The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-24
Sketch OF O'Donnell, the New spanish Die
tatOr.

sketch OF O'Donnell, the New Spanish Die
tator.
The recent coup d'etot in Madrid has again con-
centrated public attention upon the principal actor
in the scene, Count Abisbal O'Donnell. he is now
quite an old man, having been born in ITO. His
parents were Irish and residents of Andalusia. At
the age of fifteen he entered the Royal Guards, and
served against the French from 1898 to 1895, with
great distinction In the invasion Of Spain in ls08s
when the crown was given by Napoleon TO his bro-
ther Joseph, ODonnell was very active against the
French, and in the course Of the war which followed
the revolution he rose to the rank of Mareschal de-
Camp. In 1913 he was given the title Of Count, a.
q further recompense for his activity.
In 1914, after the return of Ferdinan the 9TH 70
Spain, O'Donnell was banished by the Cortes for
having assailed them falsely in some written docu-
mens; but when that patriotic body and the consti-
tuition they had adopted were both overthrow by
the King, ODonnell vas taken into favor, made
Captain General OF Seville and subsequently Com
mandern- chief Of the Spanish army. In 1919 no
was placed at the head Of q large body OF troops
assembled at Cadiz, designed to reconquer Spanish
America but the expedition was frustrated by
mutiny which broke out into opposition to tho
royal authority. revolution followed, and the
Cortes, with Riejo at its head, once more
gave constitutional liberty TO Spain. Unhap-
PLY this was Of short continuance. Louis XVIII.
of France sent q large army into Spain, uader
the command Of the Duke d Angoulemc, and though
Ballssteros and Nina and Rego did all they coGd %
sustain themselves, they were overthrow. The AZ
ter as is well known, was taken prisoner a. C-d'z,
and afterwards suffered horrible death.
In 1920 Ferdinand married Christina, q daughter.
of the King Of Naples, by whom he had Issue in,
$780, the present Queen Isabella In order to securG
TO her the succession TO the throne he abolished the
Salc law, which otherwise would have given sue
cession to his brother Don Carlos On the death OF
Ferdinand, Christina became Regent, the Carsists
rose in arms, and for number Of years hostlites
were carried on with the most bitter and relentless
cruelty. In 1910 the war was terminated by the
dispersion Of his troops and the fight OF Don Carlos
into France As the Cortes had taken sides against
him. the Queen assented TO a restoration OF the con-
stitution OF 1872 and indeed it was somewhat i'm
despotsm at work which rendered the foundation OF
| Spanish liberty insecure. 0Oonnell, who m 1888
had been made chief Of the staff by Gen. Espartero,
in ls40 attached himself to the interests Of Christina,
/ and emigrated with her TO France.
In ls4l he sought permission 10 return TO spain,
which was granted by Espartero, ever unsuspcctipg
4 and generous, and then Regent by the authority OF
the Cortes. But In that very year the Queen Dowa-
ger made an attempt 70 recover her authority, and
an ipsurrection broke out In Pampeluna and Madrid,
o,Donne,I ''-~ her partisans In the former, and
General Leon 10 the latter place. The constitution
alsts succeeded in maintaining their grv..- -
Espatero, overlooking the misconduct OF ODonnell,
again took him into favor In ls43 the authority OK
| Espartero was overthr0wn, and Nrvaez came into
power; and O'Donnell. who helped him TO his sue
cess, received the appointment Of Governor General
In Cuba, by which he realised very large fortune
In the most discrediiable manner The slave traffic
| never bad better friend than him. On his return
TO Ma lrt, after the expiration OF his term u Office,
be went into the opposition TO Narvaez, then IN the
ascendant-deserted them-rejoned them, and after
many singular reverSes, conceaments 70 save his
| life, an Instruction and defeat In Andausia, he
| turned about and once more became q friend Of
Espartero, who made hm--blind a. ever 10 his
treachery-hs Minister OF War.
In this capacity he has used all his influence TO
overthrow secretly the liberal party, and the recent
revolution In the result Of his trcachery. u II sim
sular enough that the Duke Of Alvs, near relation
OF the Empress Eugene. Ia nov Mayor Of Madrid,
and a French army OF observation n on the Spanish
frontier; and equally strange that the Credit Mobi-
Her has loaned large sum Of money TO the spanish
government
The new administration Ia by no means settled.
There II strong republican feeling In Spain, but it
meets with violent opposition from the clergy. A
long and desultory contest may still be expected IL
the French army does not intervene; but a. Coz
ODonnel, II Ia evident he n q selfish. unprncipled
timeserver, and while he can maintain his position,
there IL hut little hone for rccdouo N Snain