The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-04

MADRID, June IG-The meeting of the
Cortes this year excited more interest
than usual in the Spanish capital because
the Parliament which convened on the
18th of June IS destined to be the last
of the regency OF Queen Maria Christi
ma. and in due course the first of Alfonso
XIII after he comes Of age at six
teen on May l., 1892. Very nearly six
teen years have already passed since the
daughter Of the Hapsburgs had 10 take
charge Of the Teins OF government in a
foreign land, where she had become 4
widow at the age of only twenty-seyen,
on gloomy November morning in 1888,
when Alfonso XII died of larynSeai
consumption. 1t was SIX months after
the demise of that King that his pos
thumus son came into the world, and
ever since Dona Christina has ruled
Spain issued laws and DEGREES. always
in the name Of her august son, 81 Rey
Don Alfonso Kill" Her task is fast
drawing to a close, and there is now
hanging over the land an impression that
the few months left ought to be made a
period of preparation of smoothing down
Of difficulties. of clearing the way for d
new era of the monarchy and of the ma
ton. With their pithy way of putting
on towards the unknown 90 deSconocido)-
that may have in store many surprises
Dona Christina herself expressed some
Of these feelings in the royal
speech she read in the Senate before the
members Of both houses: The task
which circumstances impose upon us at
home is arduous and complicated Il is
Indispensable to make reforms in al our
social organization. to renew and give life
to our methods of government. TO give
fresh impulse and development to CdUca-
ton and national resources. and to con
SoIidate our finances" Further on the
royal speech lays stress Upon the fact
that the labor Is complicated, the task
difficult. the way long. The country,
with Unchailenged unauimiJv, demands Of
the Parliament the satisfaction Of its
many and postponed aspirations my
Government viii concert the means OF
satisfying them and viii lay the same be
fore you, and your wisdom and prudence
will know how To turn them into useful
laws
In the presence OF these necessities
and duties only the union of all can give
complete satisfaction TO the nation 7 ez-
pect this. from YOU I trust tia. your pa
triCtism viii reject ali debates likely 10
turn attention from The work OF Tegcn-
ton that is placed in your hands
When a Liberal Government takes Office
in Spain. II is not easy FOR it to give salts
faction 10 its own paTJisaus and to answer
the expectations aroused by the declaTa-
lions that LIBERAL statesmen are apt t9
make here as elsewhere when they are II
the cold shade Of opposition. Men Ike
Sagasta and Noret have had occasion fire.
queutiy during the last twenty-five years
to perceive that in the councils Of a Cath
Ole. military. and conservative monarchy
there are questions which must be han
died with tact. caution and moderation
10y Liberal Ministers unless they wish 70
irnper.l their tenure of Office Hence the
prudent utteraHces OF Senior Saeasta him
self the day before Parliament met.
when he addressed the Liberal Senators
and Deputies. and hence the terms Of the
royal message drawn up by the Home
Secretary Noret. when dealing with
church matters, army and navy orgauiza-
. tior. and estimates
The royal message says. 1t Is my
duty 10 tell you that his Holiness Leo EIII
continues 10 grant the Spanish nation the
afectionate attention and the powerful
assistance which have marked his gIgri-
Gus pontifcate-'' and, further on II IS
contemplated 10 define the legal status Of
the religious orders under existing Ilgis-
lation. a design which combined with the
imperiOus necessity of transf0rnaaf on Ia
the church estimates =. G5o.g5J year), re-
ducing its figures am improving The On
dowments OF the rural pg-tsh priests. viii
lead my Government 10 neg ttate the lc-
form Of the ConC0rdat Of I55r with Rome
Sasasta in his speech was more explicit
There are other questions. the religious
one, raised in an evil hour The Govern
meEt viii attempt 10 solve II peacefully.
for which purpose II IS only necessary
that the State should not NEEDLE in the
affairs Of the Church and the Church not
NEEDLE IN State affairs Something viii
have to be altered, nevertheless. Of what
his prevailed up To the present and Tor
this purpose the Government believes
that his Holiness VIII give the necessary
facilities Until this takes place the Gov
yrr.uert VIII respect the religious orders
duly authorized by The Co1coTdat. and all
others always on condition that they are
ruled in every respect by the laws %
the State"
After what has taken Dlac- in Spain
during the last two years and particular
" after the aati-cIsrjesI demonstrations
in towns. in thu press. IN Madrid even.
these declarations OF Sagasta have fallen
much short of what Liberals aEa Demo
Gratis expected. but it cannot De- denied
that they have pleased the Court, the no
biiiJy, the governing classes. though they
have not quite satisfied the uuucI0. the
prelates, the religious orders. and the
JCsuits-
Sagasta has announced that as soon ''as
the credit OF Spain IS sufficiently restored.
an operation Of credit. not absolutely nee
essaTy for our finances but necessary for
the veal of the state, shall be resorted to
10 accomplish IN ten. fifteen. OF twenty
years what would otherwise not be done
the Development Of the navy the land and
the sea defenceS of the territory. the in
pTOVeuleut OF the condition Of our sol
di-rss the building OF proper offices for
our administration, the preservation of
our !mpD- ing churches, ana IN part the
solution Of the social problem. "
The royal message IS even more en-
uhHtiC on the necessity Of naval and mill
taTy aTUameuJs- BY way of stTeUgt hen
ing these arguments IN favor of fresh
sacrifices to Civ Spain a new fleet, better
arseHais, coast. and frontier Notifications.
obligatory military service for all citizens
without the option OF Il redemption in
cash, and q thorough Teorga niZatiCu and
increase of the land forces. no less q per
zOnage than the War Minister. General
the occasion Of a tour Of Inspection he
severely blamed the politicians Of every
shade for impairIu2 the efficiency Of the
army by their retTcuChaeDt III estimates.
and their Interference with matters they
cannot understand ia the same speech
WcyIeT TcbuSed the Spanish press for
having criticised him three years ago for
doing in Cuba exactly what Lord kitche-
ncr and the English generals have copied
in the TrauSvaaL"
M