A crisis arose unexpectedly in Spanish politics last Satur- day.
The Captain-General of Madrid, it appeared, had visited the President of the Chamber of Deputies and had complained, on behalf of the heads of the army, that the judges who pre- sided at the trial of Ferrer had not been adequately defended by the Prime Minister during the Ferrer debate. The Cabinet met in Council, and when it was found that the Minister of War agreed with the complaint of the officers, the Govern- ment resigned. King Alfonso, who was at Seville, hurried back to Madrid. When the announcement of the Government closing the Cortes was read in the Chamber the Republicans, as we learn from the Times correspondent, rose in a body and shouted " Cowards !" and " Long live the Republic 1" The Monarchists retorted with " Long live the King " After the closing of the Cortes, the Republicans and Socialists met and drew up a strong resolution of protest against the subjection of parliamentary life to the caprice of a few officers of the army. The King expressed his continued confidence in the Prime Minister, Senor Canalejas, who on Monday formed a new Cabinet. On Wednesday Senor Canalejas explained to the Chamber the reasons why the Government had resigned. He defended the code of military justice and paid a tribute to the army, but declared that the Ferrer debate must be con- tinued.
