The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-01

Y WASHINGTON, Feb, 2S.--Tne state
department. to-day received the follow,
ing dispatch from Minister. Wood :ord,
Mt Madrid: Is X 4
Decree dissolvlng Spanish cortes Feb-
runry 20. New cortes viii meet April
90"
The dissolution OF The cortes has been
expected and II may be attended With
important results. Two parties, Liberal
and Conservative. vii. now appeal to the
country and on the result will depend
the political complexion OF the ministry.
The sagasta ministry now In power. is
Liberal. It's retention in power means
much at the present juncture, for It was
on the! advent OF the sagasta regime
that General Weyler was recalled, the
reconcentrado DEGREES were annulled and
the present plan OF autonomy put in
force. The policy bow being pursued
by General Blnnco in Cuba Is an entire
reversal Of that under the Conservative
regime OF Canovas and his successor,
and It ls felt that the continuance OF this
policy Is no less at stake than the minis
try itself IN the outcome OF the present
elections.
Senator du Bose, the Spanish charge
d'affaires, has not received official notlti-
cation OF the dissolution Of the cor.es,
but he says this wns expected, as the
work OF the present cortes was con-
cluded. Under the laws OF Spain forty
days must expire before the election OF
I the new cortes occurs. Mr.. du Bose,
who Is himself a Liberal and a warm
supporter OF the sagas.a ministry, says
there Is no, doubt the result. will be the
return OF Liberal majority in the
cortes, and the consequent continuance
Of the present ministry. All parties Of
late have given aid 70 the Liberal min
istry and Its policy toward Cuba and the
present time Is regarded by Mr.. du Bose
as auspiclous for calm campaign
which he asserts will continue the pres,
ent authorities ln power. He says there
Is no Significance in the dissolution Mt
this time. In other quarters 1t sis felt
that the Conservatives may take this
opportunity. to regain1the reine Of ttgov-s
ernnent by making a campaign against
the Cuban policy Of the Sagasta regime.
~ The Weyler element Is another grow
Ing factor in Spanish affairs, and It Is
expected that the Weylerlsts will either
cast their influence with the Conserva-
lists who sent General Weyler TO Ha-
vana, or else make their appearance as
q distinct political organization, repre-
sentative OF the army and navy and the
martial spirit in general. To a consid-
cradle extent the contest will be be-
tween the war element and the peace
element, and as the Liberal programme
thus far has been most. pacific In char
acter, It Is anticipated that the Liberals
will gain the peace vote.
Elections will be held not only In
Spain, but also in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
This, however. under the plan OF auto
nomy. The present election will be con-
fined to the choice OF delegates to the
imperial parliament and will not be a
part OF the autonomous plan for q local
government Office OF Cuba. Later elec-
tions have not been fixed and the time
for them will be set by the autonomous
CaDlNeI. II "Oulu Ne UO surprise 10 OIL.
cIals here II these local elections were
announced at any time In the near fu-
ture, as It Is said the Cuban autonomists
are rapidly maturing the details OF elec-
tions and other steps requisite to the
execution OF the autonomous plan. In
the elections OF April rs. Cuba will select
Its usual quota to the Spanish cortes un-
der the same system Of suffrage that
has long prevailed.
The new cortes will meet Immediately
after the election, probably May. While
no date has been fixed It Is known In ad-
vance that the new body must assemble
In order to pass on the budget which. by
law, much be completed by July1. This
will give brief time for completing the
extensive supply bills within the time
prescribed by Spanish law. With Lib
eral majority. however, this can be
readily accomplished. The possibilities
OF delay lie in the fact that q Conserva-
tive victory will not only give that party
control OF the cortes, but will precipltatc.
another ministerial change, with Its con-
sequent changes OF policies.