CHAPTER XXV NEW CABINET FORMED HAMPERED by poverty, impoverished by dishonesty in high places, already worn out by strife long continued in the Philippines and Cuba, Spain shortly after the destruction of Admiral Montojo's fleet was nearly rent in twain. In the second week of May Sagasta, the Premier, despairingly exclaimed :— "I believed that the first cannon-shot fired by the United States against our troops would be a signal for Sagasta in the union and fraternity of all Spaniards, Despair as all are equally affected by the assault of the United States. I was mistaken. Certain Parliamentary groups are in disagreement with the government and have the pretension to make conditions in return for their support. They thus paralyze our efforts and diminish the strength which is indispensable to the government. Spain is desolated and ruined by internal troubles." Mobs were marching the streets of many of the Spanish cities, demanding bread. Subscriptions for war funds which were opened in all the public places failed to meet any response. It was only after an exceptionally stormy session that the Cortes voted the war credits, so badly needed to prosecute the war. On all sides there were expectations and demands for the resignation of the Cabinet. Maria Cristina, the Queen Regent, was seriously considering quitting Spain for Austria. Abdication So far, indeed, did her plans go that threatened apartments were engaged for her in a hotel in Vienna. She was waiting for a time to come when she could quit Spain with the least detriment to the interests of her son, the little King Alfonso XIII. Premier Sagasta exerted all his influence to prevent the Queen Regent from carrying out her plans. Members of the royal family of Austria, with whom the Queen Regent had been exchanging many telegrams, also counselled against her leaving Spain, and she finally consented to postpone her plan, though she did not entirely relinquish it. The Cabinet, of which Sagasta was the head, consisted of Señor Don Pio Gullon, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Señor Groizard, Minister of Justice; Señor Puigcerver, Minister of Finance; Señor Capdepon, Minister of the Interior; General Correa, Minister of War; Admiral Bernejo, Minister of Marine; Count Xiqueua, Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works, and Señor Moret, Minister of the Colonies. The friends of Weyler, the Carlists, and all the other political opponents of Sagasta and his followers, when the first weeks of war went against Spain, laid hold of the opportunity to denounce the Cabinet and demand its resignation. As a result, the entire Cabinet, on May 15, tendered their resignations. While critics of the Cabinet had not been wanting, candidates for the portfolios were Sagasta's not so easy to find. Leaders in Cabinet Spain's political life hesitated to assume the reins of a bankrupt government, engaged in a war which they were beginning to realize already must end in disaster. For several days Spain was practically without a Cabinet, and when, on May 18, the Cabinet was reorganized, Señor Sagasta was still at its head. The new Cabinet was made up as follows: President of the Council of Ministers, Señor Praxedes Sagasta; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Duke Almadovar de Rios; Minister of War, Lieutenant-General Correa; Minister of Marine, Captain Aunon; Minister of the Colonies, Señor Romero Giron; Minister of Finance, Señor Lopez Puigcerver; Minister of the Interior, Señor F. R. Capdepon; Minister of Justice, Señor C. Groizard; Minister . of Public Instruction, Señor Gamazo. The portfolio of foreign affairs had first been offered to Señor Leon y Castillo, the Spanish Ambassador to France, who was looked upon as one of the ablest of the Spanish diplomats. There were rumors of an Anglo-American alliance, and the need of a particularly strong man as Minister of Foreign Affairs was realized. Señor Castillo would not accept the place, and Sagasta, after filling the place himself for a few days, gave it to the Duke Almadovar de Rios. CHAPTER XXVI Cabinet CHANGES IN WASHINGTON IN Washington, as in Madrid, the war made great changes, though of a different character. Although President McKinley's Cabinet remained practically intact, John Sherman, Secretary of State, whose great age made the duties of his office too onerous for him, was succeeded by Judge William R. Day, an intimate friend of the President, who previously had held the office of Assistant Secretary of State. Postmaster-General James A. Gary resigned, and was succeeded by Charles Emory Smith. Later when Judge Day was made president of the Peace Commission, John Hay, United States Ambassador to England, was recalled to become Secretary of State. The real changes in Washington were in the army and navy departments. In the Navy Department a strategy board had been organized. Another commission was selecting vessels suitable for charter or purchase. Bureau chiefs of both the army and navy were hurriedly |