The Portland daily press., 1898-07-26
MATTERS At MADRID.
The Government Unpopular and
Austria Seeking Peace.

| New Y York, July ga Paris special TO
the Tribune says the castiron severity of
tine Spanish censorship prevents the exact
situation at Madrid from being disclosed
except through private channels. ANY
newspaper correspondents at Madrid sus
pected of even limiting at the true state
of affairs now known to prevail there
would be imprisoned. or expelled. Under
these circumstances grave Importance at
taches to a Madrid letter of Saturdays
date, received in Paris Monday by O
French diplomatist we'll known on both
sides of the Atlantic. The following is
summary of the contents of the letter
which is dated at Madrid July 90:
"Ihe situation is far more critical than
at any previous time since the war began.
On the surface the habitual Indifference
of all classes of the people to the national
disasters seems to continue. Social enter
tainments, popu lar amusements and bul
fights go on as merrily as ever, but this
apparent apathy is merely superficial.
The slightest incident may at any
moment precipitate crisis and plunge
the country into revolution. The news
which reached here Thursday of the post :.
ponement of the departure of Watson's
squadron is regarded as q definite aban-
donment of that expedition, and causes
an immense relief to the Spanish Cabinet
The work of defending the seaports,
nevertheless, actively continues. and two
transports with troops and heavy guns
arrived yesterday at the Canaries.
"Sagasta is now powerless either to
carry on the war effectively or to conclude
peace. The question of the war is thrown
into the background by the urgency of
dynastio considerations, and by measures
to avert a military pronunciamento
backed by a popular uprising. The
spectre of revolution has momentarily re.
strained the Carlists in the northern
provinces, but has forced Sagasta to put
his whole trust in the leaders of the army,
The generals are now absolute masters
at Madrid, and are likely to cast aside
Sagasta as soon as they have no further
use for him The artillery is the most
democratic as we'll as the most efficient
branch of the military service, and. has
always been early in taking an active
part in any republican movement to over.
tnrn dynasty. Today the entire artillery
force of the garrison of Madrid is openly
hostile to the government, and If ordered
to fire on the people would certainly re-
fuse to do SO, and would fraternize with
the insurgents. Several infantry regi.
ments, when the emergency arises, ars
also ready to follow the example of the
artillery.
The disaffection of the army increases
day by day. Officers of every grade ac.
ouse the Ministry Of incapacity in con-
Quoting the war, and charge them above
all with criminal neglect in failing to |
supply the Santiago force with food and
ammunition. General Polavieja, O
thoroughly honest, loyal soldier of the old
school, whose devotion to the Queen Re-
gent is beyond reproach, has had long
conferences with the Queen, Sagasta and
the leaders Of the Opposition. Polavieja is
the last hope of the dynasty. This blunt
but genial soldier still retains certain
influence with the army. but those who
ought to know best say that when the
time comes he can no more stem the
popular tide than could Marshal Bugeaud
have prevented the Paris revolution of
1S4s from sweeping away Louis Philippe.
s'Not q day passes without the En-
peror of Austria exerting his strong per-
sonal influence with the Queen Regent,
urging her 30 make peace at once, no
matter at what sacrifice; for, in his
opinion, the only salvation of the dynasty
depends upon her ability to do so, and he
points out that the longer peace is delayed
so much the more intense will be the in.
ternationA explosion which is the real
danger to the dynasty. The Queen is
most anxious to act upon the Emperor's
advice, and her great hope is that
Polavieja will succeed in obtaining.the
assent of the army to permit the Cabinet
to make such direct offers of peace to
Washington as would be acceptable there.
But whether Polavieja will be able to ex.
ert the necessary influence with the mill.
tary leaders or not is considered more
than doubtful.
"To make the outlook still more dis
NAL, it is known that in spite of explicit
official denials, republican discomfort is !
spreading at an alarming pace in Cor
dova, Valencia, Murcia and Huelva. The
Socialist populace in Carthagena is kept |
in check only by the soldiers and sailors |
of the arsenal and by Camara's feet"