The Washington times., 1902-12-21
His Recent Action in Cabi-
net Crisis Wins Peoples
Appreciation
What Advent of First Con-
SerVative Cabinet Involves
to Spanish Court.


ncction with the recent ministerial
crisis at Madrid astonished people both
at home and abroad by the precocity
which it indicated. and has served 10
increase both his prestige and his popu-
larity. For when Senior Sagasta tender
ed the resignation Of his Liberal ad-
ministration at the beginning of Novem-
Der. in consequence Of irreconcilable dif-
ferences among his colleagues. the
youthful monarch, who will not be
seventeen until next May. declined 10
call the Conservatives into council, or
20 intrust them in the formation Of
cabinet without a defeat Of the Liberal,
that is to say. the ministerial party in
parliament.
Ever since the time when Spain was
endowed with a constitutional form Of
government the invariable practice has
been for the changes OF the cabinet to
be made al Madrid without any regard
10 the majority IN the chamber Of depu-
ties. Administrations we're dismissed
by the crown. or else resigned Of their
own accord. either when they had ceased
20 enjoy the confidence and goodwill
OF the monarch. or else when by d.
visions among themselves they had
rendered further cooperation with one
another in an administration n matter
or impossihility. When a cabinet went
out Of office the sovereign would call
on one Of the leaders Of the opposi-
tion 10 form an administration, in
legislative majority in the house. That
was a mere trife for subsequent ar
rangement For as soon as the new
premier had formed his ministry he
secured from the throne a decree dis
solving the cortes. Thereupon he would
at once proceed TO fiji all the Offices
especially those in the provinces. with
his friends and adherents. and as soon
as this was accomplished the general
election would take place. the new ap-
pointees maneuvaring the latter in such
a fashion as to return an overwhelm-
ing ministerial majority. That has been
the invariable custom.
The parliamentary majority has always
been manufactured after the formation
Of the cabinet by artificial means in
order TO satisfy the needs OF the admin
sstration instead Of the latter being or
ganized to conform with the require
ments and views Of the parliamentary
majority in existence at the time Of its
being intrusted with Office. II is this
knowledge and assurance that the par
Ilsmentary polls would always show an
overwhelming majority for the admins
tration that happened TO be in power
when the general election took place
that has exercised such a blighung In
huence upon popular government il
Spain. for Il has served 20 keep a very
large and important element OF the
population from casting its ballots on
the ground that no matter how one
voted the government would always
win. King Alfonso Is endeavoring % re-
form these methods. and the Spanish
people at large are grateful 10 him for
the determined fight he has made to ac-
complish the end he had in view. For an
entire month he held out, compelling
Sagasta TO remain at the head OF affairs
until at length the aged premier sus-
tained a defeat in the cortes. when the
monarch accepted his resignation and
summoned the Conservatives to power
this being 1 believe, the first instance
in Spanish history OF a change Of cabinet
following a ministerial defeat IN the
cortes.
The Kings Reasons.
There we're other reasons why the
fr-- %, h. Z 30 IL.
and especially Senor sagasta. at the helm
He knew that il he intrusted the forma-
tion Of a cabinet to the Conservatives #
would involve a general election. which
in the present disturbed condition Of the
kingdom is likely TO lead TO fresh popu-
lar outbreaks and troubles. The last
general election took place only a year
ago, and gave rise TO rioting OF a NOR,
or less sanguinary character Throughout
the kingdom, and Don Alfonso was
anxious TO preserve the country from be-
ing subjected 10 another such trial He
therefore. urged Senior sagasta 70 en-
deavOr even at the cos: OF concessions
made to his foes TO reconstruct Liberal
cabinet and the old premier. who had
been Queen Christmas principal men
tor during her regency, and 10 whom the
young King had been bound by special
ties OF affection and regard since his
earliest childhood. made every possible
effort TO satisfy his monarch's wishes
actually going to the length OF Offering
a portfolio 10 the dissident Conservative
leader Romero Robledo.
The lattors pretensions. however. were
90 extreme. especially with regard "a
patronage. that the negotiations came Il
naught, and Sagasta. after having ex.
cited the suspicion and ill-wil Of his
own followers by Offering concessions
10 the extreme radicals. and the denuu-
Citations Of the latter by his attempts %
bring Conservatives into his admins.
tration, managed TO form a cabinet tha
inspired such universal lack OF conf
donce that IL was defeated last week IN
the cortes through the refusal OF
large body OF tho Liberal party to vote
IN its favor
Silyelas was thereupOn summoned 10 IN,
palace and has now formed a Conserva-
tive administration. the first since Klnl
Alfonso has attained his majority and