The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-27
AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.
Affairs In SOaln.


ICorrespondepcs Of the London Times.l
PARIS, THURSDAY, July 100 +. NJ
The ourages recently perpetrated in various parts
OF - ain, and the existence of plots for the over
throw Of the political institutions, nave once more
prop BIT the name OF that strange country before the
pubic Madrid letter in the Independence Beige
OF The 1th inst rel eats report that high and in
fusptial member OF the clerical body was at the
bottom OF these troubles and the opinion is il
seeIDs pretty general in Madrid that Rome has had
some hing TO do with them What truth there may
be in these coBiectures cannot say; am not ac-
quaibted with any fact that would corroborate the
report, aware OF the government possessing any
proof 10 Justify such a suspicion. That there are
par ties whose interest it is 20 overthrow the present
institutions, ID prevent at all hazards and at all cost
the Cortes from resuming their functions next 0cto
Der and 70 ieconstitute government with Dcti-
tor whose will, under the inspiration Of these
parties, should be law, is pretty certain.
AS Spain is more attracting attention from a
concurrence OF melancholy circumstances out
RACES in Old CASTLE and the kingdom of Leon.
agitated country the prevalence of cholera to fear
fu extent in Seville and other districts Of And alu-
sia, and general feeling of disquetude being the
more prominent-it may not be out of place to say
few words on the subject II will perhaps be remem-
bered that commission was some time since ap-
pointed by the Corfes TO investigate certain charges
against Queen Maria Christina, the mother of the
Queen, and whose guardian she at the same
time that she continued to exercise the office Of Re-
gent the kingdom till the year 1910. The charges
bore upon her conduct as mother and guardian Of
after long and laborious inquiry, has at length
presented its report. That report inserted in
Spanish paper printed in France for the Spanish CO.
onies, but not circulated in this country 1t is sad
but cannot youch for the truth Of the statement,
that the impression containing the obnoxious report
was bought up by one person.
The Journal DIES Dcbdts OF this day contains an
article on the report which il affects u make very
hight OF. 1t says that on the whole the document is
rather favorable than otherwise; that the alega-
lions are suggested by party rancour, and, rather
N a
sions nasInuch the C0rtes of lS45 declared that
Queen Christina had a claim on the gratitude Of
Spain, that IL allotted her pension, and that con-
sequen,iy neither the present Cortes nor any one
else has right TO refer TO what passed previous to
that date.
Beside some errors in fact and date committed by
the Dc6cts in this defence il passes over in COM
pete silence of the gravest charges against the
exRegent, and one might therefore infer that it is
impossible to defend or explain i. The charge re-
lates 10 what the commission c ais the civil cond
ton OF Maria Christina during the time she was
the guardian OF her children and the Regent Of the
kingdom. The common Law OF Spain depriyes Of
the guardianship Of her children the widow who
marriss a second time; and the Goth article Of the
Spanish constitution makes it essential condition
that the father or mother OF the sovereign during
minority should not contract a second marriage
These conditions we're for obvious reasons still
more binding the person who held the twofold
Office OF Regent and guardian. But in any case the
widow Of the sovereign is bound to obtain the royal
authority in order TO contract a second marriage;
and the 9TH article ttuo ltb 10y Of the Nouisima
Rscopr ciou declares that the person who nfringes
this law Is rendered unable 70 enjoy titles, honors
and property emanating from the Crown"
The question now whether the Queen Regent
did render herself amena,le TO those penalties. 1t
appears that to take the fairer side Of the question
her Majesty married Don Fernando Munoz within
three months after the death OF her hrst husband,
King Ferdinand. In the GothG AlmanGck she is de-
scribed as having married that person on the 18th
December, 1888 (serdnand V H. having died on the
29th September OF the same year, and that "she
received the nuptial benedction on the 18th 0cto
ber ls4i;" and the motive alleged in the royal de-
cree of the 18th October. fS44, WAS, that it was
necessary ito render legitimate the children that
Tod had given TO Donna Maria Christina" The
commission searched among the archives OF the
government the registrcs Of the Royal Chapel, and
those preserved in the Royal Palaces and various
parish churches Of Madrid and Barcelona, with
view TO ascertain the entries and dates OF that mar
rage, and Of the birth of her numerous children.
Nothing OF the kind was found. search was also
made in the naval and military colleges for the Ger
shcste OF the birth OF two Of the Of Maria Chris
tina, Il being requisite for pupils on admission to be
furnished with such a document. but the search
was not successful; and in none Of the public Offices
could any traces be found OF such IN entry.
IL was only on the occasion OF the marriage Of the
eldest daughter of Queen Christina feE months
ago that a copy Of the baptismal cer.ifca'e pre-
sented at the Office Of the Mayor Of Rueil, near
Paris, where the marriage was celebrated, and from
that copyit appeared that the baptism took place on
the 18th OF December, 1884. The copy OF the GER
efcate was issued by order Of the Cardinal Arch.
bishop Of Toledo. but the original was never found
The Archbishop. was examined, by order OF the
government on the subject, and be declares that,
after having dispensed with the fornates required
by the csnons OF the church. he himself celebrated
the marriage Of Queen Maria Christina with Don
Fernando Munoz, not in December, 1883, but on the
18th OF October ls4s and that he made an entry OF
the marriage In special registries kept In the pr
vate archives Of the Offices Of the principal chap
lain These documents too were searched for, but
were found to have disappeared like the others.
rae commission observes:
all these dates be compared aud anliyzed, nay u noi
be inferred that the marriage contracted y lsi sas Con
ceacd on account the Office Of Regent and guardian
Which he Queen Mother fIhlieds From motives o. d.
Bcacy ne commission ncines % thai opinion Bat then
the contracted three months after IN
death King offers motive Tor much reflection eal
81. not hazardols y say nat va fruitful . lment,ee
consequence 70 els attributable the ortuous cnnioct
xhch the queen Mother and Regent began 70 follow,
showing ~ hcr example, ms prudence q our Avs. "
II be certIa thai the marriage no, celeb raied tl q
wear Is44 he commission would nevertheless, 0ui 81
feelings Il respect dec ~ making any reaecons o. ~
eacng AIRY consequences. i limits itself merely 10 STA
ing those which clearly follow from thts simple narrative
If fact. ana { y enabled - aihrm etaif mat honi
Mara Christina do Borhon CONTRACTED marriage
tenps II toe d the and asa oi the poitc consta
uon and coneeang mat marriage continued 70 exercise
The fapctors Of BEG ut and Guardian. uAch
PATH with her married state o. that I such marriage
svsrcse noe functions ~ thai up l. tie aaaih u Al.
fast fsj4 she continged'a the fclpg o. allowances
anc Sung is g72 so4 rcas and j. lntra'ea winch
wlthoat aat co8ceament, without those function.
would have been less
The report moreover, declares
SIC acted 10 a. irregular and arbitrary manner wtt
rerar4 10 Tue w e the late King that sne consequently
nared ~ nsrct Il the Queen ami the crown that
~ srsr.ed - sorafasr,s Connected With the ala v III
s,erv.slnv eonns,,t With he uaace n sach confusion
that eomulssoa bad 10 be named soon sfter her =
parture.
damoUds. hc nteg 81 lar % 10 SPEAK q The vii
of Ferdinand VII The absence u those diamonds,
and q cher articles comprised ID ~ accounts q tne
~ wiaiou wil know boa appreciate.
The report then proceeds TO other matters Of more