Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-10
THE GAZETTE.
WHY GEN. oRTEGA WAS SHOT.

WHY GEN. ORTEGA WAS SHOT.
The last news from Europe included an
item stating that Gen. Ortega, having been
duly sentenced, was shot at Madrid on the
18th of April, for conspiracy against the
crown of Spain. The incidents which led to
his death are interesting, as being one OF
the expiring efforts of the Carlsts to revive
those claims which involved the Spanish
Peninsula in a disastrous and bloody war
For the last ten or twelve years there has
resided at Rome, generally IN the palace OF
the Spanish Ambassador, portly lady, not
young, but still very handsome, with :: keen
black eve, and a grace and elegance of man.
ner which even her somewhat unwieldy de-
gree of corpulence cannot dispel BY birth
a Neapoltan princess, she became some
thirty-fve years ago the fourth wife Of erdi-
nand VII, King of Spain, and since then
has been generally known as Queen Maria
Christina. She was, when she married,
Young and beautiful, and readily gained Il
greater ascendency over her husband than
any of his previous wives had done. She
was ambitious, and, as the King had no chill
dren, she naturally determined that the
crown should descend to her offspring.
King Ferdinand and Queen Christina had
two children, but to the disappointment OF
the parents they were both daughters, and,
as the Sale law had been introduced into
Spain in l7l3, there was every prospect that
the crown, on the death of Ferdinand would
rightfully revert to his brother, Carlos
To avoid this, the Queen prevailed upon
her husband to make special will bequeath-
ing the crown of Spain to their eldest
daughter Isabella.
In 1888 Ferdinand died, and Isabella, then
only three years old, became Queen under
the regency of her mother. Carlos, the
brother, who by the Sale law was entitled
to the succession, claimed his rights, and
with his partisans, composed principally OF
the old aristocracy, prepared to enforce his
claim The Queen Christina gathered around
her the Liberals, and, supported by England,
successfully repealed the Carlist party, after
suppressing the rebellion, resigned the re-
gency, Espartero taking her place. In 1855
Don Carlos, after having some ten years ago
resigned in favor Of his son, died in exile at
Trieste. This son was born in 1918, and
bears the title of Count de Montemolino.-
Probably very few persons in the United
States were even aware OF his existence, Tor
he has been very quiet since his father
ceased his active efforts to reach the Spanish
throne.
By some means or other, General Ortega,
unfortunately for himself, deemed the pre-
sent favorable opportunity for creating
evolution in Spain, and reviving the Carllst
claim in the person of the son aud representa-
1--WE Of Don Carlos. TWAS rumored that Queen
Isabella would abdicate this sprinS--tor
THAT cause it does not appear-and OrteSa
thought that he could reinstate the heir,
vho according to the Sale law, Is really
entitled to the crown Of Spain. He induced
The Count of Montemolino to acquiesce in his
plans, although that prudent person did not
venture into Spain himself lie let Ortega
take the lead, but the latter had probably
misinterpreted the present feeling IN Spain,
Cor when he raised the Carlist tlag he found
out few adherents, and was easily everpow-
cred by the Government troops. He was
tried ut court martial the Queen, who only
had power of pardoniug him, refused to ex-
ercise that power, and poor Ortega was shot
-or high treason.-New York Post.