New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-19

velas 1t is because when C!vn Go,..
Madrid he became convinced that The Z
ing and opportunst policy OF tho n'o't
fatal to public order in Spain and VT
anu stern measures were needed to ma.
pubic tranquility. Several riots viii
place while he was Governor AZ uad-,, ""
one on the part Of the students ~.
pressed with degree Of severity 49,, w
brutality But whatever popularity =.
nave forfeited by his attitude in ,his =. "a
he recovered by the courage and -.
Votion which he displayed during the s,1a.
OF cholera, visiting the sick. cncou,,,'-~
medical attendants, and showing
wherever the plague was at its ,yors. '''"s
havior presenting a striking contrae, -
Don Romero Robledo who on the ou,,,.1,
the epidemic abandoned his post and e
refuge abroad "-'R
SILVELAS'S POSITION
or course. the most important nano,
Administration is Siycas himself u,
most clever and brilliant LAWYER in S.
rs such earns a large income. which a.
the immense fortune Of his wife. render, -
on" oil the Wealthicst men in the Spanish %,
tai He is an exceedingly religions ma,
tends mass daily. and, although mos, h.,
bic. is, so far as his own habits are CON-.
austere almost to the point Of ascetic,er, a.,
solutely incorruptible his great wealth Ill.,.
him above the suspicion Of djshones,v -
among the most bitter Of his political ,o.s -,
TINS naturally gives MIN much weigh, And i,
fiuence ~ Spanish politics. where cornr,i,,
rather the rule than the execution FL.
ana possessed Of a most face pen 10 f. 81
equipped for the leadership Of the Gove,rr,.
in a country where clever writing and orator.,
gifts count for more than Administrative sim
and being a much Younger man than 9Th,
Sagasta or the late Canoyas del Castillo b.
manifests a degree Of elasticity and vie,, .
which neither Of them could make any CLAIM
There is on" point on which Silvelas and h,
followers are thoroughly agreed namely u,,
the necessity of the radical reorganiza,icr =
the entire administration Of the yaroa
branches Of the Government seryce-mlta--
naval and civil. Corruption has been until ~
the blight IF the Kingdom of Spain. and tn
Is 10 doubt taai i AN the money that had ie,
assigned 10y The Treasury 10 the defence.
Spain had been expended in an honorable r,,.
ner for the purposes % which it was interi4
Spain would not have made so lamenale
showing during the last war The cears,.
Of this Augean stable Of Administrative dis.
honesty in Spain is one IF the principal feature.
Of the programme Of The new Cabinet. and ther.
is no doubt that if success attends its efforts Ia
this direction it will have achieved much
toward the solution Of the difficult financial
problem by which the kingdom is confronted
There is but one peril which menaces the
existence not only Of the new Cabinet but Ike.
wise Of the throne namely the danger les; tt.
reactionary policy Of SiNelas and Of his col.
leagues should lead the Republicans to slanla
their hitherto passive attitude for active va,
fare. The Republicans are far more to h
dreaded by the dynasty and 10y the Cover.
ment than the Carls,s. and If they have p
manned inactive Throughout the last iHsr
months it has been solely out Of gooisl
toward Saga>ta. toward whom they entsHai
more or less friendly sentiments. owing 70 b
having begun many reforms which ag
formerly included in their programme
is understood that one IF the reasons why b 2
sisted on resisnng in favor Of Si.yelas was =
cause he believed that as a leader of the oiir
sition he can for the present exercise a gFea'f
degree Of influence over them in favor q %
dynasty than at the head Of the Government
EX-ATTACHE