hile he can
control affairs. When he finds that the Parliament will no longer uphold
the plans and wishes of the Ministry, he goes to his sovereign, resigns
his office, and a new Minister is appointed.

This is just what has been happening in Spain.

The people, displeased at the way the Cuban affairs were being managed,
complained of the Government, and at the same time demanded that General
Weyler should be recalled from the island.

At first the murmurs were not heeded, but they grew louder, until
finally the people demanded that the Duke of Tetuan, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, should be removed, for they supposed it was his fault
that their requests were not granted.

The Duke himself put the finishing touch to the matter by boxing the
ears of one of the members of the opposition party with whom he got into
a heated discussion over the Morgan Bill.

The Spanish Parliament, the Cortes, was furious over this rude and
extraordinary conduct. The opposition party absolutely refused to have
anything to do with the Government party, to which the Duke belonged. No
business could therefore be transacted in the Cortes, because the
opposition would neither argue nor vote on the measures proposed.

It was suggested that the best way out of the difficulty was for the
Duke to resign, but the Prime Minister, Senor Canovas, was unwilling
that he should do so while Cuban matters were in such a very unsettled
condition. He thought the best thing for the country would be a change
of Ministry, and so he offered his resignation to the Queen.

The opposition rejoiced when the news of Senor Canovas's resignation was
announced. The leader of the opposition, Senor Sagasta, was known to be
in favor of giving the Cubans very liberal home rule, and also of
recalling Weyler. Every one thought that he would be made Prime Minister
in the place of Senor Canovas.

The Queen Regent, who rules Spain for her little son Alfonso, who is not
old enough to govern for himself, sent for Senor Sagasta, and, as it is
always the custom when a Prime Minister resigns for the sovereign to
offer the post to the leader of the opposition party, every one thought
Senor Sagasta was as good as appointed.

The surprise was great therefore when the Queen, after her interview
with Senor Sagasta, sent for Senor Canovas, and asked him to continue to
be Prime Minister.

Senor Canovas accepted, much to the disgust of the opposition, but their
anger knew no bou