The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-23
Opening Of THE COR|ES.
A Brilliant and Inspiring Scene in
the Legislative Palace at
the Spanish Capital.
THE QUEENS SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.
With the Boy King at Her Side, and Sur
rounded by the Notables of Spain,
Queen Regent Christina Made an APP
peal in Behalf of the Dynasty, whose
Integrity was Threatened.

MADRID, April 20, 4:20 p. m.-The
opening of the Spanish cortes was a
magnificent sight. All the wealth and
beauty of Madrid gathered in the sem
ate, where ev cry available foot OF
space was occupied.
There was a terrific crush at the en-
trance leading to the senatorial seats,
many of which were occupied by
ladies.
Large bodies of troops were drawn
up outside the building, the handsome
ly uniformed Blue dragons and the
Observation-Disclosures palace guards.
All the members of the diplomatic
corps were present in full dress.
A wild cheer, at 2:30p. m, announced
the arrival of the queen regent, who
was driven to the cortes palace in a
state coach escorted by detachment OF
life guards. The cheering was taken
up within the building as the queen re-
gent entered, the cheers being accom-
panied by enthusiastic cries of Viva
la Reina," Viva Alfonso ~trese," Viva
Espana," a really unanimously pa
triotic demonstration.
The queen regent read the speech
from the throne while seated with the
young King Alfonso on her right and
the premier, Senior Sagasta, standing
neal the king. Her majesty's words
were inaudible to all but those in her
immediate vicinity. The reading was
greeted throughout with cries of Viva
Espana." A wonderful picture was
presented by the queens en-
tourage, consisting of most of
the highest personages in Spain,
in brilliant court, military, naval or
palace uniforms. At the close of her
majesty's speech there vas renewed
cheering, after which Premier Sagasta
declared the cOrtes opened, and the
queen regent and the boy king,
panied by the court, left the building
amid another wild burst of enthusiasm.
The queen regent referred to the
troubles mentioned at the last session
of the cortes, saying that they had in
creased lowing to the attitude of the
people of the United States
in fomenting trouble adding
that hitherto Spain had Submitted to
these threats and injuries as not being
an expression of the American nation,
but becoming national. they would
oblige me to break relations with the
United States"
Continuing, the queen regent said
that in the supreme crisis the pope
spoke words of peace which were
hearkened to by my government, in
the consciousness of right and in strict
performance of international duties"
Her majesty added: ''Spain's graft
tude is due to the pope and also to the
great powers, whose action strengthens
my conviction that SPANS cause de-
servers universal sympathy"
Continuing, her majesty said: POS
sibly, however, the peace efforts may
fail to control the evil passions ex-
cited against Spain. Lest this mo-
ment arrive, L have summon ed the
cortes to defend our rights, what
ever sacrifice they may entail. Thus
identifying myself with the nation, L
not only fulfill the oath l swore in ac-
cepting the regency, but, L follow
the dictates of a mothers heart,
trusting to the Spanish people
W SdtllCI Chl NY oOh - lIIOuC III
to defend it until he is old enough to
defend it 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 continuing said: although a
dark and gloomy future is before
MS. the difficulties are not be-
You'd our power, with glorious
army. navy and the united nation be-
fore foreign aggression, we trust in
God that we shall overcome without
stain on our honor. the baseless and
unjust attacks made upon US"
Enthusiasm at the Prospect of War.
MADRID, April 20, 5:15 p. m.-Great
enthusiasm reported throughout Spain
at prospect of war.