The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-26
THE REVOLUTION IN SPAIN.

Prsvate-The Last Monnrch Of n Long
Dominant Race--Her Probable Fate AS n
Bourbon.
The unlocked for detection OF the Spanish fleet
while lying or the great maritime port OF Cadz, on
Sept ~ anu the declarations OF disioyaty which i'm
medateiy followed the action OF the Grand Admiral
and the 5000 men comprising the force OF his
throughout the province OF Andausia, and since in
every political division OF the Iberian peninsula In
cluded within the jurisdiction Of the Spanish throne
has necessarily brought into greater prominence
than at any period since the close OF the CarstIc
war OF the succession In lsa9-40 Its occupant, lisa
bella III.
Ihe story OF this woman's life mas PERHAPS con.
sidering her exalted position, darker shades in It
than any female ruler since bold and lasclvlous
Catharne or Russia turned her back upon the chair
OF state and bade tho world good night And yet,
immoral AZ has been Isabella's private career, we
cannot mold her wholly responsible for the unhappy
example she has set since her marriage in 1S48 to
the daughters and mothers OF the kingdom an ex-
ample which in the higher and ruling circles has
made vice fashionable, lechery crime. Her
mother, Christina woman OF stubborn will and
strong animal passions was not q model OF which a
pure minded daughter might boas and as Isabella IL
full booded Bourbon, she naturally and two closely
followed the lessons her maternal parent placed
before her, namely, TO follow unreservedy her lower
instincts, even to the ignoring OF the most sacred
OF social relationship marital.
We have remarked that the present Sovereign OF
Spain was q Bourbon. She is OF that great French
family which in the fourteenth and subsequent
turtles extended ts influence throughout continental
Europe, and gradually, by intermarrage and dipo-
macy, succeeded in nheritng almost every seat OF
power in the prncpalities OF Germany and the king
d0ms Of Eastern, Western and Southern Europe.
The Guelphs the Ghibenes and the Bourbons at
one time divided civilized Europe; but while the
first named struggled in Italy for the mastery the de-
scendents OF Louis TX. OF France, and earlier STILL
of Hidebrand and his successor, AdhemOre--
who nine centuries ago was Duke Of
the hefdom Of Bourbon won for. them
selves the rich prizes which, growing upon
the royal trees of Europe fell, by one, they
rlpened, into their laps. France, Spain Portugal,
the States OF Germany the kingdoms north OF them,
Naples, Sicily and the petty governments which have
since become integers OF Italy, were the herloOms,
at one or another time OF the Bourbon race. Revo
lution-the mighty revolution which first hurled
Louis XVI from the seat Of his ancestors in France,
and which has finally given place to parvenu
dynasty in the person OF Napoleon Il.-has within
an age removed from power this family which has
become eGee by age and half idiotic by much mix
ure OF Its blood. OF them all DOna Isabella II.
Is the only member whose brow may to-day be said
to be encircled with crown.
Her father, Ferdinand VII, eldest son Of Charles
". and Louisa Maria OF Parma, was born IN LISA
and died in 1888. The life of this monarch was
throughout stormy. Almost from his fifth year, when
his weak-mlnded and ndolent father proclaimed
him Prince OF Asturias and heir apparent, until the
moment he died, holding the hand OF his fourth wife,
the mother OF the subject OF our memoirs he lived
In the midst Of conspiraces and despoc acts, until
he himself became chief In his youth OF conspira-
tors and towards the close OF his reign the most f.
Prince OF Peace the av0rite OF his parents induced
Ferdinand to make ptifu propositions to the military
hero OF France which In the eyes Of Bourbon must
have been degrading. He prayed to become by
marriage member Of Napoleon Bonaparte's family,
| on condition Of his being placed by French inter
vention on the Spanish throne. In 1907 he was by
royal Notwithstanding previously at the solicit
tation OF his mother, been arrested and placed In
close Observation-Disclosures as having plotted
not only against the power but the life OF his king
and father. To these accusations the progenitor OF
trite letter, which procured him his freedom. In
| tue fo!'cwtng year, IN consequence Of an emeute
those who ae were ia Che condeScs o. the ambitious
heir, Charles-having just attempted with his family
to escape to America and their progress resisted by
| the podulace-in moment OF terror abdicated In
| favor Of his son.
sired to withdraw the proclamation which had made
the Prince OF Astur8s virtual master OF the penin-
sna In TINS ne was resisted by the Ferdinand party.
the oath OF March made a solemn entrance into
Madrid While these scandaous quarres were
going on-the Queen mother leading even under the
| very eyes Of her husband, and almost without
attempt at disguise, life as scandalOus i'm morals
the French troops under Murat had entered the king
| dom and were soon in possession Of the capital.
The aspiring Prince or Asturias, nOtwithstand-
ing, hoped to conciliate the conquering Napoleon
and through him be confirmed In his usurped
authority. The Emperor OF France, however,
would not listen 10 him, but ordered him at family
council TO surrender his temperatures TO hts father
He reluctantly compiled with the decision OF the
arbter OF Europe;" for well he knew that the scep
ire could not long rest In the hands OF Charles w.
Indeed, previous TO this family council, at which
NAPOLEON was present, the deposed monarch had
pledged his word that II he Napoleon, wrested the
throne from the Prince OF Asturias he, Charles would
Immediately place IL IN the EmperOrs hands for him
10 make such final disposition of II az would In his
opinion best please the adherents OF father and Son
and thus forever zeal truce between theT ON the
9Th Of Nav 1908, the title Of the King passed into
! the hands of Napoleon and thereupon he
ceased TO reign I'm Span:' and without
o@ e Te Pneea Of ms s,ur brother
Immediately transferred TO the castle of Valencay,
the property Of Talieyrand. The spanards, sore at
conciate them. and seat Joseph more securely, Ma
poe0n liberated him; and subsequently by the
treaty OF Valencay, dated December H. 1873,
stored TO him the throne on which some five years
before he had declared the BOurb0ns had ceased
10 have control Three months subsequently, all
parties cOncurring, Ferdinand made a triumphant
progress To Madrid. where he assumed the crown,
and, rom large promises of berality and desire TO
the DEGREES OF the Cortes became OF the
most savage. most despOtic sovereigns spain ever
acknowledged az Its master, not excepting the
astute and cruel Of Charles the FirstPhilip the
second.
Fcrdinand's first wife was Maria Antolnetta whom
he married in 1902 and who died, 1t In supposed from
poison, very suddenly four years subsequently, ny
this woman nor by two OF his three successive wives
had he offspring. His fourth wife, Maria Chris
tina, daughter OF King Francis OF Naples, whom he
espoused on the lih OF October 1929 gave him Isa-
bella on the 30th Of the same month In the fol ow-
ing year, and subsequently her sister. Ferdinauda
Louisa
The death Of Ferdinand the 10Th OF september.
1885, renewed the troubles VI spain and for AN
years civu war Of great magnitude and of stu
greater feroc1y convulscd and almost DESC
lated Spain. ~ was for the succession,
w3ged on the part Of "a woman, I'm the name OF her
infant daughter, and on That OF "a man To maintain "A
law which the dcflnct monarch, his brother, nat .
annued; and besides this to uphold the conserva-
tive or the party Of the MOBILES and the priests,
against what was known a. the eI0Hodo or liberal
adherents Of the government
The Sac law OF France which IL fundamental In
IT. constitution, prohibits the elevation Of woman
70 the throne. This law was introduced into Spain