Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-25
SENIOR SAGASTA'S WOES
Spanish Cabinet Attacked by the
Republican Leader.
fHE REPLY OF THE PREMIER.

swe Have Lost the Colonies, Have
Avoided civil Wharf.-The Republicans
Alone EndanGer Liberty''- G~eneraI
Linares~ Challenges Count d'Almenas
Madrid, Feb. 23.-The meeting Of the
bureahx last evening TO afpoiat q com
mission to examine the bill for the ces-
sion Of the Philippines resulted only in
a nominal ministerial success. Although
the ministerial candidates chosen were
four and the opposition candidates only
three. yet on a division the opposition
will muster 81 votes as against 81 min
isterialists. The opposition will, there
fore, submit a counter measure.
The Republican motion in favor Of
summoning the constituent assembly led
to a stormy debate in the chamber of
deputies. Professor Salmeron, the Re-
publican leader, in the course of a vio-
lent speech, said the Republicans had
| resumed their seats in parliament in
order to force the government to ac-
| cept its responsibilities. In his opinion
not only those governing, but present in
stitutions themselves, would fall vic
Tins to the present disasters. He Sc
verely censured the ministers for en-
deavoring to save the monarchy rather
than the country.
"Your colonial policy" he said, was
| disastrous because you joined sword and
cassock in order to restore a feudal
theocracy, with all sorts of privileges.
The government has surrendered to the
United States SPANS whole colonial
empire and the peace that has been
signed is the most shameful recorded in
history
Senior Sagasta in replying said: eve
lost the colonies, but we have avoided
civil war. When you were in power
greater calamities occurred. The Uni
ted States drove us to war, for which
no regime is blameable, and no regime
could make a nation weakened by two
colonial rebellions strong. l will oppose
reaction with all my force. l am in
capable of destroying the nations liber-
ties. 1t is the Republicans alone who
endanger the liberties of the country by
breaking the law"
Professor Salmeron, after being called
to order for a yelled reference to the
crown, declared that the Conservative
patty "ao iAihtdiAs iNslfChSAhlN III hN
country's disasters, since it had failed
to apply in Cuba reforms voted by all
parties, and that the present government
must also be held responsible for making
n ~dishonorable peace. He advocated
calling the constituent assembly, which,
he said, would "kill forever both Carlism
and any attempt at dictatorship" He
appealed to the Liberal and Democratic
forces to cooperate and so prevent the
triumph of the Vatican and the Reaction
aries"
The result Of the debate in the cham
Der upon the motion of Senior Silvela,
leader of the Conservatives, censuring
the government for indifference to the
country's troubles" was the withdrawal
of the resolution.
General Linares, who was in command
of the Spanish troops at Santiago at the
time of the capitulation, has challenged
Count d'Almenas to a duel on account
of the attacks which the count made
upon him Monday and Tuesday in the
senate in connection with his arraign-
ment of the conduct of the Spanish gen
erals engaged in the war with Cuba.