Mr. Sickles to Mr. Fish
Sir: On the 2d instant the Duke of Aosta reached Madrid and took the prescribed oaths of office, in presence of the Regent, the Cortes, and the diplomatic body. The ceremony was brief, and not unlike, although [Page 753] less impressive than, the inauguration of the President. I have high authority for the statement that His Majesty intended to read an inaugural address, which had been prepared, but that the precipitation with which the proceeding was conducted by the presiding officer of the Cortes afforded no opportunity for the royal speech. I suspect there may have been a purpose in this haste, as the King does not yet express himself with facility in Spanish. From the Cortes His Majesty was escorted by a strong column of troops of all arms to the palace. From thence he soon afterwards proceeded in a coach, unattended, to visit the widow of General Prim and the Duke de la Torre.
Although the people in the streets were anything but enthusiastic, no disturbance occurred, and the King’s reception, if cold, was respectful. His person was found prepossessing, and I fancy the multitude were touched by the air of confidence in their hospitality to a stranger, if not in their loyalty, with which he rode through the streets, where the funeral procession of the minister to whom he owed his crown had passed only the day before.
To-day the official gazette announces the acceptance of the resignation of the provisional minister of Admiral Topete, and the formation of a new cabinet, in which General Serrano is president of the council and secretary of war; Señor Don Cristino Martos, minister of state; Señor Don Augusto Weloa, minister of grace and justice Señor Don Segismundo Moret, secretary of the treasury; Señor Don José Maria de Beranger, secretary of the navy; Señor Don Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, minister of the home department, (gobernacion;) Señor Don Manuel Ruiz Zorilla, minister of public works, (fomento;) and Señor Don Adelardo Lopez de Ayala, secretary of the colonial department, (ultramar.)
This cabinet represents the three principal monarchical parties identified with the revolution of 1868, and who united in the election of the Duke of Aosta to the throne. These parties, “progresistas,” “union liberals,” and “democratic monarchists,” although differing in many particulars of political doctrine and administrative policy, and often antagonistic in their action, were not unfrequently associated under the adroit management of General Prim when their coalition was necessary to the success of his plans. It remains to be seen whether his successor in the direction of affairs will be able, for any length of time, to conduct an administration in which the elements are supposed to be quite incapable of cohesion except for an occasional exigency. In illustration of the composite structure of the new ministry, I may mention the rumor, apparently well authenticated, that to several of the more important departments assistant secretaries will be assigned, whose political affinities are quite distinct from those of their chiefs, although in harmony with the views of other members of the cabinet.
My own impression is that the new cabinet is the result of a truce between the representatives of rival factions, neither of which has enough of popular strength to sustain a ministry, and all of whom have a common interest in maintaining the dynasty they have contributed to inaugurate. In the late regent the King found a popular and brilliant soldier, enjoying the confidence of the army and thoroughly competent to deal with any seditious movement that might be attempted. Less pronounced in his partisanship than the civilian leaders of his own or of the other parties, his presence at the head of affairs seemed most likely to allay any suspicion of a purpose to turn the patronage and power of the prime minister to account in the approaching elections for provisional assemblies and the general congress. All parties look forward with solicitude to these elections—the first that will have taken [Page 754] place under the new constitution—as affording the best evidence of the popular judgment upon the results attained by the revolution of 1868. For the King, the votes will resolve the doubts expressed of the disposition of the people to accept a foreign prince for a ruler. The rival factions of the revolutionary party that sought a change of dynasty and a modification of the monarchy in a direction more or less subject to the restraints of a written constitution guaranteeing personal liberty and establishing co-ordinate powers in the state, will of course endeavor to obtain an ascendancy in the first congress to be chosen, so that a practical direction, in harmony with the opinions of one or the other, may be given to the new form of government. * * *
The dissolution of the Cortes constituyentes without action upon the subject of colonial reform postpones, I fear, for a long period, if not indefinitely, any essential change in the unhappy condition of Cuba and Porto Rico. This cabinet, if disposed to undertake the task, would not be likely to agree upon a matter which most Spanish statesmen approach with reluctance, and that involves considerations quite certain to produce discord in a ministry comprising several phases of political opinion. I shall, nevertheless, be disappointed if I do not find in Mr. Martos, the new minister of state, a disposition to adjust some, at least, of the questions which, if left unsettled much longer, must seriously affect the hitherto friendly relations of the two countries.
I am, &c.,