Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-14
GRAVE CRISIS IN SPAIN.
Civil War Now Threatens the
Peniusular Government.
TIE RULING DYNASTY IMPERILED.

Woyler's Influence n Constant Menace to
tho Countrywide sagasta Ministry Is
Hopelessly Disrupted and Almost on
tho Point of Collapse.
New York. April 13-The Sun this
morning. publishes the following from
Its London correspondent:
1T is not probable that either Presi-
dent Mckinley or the American con-
Bress Will be allowed to decide the is
sue OF pccce or war unless, indeed, n
declaration OF war comes from WASH
ington within a week.
Neither Prime Minister Sagasta nor
the queen regent of Spain herself any
longer has the power to concede the de-
n1ands of the American government or
even to execute the concessions already
granted The grave information on
which this announcement Is based
comes to The Sun from Madrid tonight
from source which. for obvious rea-
sons, cannot be disclosed. II is neces-
sary only to say that The Suns Madrid
correspondent Is not responsible for the
statements which follow. but they may
be accepted with the fullest confidence.
"a crisis has arisen in Spain which
not only makes the downfall of the Sa-
Easta ministry almost certain but
gravely imperils the dynasty itself and
the existence of the monarchy. In
word, the Spanish government is almost
on the point of collapse. The situation
has been growing rapidly worse for
month past. Not only is the patience of
the people exhausted. but the Sagasta
ministry is hopelessly disrupted. Both
these facts explain the policy of tardy
and therefore futile concessions under
the pressure of diplomatic and papal
influences.
premier Sagasta. the queen regent
and Senior Moret, minister of the colo
MES, are determined to yield to the
American demands, as far as Spanish
sentiment will permit. in order to main
tain peace. Senior Moret Is the real
leader of the cabinet Senior Gullon,
minister of foreign affairs, is his chief
opponent. Count Xiduena, minister of
commerce. who is responsible for the
declaration that President Mckinley
sought the pope's intervention, is the
most outspoken advocate of war with
the United States. This was the real
motive of his false report about Mr.. Nc
Kinley. by which for the moment he
defeated the papal object. He bitterly
opposed the armistice to the last mo-
ment.
General Correa. minister of war, has
caused public scandal by publicly dis
paraging the Spanish navy, saying he
wished that Spain did not possess a sin
gle ship and that she could do all her
fighting on land.
Ministry Demorallzed.
These facts sufficiently demonstrate
the decentralization of the ministry. But
ha o,t, Ias tn
with opposition within the cabinet, but
with grave disaffection in the country
at large, which has been the chief OBJ
stacle to their policy.
Each trifling concession to the Amer
lean demands has been test of popu-
lar patience, which has not been arous,
ed to violent protest until now.
THE queen regent and Senior Moret
believed that the populace would not
rebel against the armistice. They made
grave mistake, which they now real
ize, perhaps too late.
THE details. SO far as they are per-
mitted to come to light, show much
more violent resentment throughout
Spain than the first censorized tele-
grams disclosed. The only chance tie
Sagasta ministry possesses for prolong-
ing its existence is to reverse its poll
cy and adopt an aggressive attitude to-
ward the United States. The utter
ances OF today's Liberal, Sagasta's or
gan, indicate that this chance will be
resorted to. The paper in its leading
article, discussing President McKln-
ley's message, denounces intervention
by the United States and adds:
The American government has at
last made clear its intentions, hidden