has been done in
the name Of the fatherand. Attempts
have even been made TO assail the
monarchy, with their uthors APP
pearing not to imagine for moment
that this Is simply weakening the
country, lowering the prestige of the
flag. tending to the disbursement OF
the troops and the encouragement OF
our enemies,
when our political adversaries attack
the government. when they criticise the
acts of the crown while war Is pro-
ceeding, they are committing a crime.
for which some day they may have to
answer before the country.
"On principle, am opposed to war,
which Is always disastrous. even to the
victorious nation God Is my witness
that did not wish rupture with the
United States ] realized perfectly that
we were exhausted by the war which
we have been waging SO long and
needed rest on the contrary, l de-
sired n peaceful solution which would
have protected our interests and hon
or, our rights and sovereignty. The
=
| conflict. even more than 1t should have
| done. When our adversaries began
to treat US with contempt. war became
inevitable and we Were compelled to
| accept 1t.
"The situation is very simple and
unfortunately cannot be concealed.
! Spain Is desolated and ruined by in
ternal troubles. The United States have
\ coveted Cuba for a long time, first
I ly. because 1t Is an excellent strategic
| point: secondly, so as to he masters OF
1 the lnteroceanic trade. To attain their
object they have literally hesitated at
nothing. They know the state OF our fl
nances and took advantage OF II to at
! tack US, after having assisted the Gu
/ ban instruction with Il view of COM
pleting our ruin and with cut and
| dried plan, declaring war us soon as
| they considered our exhaustion SUM-
GENTLY advanced.
Now that the struggle has begun
the Americans continue the same tao
tics. Instead OF openly making war
they encourage in every way the trou-
| bles in Cuba, Porto Rico. and the
| Philippines. and II they could. they
would stir up an instruction In the
peninsula. The future Is In the hands
Of God. None can foresee ~"