The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-20
DECLARES SPAIN WILL
YIELD NO TERRITORY.
Address Settles All Doubts AbOnt
War.
LIBERAL DEPUTIES LISTENED
WITH BREATHLESS INTEREST.

Charges Regarding Maine Disaster Refer.
red To as Unjustified and Infamous
Aspersions-Menace to Territory a
Thing To Which Nc spaniard Will
Ever Consent He Declares-An Parties
Will Unite in Support of Government.
Madrid, (via Paris,) April 19-The
supporters of the government in both
houses of parliament met in the Senate
chamber at five O'Clock this afternoon.
Senior Sagasta, the premier addressed
them as follows:
"The times are so grave and the cir
cumstances are so exceptional that acts
and not words are necessary to face the
present difficulty. Attempts are being
made to sully the glorious history of
Spain by an infamous calumny. The
different Spanish governments have done
their utmost to avert the war to which
we are being provoked.
''We have now reached the limits of
concessions compatible with honor and
territorial integrity. We consented to the
last concession at the instance of the
Pope and the Powers We yielded in fact,
but now attempts are being made upon
our honor and menaces directed against
our territory. That is thing to which
Spaniards will never consent. (Applause
"This is not the moment to trace a
parliamentary programme, but the
moment to unite ourselves, as our fathers
have done, in the face of an odious at
tempt against the integrity of our terri
tory. The insult offered us today is the
most Infamous that has ever been
offered" (Prolon ged applause.)
Continuing, Senior Sagasta counselled
the rapid constitution of the chambers in
order to accord to the government the
means to defend the country's interests.
"Spain," he added, twill not allow
particle of her territory to be taken from
her with impunity; nor will she be a
party to any trafficing for her possessions. {"
(Applause greeted the speech.
The ministers met today to modify the
speech from the throne in conformity
with the situation. Senior Silvela, leader
Of the dissident conservatives, when ad-
dressing his party, declared it s'inoppor-
tune to formulate..a political programme.
He evoked the memory of the late Senor
Canovas del Castillo and declared that he
and his party would aid the government
by voting as much as should be necessary
for the national defense without any op-
position, although making note of the re-
sponsibility incurred in order to investi-
gate it, if need be, at more opportune
time. He declared also that the dissident
conservatives would respect whatever
financial arrangements the governments
might enter into no matter what these
might cost, as it was the only ''means of
securing later on peace with honor
Seldom has there been witnessed a more
impressive and significant scene The
large hall Of the Senate was densely
crowded with Liberal Senators and depu-
ties, who listened with breathless atten-
tion to the short speech of Senior Sagasta,
only interrupting him with unanimous
and loud applause when he indiginatly
alluded to the ''unjustitied and infamous
aspersions cast upon Spain, with regard
to the Maine disaster.
Even more enthusiastic applause greeted