There is no
person in Spain who can tell the outcome of the present situation. The
Government is not a fixed one, and allows matters to run in their own
course heedless of the effect; in other words, matters are allowed to
drift their own way. It is useless to conceal the fact that the Cabinet
is not solid. Its members are working at cross purposes, the ministers
lack energy, and, in fact, are absolutely incompetent, and simply trust
to chance to get out of their present troubles.
"A campaign in favor of peace has been begun, and is progressing among
the people. I am convinced that if the people were allowed to state
their wishes, even the soldiers would advocate peace.
"It is difficult to say whether the regency will be overthrown, nor can
I say what will happen to a country that is without guidance and with a
foreign war on its hands. If the regency is overthrown it will be an
immense misfortune to Spain. The affairs of Spain are in complete
disorder."
This report comes by way of London, and would seem to confirm reports
previously published as to the condition of matters in Spain.
* * * * *
A bill for the removal of all political disabilities arising from the
Civil War, recently presented in Congress, has passed and is now a law,
as President McKinley has formally approved it. This bill refers to
Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
This amendment made it impossible for any person to hold a political
position in the United States who had taken up arms against the
Government, if he had previously held a political position and had
declared his allegiance to the United States.
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