The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-02-21
THE CORTES ASSEMBLIES
Count d'Almenas' Speech Arouses
the Spanish Senate,
NOT A SINGLE GENERAL SHOT,

The Count Complains or the Govern
ments Delay In Executing the Lead
ers Who Capitulated- -Bianco, Rivera
and Barges Defend the Generals.
Madrid. Feb. 21.-The cortes reas-
sembled Yesterday. The galleries i'm both
chambers were thronged with an ex
pectant crowd The senate was very
full, hardly single general being absent.
Senor Montcro Rios, president Of the
senate. in opening the proceedings. pro
hounced eulogy upon NJ. Faure, aud a
resolutions Of coincidence with France
was adopted unanimously.
Senor Sagasta, the premier, then pro-
posed to refer the bill providing for the
cession of the Philippines to the United
States to u special committee. but this
the Conservatives protested against, de-
claring that the bill ought to be con
scientiously discussed, and Senor Sa-
gasta withdrew his proposal
Count d Almenas then brought up the
question of the conduct of the generals
engaged in the war in Cuba, declaring
that General Primo de Rivera, General
Weyler, General Blanco, Admiral Ger
vera and General Linares had proved
failures. This declaration elected much
applause from the public galleries, in
consequence of which several of the
spectators were expelled from the cham
Der.
Observing that he would deal with the
shameful capitulation of Santiago"
Count d'Almenas asked the house
whether he should proceed, and was an
swered with cries of "yes" and no"
and a general uproar ensued A repeti-
ton of tire query provoking still greater
tumult, Senor Sagasta rose and de
Tended the government and its Spanish
peace commission. The premier criti
cized Americas "unjustiiable conduct
and said that everything might be dis
cussed except the war, because the cases
of the generals were still sub-iudice.
Count dAlmenas resumed his attack
upon the generals, and complained that
Five months had elapsed and not a
single general had been shot" This
gave rise to another tumult, and Count
d'Almenas was called to order. Again
he asked why the generals who capitu-
lated had not. been executed. 1t is quite
true, he declared, that the army is an
army of lions led by asses. Captain Cen
eral Blanco's administration in Cuba was
deplorable. he said, but he was not re-
spOnsible for the surrender of Santiago.
Recriminations continued between
Count dAlmenas aud Lieutenant Gen
eral Correa, the minister of war, and
there was renewed disorder. General
Primo de Rivera arose and denounced
Count d'Almenas as "a contemplate
caluminator."
General Blanco followed, defending
the generals and accepting full respon-
sibility for events in Cuba during his
command in the island General Barges
denounced Count d'Almenas as a calum-
inator.
After a promise on the part of Count
d'Almenas to produce proofs of his as
sertions the senate adjourned.
In the chamber Senor Slvella, the
leader of the Dissident Conservatives,
moved vote, signed by the Conservative
deputies. censuring the government for
its indifference to the country's troubles.
Senior Annix, in seconding the motion.
denounced the ministry for accepting the
war through fear of the Carlists and de-
clared that the country was now suf-
fering the consequences OF the govern
ment's pussillanimity. He proceeded to
detail the lack of preparations and of
war matrials and charged the govern
ment with responsibility for the sur
render of Santiago, which they ordered,
although the garrison there numbered
23,000 and there were sufficient provis-
ions in the place for three months. This
declaration created a sensation.
In proof that the government was re-
spOnsible for the surrender of Cuba
Senior Annix read kilograms from Senior
Sagasta and Lieuteant General Correa
to General Blanco ordering the surrender
of Cuba as a means of saving Porto
Rico and the Philippines and preserving
order in the peninsula. He also read
General Blanco's telegram in reply, op-
posing the surrender, but agreeing to
obey the governments order
Senor Annix added that President Nc
Kinley had telegraphed to General Shat
ter that the surrender of Santiago had
been arranged with the Madrid govern
ment, and that, therefore, he must make
sort of sham attack.
Robbed the Grave.