Alfonso XII’s Reign: The Canovist System Explained
The Reign of Alfonso XII and the Canovist System
The Canovist system was a system of government whose leading exponent and creator was Cánovas del Castillo. After the republic, when a new order was necessary, monarchists knew that the return of Isabella II to the throne would not be well-received. Thus, the Manifesto of Sandhurst was written in favor of Alfonso XII, projecting a monarchy that sought order, patriotism, religion, and Catholic liberalism based on a constitutional and democratic regime.
The return of Alfonso XII was anticipated by the coup of Martínez Campos. The Canovist system was mainly supported by shared sovereignty between the Cortes (parliament) and the monarchy, and turnismo in power, based on the English system, in which elections were a mere formality due to distortion. This created a two-party system.
The Conservative and Liberal Parties
On one side was the Conservative Party, created by Cánovas in 1869 and composed of moderate unionists, progressives, moderates, and part of the Catholic sector. It was supported by big landowners and the bourgeoisie and was led by Cánovas until his death in 1897. The Liberal Party was less coherent, formed by progressive unionists and anti-Cánovas elements, and had the support of senior and middle classes, led by Sagasta. The Republicans were officially removed from politics by not accepting the monarchy.
Objectives of the Canovist System
The objectives of the Canovist system were the creation of a new constitution, the consolidation of the system, and the pacification of Cuba. The Constitution of 1875 was drafted, a conservative document that established joint sovereignty between the Cortes and the King. The monarchy’s strength was unquestionable, permanent, regardless of political decision, with the right to dissolve Parliament, veto legislation, and lead the army. The dual-chamber Cortes consisted of a Congress (elected by popular vote based on census suffrage, later universal male suffrage) and a Senate (with senators appointed by the King). The judicial system was unified, abolishing all territorial privileges of the Basque Country. Catholicism was established as the state religion, which involved the maintenance of the clergy, although other religions were allowed in the private sector. The constitution also outlined the rights and duties of the Spanish people, subject to change or prohibition by the authorities.
Electoral Rigging
Elections were heavily rigged using systems such as:
- Box: An agreement on the outcome of the elections by political parties.
- Rigging: Direct manipulation of the votes, often due to illiteracy and general lack of interest.
- Chiefs (caciques): Coercion by large landowners to force those who depended on them to vote for their choice.
Cánovas’ Conservative Government (1875-1881)
The conservative government, which prevailed in power under Cánovas, lasted from 1875 to 1881. The most important actions in office were:
- Cánovas’ victory over the Carlist general and the subjugation of Cabrera.
- The abolition in 1876 of the Basque and Navarrese charters, resulting in movements in defense of Councils and the Basque language.
- The pacification of Cuba in 1878, granting amnesty to the rebels and ending slavery.
- The appointment of mayors in cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants to control the big cities where the distortion of votes was more complicated.
- The establishment of a customs duty to promote protectionist policies.
- Implementation of a new voting law, increasing the voting age to 25.
In 1881, power was given to the Liberals as they pressured the King and Cánovas, motivated by the fear of pronouncements. In 1884, the Conservatives returned to power. In 1885, the “Pact of Pardo” was signed by conservatives and liberals, dictating that the King would defer from government when it had internal conflicts irrespective of the vote, thus ensuring stability.