The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-02
RESIGNATION OF THE
SAGASTA MINISTRY.
Crisis Resulting From it May Last
Several Days=-Queen Regent May
Use Her PrerOgative.

Madrid. March 2-senor Sagagsta has
handed the resignation OF the ministry
TO the queen regent.
The cabinet crisis Is expected to last
for several days. as II will be necessary
for the queen regent TO consult with the
presidents OF the chambers and other
political leaders. In the meanwhile. the
chambers will adjourn. until new min
istry il formed The Ministcrialists
hope the queen regent will support Sa-
gasta and dissolve the chambers.
The resignation OF Sagasta. after hsv-
Ing acted as premier for year and
a half. was due TO the narrow margin OF
two votes. by which he carried his meas
ure for the cession of the Philippines
on Tuesday. but this does not mean the
failure OF the treaty. as the cortes has
already authorized the government TO
cede territory 10 the United States under
the clause of the protocol. Thus the
treaty can be ratified by royal decree.
The Liberal cabinet under Scnor Sa-
gasta was formed shortly after the as
sassination OF Senor Canovas del Cas-
tillo. who was killed on Aug. 8, 1897, by
an Italian anarchist named Goll. Cen
eral Azcarraga, the then minister of
war. was first appointed president OF the
council. and for time the cabinet re-
maincd unchanged. But on Septi29 IL
resigned and Senor Sagasta assumed
office on Oct. 4, confronted by the
troubles In Cuba and In the Philippine
islands.
one of the FIRST steps taken by Senior
fn (,anar1l
the then captain general OF Cuba. who
was succeeded by General Blanco. But
the situation did not improve. and Spain
was courteously. but firmly, warned that
the United States could not much longer
maintain neutrality In the face Of the
terrible situation OF affairs in Cuba. and
the damage " which American interests
were suffering therefrom.
Spain. however. refused to regard the
situation frcrn the American point of
view. and diplomatic relations with the
United States were broken of on April
q last. Even then there were rumors OF
trouble in tr~Spanish cabinet. and after
the victory OF the United States fleet un-
der Commodore Dewey on May /. the
situation became more and more
strained The minister OF marine, Ad-
Il
General Correa. and especially the min
lister for the colonies, were repeatedly
attacked In parliament and out OF IL.
and the cabinets resignation was ten
dered May l6. 1895.
The difficulty was to find men who
were wiling to assume office under the
conditions which then prevailed in
Spain. Az empty treasury. internal dis
orders and the loss OF the Philippine ISL
ands, Cuba and Porto Rico were not the
only problems confrontlsv. the Spanish
ministers. and IL was not astonishing,
under the circumstances. that military
dictatorship under. possibly. Marshal de
Campos. was discussed
Instead OF a dictatorship or new
ministry. however. Senor Sagasta re-
constructed his own cabinet Four
members Of the old ministry retired. The
reconstructed cabinet was announced
AS originally. announced, the ministry
contained the name OF Senor Castillo as
minister Of foreign affairs. but he de-
clined the place. and few days after
wards the Duke of Almodovar de Rio
accepted IT,
ON July III Sagasta again placed his
resignation in the hands OF the queen
regent. but it was not accepted In
October. General Gamazo. minister OF
public instruction. left the cabinet and
formed a new division of the Liberal
party