Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1867-06-08
HISTORY.

Yesterday was the anniversary OF TIL
birth of Philip IT,, one of the most trncu
lent bigots-and Of the most Infamous
despots that ever disgraced humanity
One of the most horrible things con
nected with this monsters life, was his
conduct towards bis son, Don Carlos and
the untrustworthiness of history meets
another sad illustration, in the manner II
which it fails TO give consistenee to the
various accounts still current On the sub
Ject, or to establish the truth respecting
it. In one respect all are agreed, that
is, in attibuting to Philip a religious pre-
tension of extreme ~infexibility, and q
severity that shrank from no cruelties
and was disturbed by none Of the weak
nesses of human sympathy. His cold,
bloodcd barbarlties have never been sur
passed !; and he never failed to justify
them as executed in the cause of the
church. 1t was in this spirit he decima-
ted and devastated the Low Countries
through his worthy instrument, AIva =; it
was Ia the same spirit he ordered the
execution Of the Baron de MoDtigny it
was in the same spirit he sought to in
troduce the 1nquisition throughout his
vast domiuions it was in the same spirit
that be is said to have courted monks and
to have executed them.
A consideration of these facts cannot
but justify an unfarorable Interpretation
OF the various accounts given Of his &C.
tuaI conduct towards Don Carlos, especi-
ally when supported by corroboratiVe
appearances. There can be no doubt that
the first excuses for Philips hardness to-
wards his son were that at Henares de
Alcaia be showed an utter lack of mental
power, while bis whole subsequenteourse
showed, even according to the reports
spread at bis fathers dictation, or by his
partisans, that. if anything, he had too
much mental power, was exceedingly
sensitive, exceedingly frank and bold, and
BY these very qualities added to bis faith
er's dlsEikes and fears. The next effort
was to persuade the people that
he was not sane but the worst alIega-
made in support Of this are, that he
was greatly excited by his fathers rob,
bing him of his afianced bride, Elizabeth
France, to take her unto his royal self
as his third spouse, that be ~endeavored
to avenge himself On the Infamous Alva
and on Don John of Austria, both of
whom had wronged him grossly aud be-
his confidence, and that be was
opposed to the terrible eruelties Of Philip
II the name Of the church, and was even
suspected of an inclination to lutheran
SIN. And granting all these, be is rather
Of admiration than otherwise.-Ij
let not even they are proved against
AIM, much less baser stories circulated
n order to excuse the manner in which
le was treated.
1t this view wrere proved correct, there !
remain no reasonable room to doubt
hat Philip actually murdered bis son to
ret him out Of the way, partly through !
ear, partly through jealousy. As for !.
ne suggestion that real religious feeling I
lad anything to do with the act or with =
general character of Philip, we can :
lot but scout it. He used religion as a 7
Ioak, as scoundrels like him had done =
'efore him, have done after him, and will =
ways do-at least until the millennium. :
A curious proof of the uncertainty
mel hangs v Don Carlo s fate is civ, \
n by the Messrs. Chambers. In their i
e Days, while they state that the $
reatest uIscl 'oancies prevail on the sub :
oct, they yet rather leave the impression il
lat the prince was executed in secret by t,
is fathers order either by strangling or b
to death in a bath. IN their Cy.|i it
they fatty say, the suspicion /.
lat be was poisoned or strangled has no N
aid evidence to support it." Aud yet t.
9th Prescott and Gayarr6 seem to IN q
line to the belief that be was poisoned. G,
Anything but history" says Walpole; c,
that must be faIse.p =,
HE FTnrr try op Mn n.r.rs, C--- -