Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-03
THE SPANISH DIFFICULTIES.

The cause of the frequent recurring difficult
ties in Spain is mainly to be attributed to the
family quarrel which has SO long divided the
reigning family. The Herald says, the present
Queen holds her sceptre illegally in the opin-
ion of the Spanish absolutists. Until 1714
the Spaish crown descended to the next inher-
itor, male or female, but the Salic law in
troduced in the reign of Philip V, who was
of French descent, and the States of the king
dom settled the succession in his male desccn-
dants, in preference to the females, though
they might be nearer in blood. And this con-
tnued to be the case until the reign of Ferdi-
nand VII, the father of the present Queen
This monarch had four wives, the last being
Christina daughter of Francis l., King of Ma
ples. By her. he had a daughter born in 1880,
who received the name of Maria Isabella
The same year he abolished the Salic law, and
in order to ensure the succession of his young
wife, he named her as his successor in his will,
and appointed her mother as the regent in
case of her death, until Isabella arrived at the
age of IS years. In 1888, however, when the
King was supposed to be at the point of death,
his Ministers, to gain the favor of the heir
presumptivc, the Kings brother, Charles Ma
ria Isadorc, better known as Don Carlos, OBJ
tanned from the sick man, in moment of un-
consciousness, restoration of the Salic law.
Unfortunately for them he recovered, dismis-
sed his ministry, and repudated their mea-
sures He died in 1888. The Queen Dowa-
ger assumed the regency, the Cortes unani-
mously sided with her, land passed bill exclu-
:; Dr,, Carlos from fba throne From that
moment a fierce civil war broke out, known as
the war of the Christinos and Carlists, one of
the bloodiest and most cruel ever known in
Spain 1t lasted many years, and so sadly bea-
ten were the Queens troops for time, that a
legionary force of 5000 men was raised in
England for her assistance, land sent over under
the command of Gen. De Lacy Evans. 1t was
not until 1889, by the wise and moderate poll
| cv of Espartero, as well as his good general
shin. that quiet was restored and the Queens
authority established. Don Carlos retired to
France, subsequently to England. and is since
dead AS soon as the Queen Regent felt her
self secure, she began to discover her dislike
| of liberalism, and having an accidental major
| ity in the Cortes, she destroyed at blow some
| of the dearest and most ancient rights OF
the municipal corporations. This led to a
revolt, a declaration against the law by Espar-
tero, the dismissal of her ministry, and the
| dissolution of the Cortes. She soon afterwards
resigned her authority and retired to Marseil-
les In lS41 she attempted to regain her po-
sition, and the notorious O'Donnell seized on
Pampeluna in her name. The insurrection
was put down, and the payment of her pension
suspended. She is now in Paris, and is said
to be constantly intriguing to bring about hel
return to Madrid. The Queen, gay and dis
sipated woman, is led by her favorites Of the
hour into all kinds of misconduct, and is oncs
more in the midst of a revolution, and unhap
py Spain, the victim of family quarrels, is a
gain in the hands Of political matadois.