Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-21
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
1T APPEALS TO THE SPANISH PEO-
PIE FOR LOYAL SUPPORT.
Queen Regent Says She Has Sum-
mOned the COrfes to Defend
Spanish RiEht-Nearly En-
tire Speech Devoted
to Trouble With
America.

l
| Madrid witnessed such scenes of popular
enthusiasm as to-day, when the queen
| regent, accompanied by the king, dressed
| in the uniform of the infantry cadets.
with the insignia of the golden fleece.
Travelled in state. with all the pomp that
| makes the Spanish court famous, from the
| palace to the senate hall. where the cortes
met in specially convoked session.
The distance is very short. not more than
| four minutes walk. The Plaza de Oriente.
and the Plaza Ministeries. which the court
| and procession had to traverse. were most
| densey crowded chiefly with people of the
| upper and middle classes. The moment the
batteries announced the departure of the
| queen regent and the king, the excitement
| bcame intense.
When. at the end of long procession of
| hussars. royal piquers, state coaches car
rying the chief ladies in waiting. the cham
| berlains. of the court, and the grandees of
| Spain, the royal carriage appeared at the
| gate of the palace. the enthusiasm burst
forth in a long and interminabe cheering.
such as had not been heard in Spain since
the day the late King Alfonso returned
from Paris.
The infantry, which lined the way to the
senate, the cavalry and the mounted civil
guards. sent to preserve order, had hard
work to keep the crowd back, frantic with
enthusiasm. from approaching the royal
carriage and escorting. The queen regent
appeared much moved, though she is us
ually of impassive demearor. The king
looked on the crowd with evident pleasure.
with feelings as enthusiastic as theirs, and
saluted in military fashion. ---.-..
Long live the queen,'' Long live the
king" Long live Spain,'' were the cries
necessarily given. The spirit of the crowds
in the streets peryaded the secluded halls
of the senate and when the doors were
thrown wide open for the royal persons to
|. enter. thousands of distinguished specta-
tors who filled the galleries. deputies >snd
senators, rose to their feet and received
the queen and king with Numbering accla-
nations. g. E.
The hall of session presented a most
animated appearance. 1t was gay with IL
bright note of color. Ladies In spring cos
tunes filled the front rows of the galleries.
They were most enthusiastic, cheering and
waving their handkerchiefs and fans 1t
was long before silence WAS established
The queen egent and the king escorted by
commissions from the senate and the lower
chamber who had met them at the gate
took seats at their throne. The govern
ment. the captains general, the grandees
and members of the court stood on one side
and the diplomatic corps on the other
Senor Sagasta advanced and handed the
queen regent the speech from the throne
Her majesty read II. while seating in
calm, clear voice, all others standing.
The queen regents speech began:
The grave anNieties which saddened nv
mind the last time I addressed you have
Increased and are heightened by public
uneasiness, conveying the presentiment of
fresh and greater complications as a re-
suit of the turn which events in Cuba have
taken. These complications We're brought
about by section of the people of the
United States. which. seeing that the au-
tonomy previously offered in my message
was about 10 be put in force. foresaw that
the free manifestation of the Cuban peo-
pie. through its chambers. would Illustrate
forever the schemes against Spanish SOW
ereiSnty. which have been plotted by
these who. with resources and hopes sent
from the reighboriug coast have fettered
the suppression of the insurrectfon in that
unhappy land.
should the government of the United
States yield to this blind current. menaces
ard insult which We have hitherto bren
able to regard with Indifference. for they
Were not an expression of the sentiments
of the true American nation. would be-
come intolerable provocations which would
compel my government. in defense of the
rational dignity. to sever relations with
the government of the United States.
In this supreme crisis. the sacred voice
OF Kim who represents human justice on
earth was raised in counsels of peace and
prudence, TO which my government had no
diihculty in hardening, strong in the con-
sciousRess of its right. and calm in the
strict performance of its duties
Spains gratitude is due to the pope and
also to the great powers. whose action
strengthens my conviction that Spain's
cause deserves universal sympathy"
Continuing. her majesty said: Possibly,
however. the peace efforts may fail to con-
troll the evil passions excited against Spain.
Lest this moment arrive / have summoned
the cortes 10 defend our rights. whatever
sacrifice they may entail.
Thus identifying myself with the nation.
not only fulfill the oath i swore in accent
ing the regency, but follow the dictates OF
4 mothers heart, trusting TO the Spanish
people to gather behind my sons throne
and 10 defend it until he is old enough to
defend il himself. as well as trusting to the
Spanish people to defend the honor and the
territory of the nation
The queen regent then referred to the
trouble in the Philippine islands and, con-
tinuing. said: Although dark and gloomy
future is before us. the difficulties are not
yet beyond our power. With our glorious
army. navy and the united nation before
foreign aggression, trust in God that
We shall overcome, without stain on our