THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK IN SPAIN by Genil

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 12, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 7

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK IN SPAIN.

By Genil

The recent Spanish crisis which caused the downfall of General Martinez Campos, has caused such dissatisfaction to all the political parties, that we consider the trouble will be interminable while the actual Premier, Canovas del Castillo, sits on the Blue Bench. Every one knows that when Campos was Captain-General in Cuba, he pursued the best policy possible in order to bring the rebel chiefs of the insurrection in that country to peaceful terms, and he succeeded in his persistent idea of the pacification of the Island, by establishing in Cuba the same provincial system of government as that of the mother country; and as he was empowered by the Madrid cabinet to yield any privileges which he thought fit to the Gem of the Antilles, while making necessary reforms which were demanded by the state of affairs and condition of the country, he offered himself at the treaty of Zanjon to be the first to protect the Cuban interests and to promote the abolition of slavery. In March last, Campos was called to Spain by the home government to give an account of the affairs in Cuba, including a resumé of the new reforms which he had instituted. Having explained fully to the king and cabinet that a sudden and entire change in the government of the ultramarine provinces was most important, they decided in the most friendly manner that Canovas should retire from the post of President of the council, and the vacancy thus occasioned should be filled by Campos; this appointment he accepted willingly. Soon after, he entered into power, and not forgetting the promises which he had made to the men of Zanjon he followed his own policy, which was to extend not only the reforms in Cuba, but to remedy the evils which afflicted Spain, evils that the conservative party of Canovas has increased by the imbroglio which Canovas himself had provoked, by taking again the power, he not being entirely identified with the liberal ideas and policy of Martinez Campos. The imbroglio had its abettors, and the excitement in political circles and in the Cortes became intense. The public discontent of the Spanish people was hurled against the audacity of Canovas. An explanation was demanded by the minority of both houses with reference to the crisis caused by Canovas and his friend, Senor Romero Robledo, but Mr. Canovas declined to make any apology, and suddenly turned his back, leaving the Chambers, and saying at the same time that he was not accountable to anybody. The representatives regarded this action as one of the most imprudent insults that has ever been recorded in the history of Parliaments, and the minority, composed chiefly of Cubans, retired from their seats, breaking up the session and holding several meetings, in which it was agreed that they would not resume their seats while Canovas should be in power.

According to our information, Senors Canovas and Romero Robledo are natives of Malaga, and could not see with pleasure that the policy of Campos required the immediate abolition of slavery in all the Spanish dominions, and the protection of the sugar cane plantations of Cuba. This opposition on the part of Canovas and Robledo will be easily understood when we say that Robledo is married to the daughter of the late Senor Julian Zulueta, who left several sugar plantations with thousands of negros in Cuba, and, of course, Mr. Robledo, as Secretary of State, which office he has always held under the Canovas ministry, could not see the prospect of an immediate liberation of the slaves which he still held in that Island without opposing the measure with all his strength. Mr. Canovas, believing that if he were to favor the sugar plantations of Cuba, those of Malaga would lose in their importance and interest, thought proper to cause the imbroglio of which we have before spoken, and together with Romero Robledo they reached the strategic point at which they overthrew Campos.

Now we learn that not only the political parties, but the whole nation is against Senor Canovas del Castillo, because the policy of his new cabinet, by the advice of Robledo, has suspended more than fifteen daily papers in Madrid, and as many in the provinces, and it is natural that public men should be agitated on the subject. Lately an interview has taken place between General Campos and Senor Sagasta, the leader of the constitutional party, and it seems that Senor Canovas is not very secure in his post, although it appears that he has assumed the Portfolio of the Interior, appointing at the same time the Count de Toreno as President of the Congress, in consequence of the death of Senor Ayala, its former President. We think from present appearances that Canovas will be obliged to leave the ministry; then Senor Sagasta undoubtedly will form a new cabinet of the constitutionalists, and things may take a different shape in Spain and Cuba. The constitutional, although monarchical, is the most liberal party in Spain, and we have no doubt that by changing the policy of the country altogether, and keeping Canovas aside, both Spain and Cuba may gain, and still be saved from the conservative plague.—Genil, in America.