New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-23
SPANS CABINET ACCUSED.
CHARGES OF HIGH TREASON MADE BY
COUNT ALMENAS.
PREMIER SILVELA AND OTHER MINISTER'S
FlERCELY ACKED-DIsCLosUREs IN
SECRET SESSION OF THE SEN
MAnRTn
ATE AT MADRID.

ATE AT MADRID
Washington Nov. % (SpeciaD.-Accordlng to
accounts just received here from Madrid Count
Almenas. the well known Spanish Senator. who
last year denounced the generals Of his country
for their cowardice has again stirred up trouble,
this time in secret session Of the Spanish SEN
ate lie is the only Senator who has had the
courage to protest against the action of the
Government. which absolutely refused to deliver
10 the Senate the proceedings OF the Philippine,
cuban and Porto Rican courts martial.
Count Almenas. Madrid advices say dis
closed to the Senate a number OF grave secrets,
and accused the high military courts as we'll
as the Ministers Of the Cabinet of high treason,
and he did this under oath. asserting that 1t is
treason to withhold the proceedings of these
courts martial from the Senate He told Senior
Sivela, the Prime Minister to his face that he
was "a widower of the truth" and that he
married in second matrmony to untruth and
imprudence'; that all his acts had been deceitful.
laundering and fatal to the welfare Of his coun-
try. as well as all the acts of the Government
while he presided Prime Minister, and which
were more or less moulded by his hands.
PLOTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT ALLEGED.
He also accused the Prime Minister OF enter
Ing into nefarious plots against the Govern
ment in order to promote his own ambitions,
and further charged that he entered into these
plots with the former Minister of War. General
Polavieja
Count Almenas also denounced Sehor Villa
verde, the Minister Of Finance. and charged that
he, too was concerned in these plots: that he
presented 10 the Senate false budget Of ex-
penses which was. after an examination Of it's
items. cut down to the extent of 60,OO0000
false and deceptive.
He next denounced the Secretary Of War,
whom he charged with putting a journalist
named Uquia in the penitentiary because he
Justly criticised the Secretary forgetting that
he himself (Polavieja) would have gone to the
penitentiary for his official acts If the military
laws had been properly administered; for he
said that in Act $50, first case and third para
graph the law reads that any one in the service
who criticised the Government. the military au-
thorities the military enterprises should be
punished by arrest and suspension from mill
tary honors and privileges and that General
PolavieJa in his public utterances went so far
to make a personal criticism Of the Govern
ment in every way
THE PRISONERS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
He further attacked the Prime Minister for
his Indifference to the fate Of the Spanish prls
oners in the Philippines. whose privations and
sufferings were the cause of many murmurngs.
The only defence. he said. that the Prime Min
lister made was that he appointed Senior Selma
Cordera as a delegate and sent him with gov
ernment funds to treat with Agoncillo for the
release Of the spanish prisoners held by
the insurgents in the Philippines He said he
had been authorized to ascertain how much
money Agoncillo wanted for the remain
ing prisoners then held by the insurgents.
'T know all that happened" the Count de-
clared "Agoncillo asked impossible condl-
tions and such enormous sum of money
that it was out OF the question for Spain
to accede. This delegate made 1t convenient for
himself to go several times to Paris and treat
with Agonco. but 1t in vain; he followed
in the steps Of the Prime Minister. and would
retract one day what he proposed the day be-
fore.
Another part OF the tragedy" continued the
Count, "is that any day officers Of the Spanish
Army may be seen on our streets with decora-
tions on their coats, actually begging for bread.
The government paid 100000 pesetas for re-
patrlation. but has now not cent for the men
who gave up everything to fight for their coun-
try. But the government gives 70 others-thOse
who are recommended by the captains general
money and honor more than they can use. This
is done because the captains general need these
favored people instruments to further their
own ambitious ends.
NO one knew until to-day what had to dis
coyer-namely, the existence Of a plot to pro-
rogue the minority Of our King. This plot was
entered into by both Liberals and Conservatives,
who mutually agreed 10 this constitutional
atrocty-an atrocity which would have been at
the opportune time submitted to the ordinary
Congress evidently TO eude the authorities OF
the constitutional courts. 1t appears that the
direct result of this plot was to make Silvela
President Of the proposed new republic OF spain
SECRETARY OF WAR DENOUNCED.
1T is my solemn duty also here to denounce
the Secretary of War for having entered into
conspiracy with the chiefs and officers of the
garrison at Madrid. This intrigue had for its
object the overthrow of the government and to
put General Polavieja in power.
why will not the government give US the
documents of the court martial Of Cervera and
the court martial Of Montojo. and all the other
courts martial? Because 1t is afraid de-
clare that in these two courts martial and the |
caDitulation Of Cuba as well the capitulation |
Of Manila crimes have been committed which |
have never been punished, ana i turther declare |
that these crimes are a thousand-tod more
grave and Infamous than those coinfhitted III |
the now famous French court martial against
Dreyfus
OFFERS TO PRODUCE PROOFS.
Il hOQ proofs WHICH SlON tiiHN q" N"f'"i''
general a lieutenant general who draws the
salary of a captain general. his chief of staff |
and other generals were guilty Of such acts
that II they were known would condemn them |
to be shot | swear II l did not know that |
my words are true, | would tear off my Sena-
torial robe and would deserve to be denounced |
as a liar and defamer OF ny country, and should |
be banished from Spain. II the government VIII |
only start an investigation then WIZ piouuCe
nv nroofs / know that one of these gentlemen. |
who is a Senator, and for this reason believes |
himself safe, whose name is Captain General |
Primo de Rivera, Marquis Estella ana VINO |
taared that II the proceedings Of this court /
marital were presented to the Senate his IN |
yioIabiIity as a Senator would not save him,
objected 10 having the matter brought into me /
matter would bar him forever from the society |
Of honorable gentlemen =,