The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-08-07
The New Regent of Spain.
From the New York Tribune, June 2ad.

From the New orb lTlDuuc, uhc ~u-
Spain is once more a monarchy without
crowned heads. the Constituent Cortes having
rassed q decree establishing n regency under
Marshal Serrano, on the duties of which he en-
tered on Saturday. This is the third time WITHIN
forty wears past that the Spanish people nave
had a Regent for their ruler. In October Iooz,
Queen Christina was appointed Regent during
the indisposition of her Infamous consort, reroi-
papd VII. then near his end, and continued 10
act in that capacity till his death In the following
year, when she assumed the title OF Governing
Queen until her infant daughter, Isabella H.,
lately driven from the Spanish throne, should at
tain her majority. Queen in title, she was ne
gent in reality, holding the throne for her
daughter. whose claims to it against the preten-
sions of Don Carlos were establlshed Dy tne
auadruple treaty of 1884. Victorious over the
tarlists. after a terrible civil war, lasting tor
seven years. Christina was compelled by the
revolutionary movement at Madrid In lS4O, to
abdicate, and leave the kingdom, her downfall
being followed by the appointment OF the ceie-
brated General EsIartero, Duke of Victory, to
power, as Regent, during the minority OF the
Young Queen. Espartero held power for a little
over two years, at the expiration of which time
he was himself overthrown by a revolution, i'm
mediateIy after which event, the nation having
had enough of Regency, the young Queen, al
though only Ii years OF age, was declared by the
Cortes to be of age. The history of her reign is
well known. She, in turn, has been driven out
of Spain, and in default of an eligible candidate
for the Spanish throne, a Regency has once more
been established. =.
Francisco Serrano, the new Regent, is one of
those manly soldiers of fortune in Spain who
owe their fame and rank to the devotion with
which they attached themselves to the cause of
Christina, and the courage with which they
fought during the war of independence. Like
MANY others of his class he was literally re-
warded by the Queen Mother, and at the period
of her overthrow, in 1S41, he already held high
~ = Al -..I.ko-, ea,-,na &c Lie a,.Sr Tho
Queens abdication and exile did not long retard
his advancement, for he took a prominent part In
the successful movement against the Regent Els
partero. and Immediately on the restoration of
Christina he joined Narvaez in his scheme to COM
bat and destroy the influence of the Minister
Olozaga. He played his cards with SO much
skill that he continued steadily to rise at Court,
gaming such great influence over the mind OF the
young Queen that in 1916, some time after her
marriage, a very serious difference occurred be-
tween her and the King consort, arising out OF
the ~latter's jealousy of General Serrano. This
domestic difficulty was indeed n matter of public
scandal at the time. An attempt was made
shortly after by the Duke de Sotomayer to ruin
Serrano politically, but it recoiled on that Minis
ter's own head, Serrano succeeding in overthrow
ing the Ministry, of which the Duke was chief;
Popular opinion, however, proved more powerful
than royal favor, and Serrano subsequently fell
with the Ministry of the Salamanca, with whose
fortunes he had identified himself. Up to this
time the lucky favorite had been a reactionist in
politics, but ne now became a Liberal, and he
has ever since been identified with what is known
in Spain as the Liberal Union party. He was
sent in 1854 into exile for having taken part in
the Saragossa outbreak. but the revolution of
July in that year opened the way for his return
to Spain, and he became a warm supporter of the
o Donnell Espartero coalition. He played a
prominent part in the coup d'efm Of July, 1856,
it being principally through his instrumentality
that the instruction in Madrid was subdued,
and C'Donnell enabled to seize power as Dicta-
tor. For this service he was sent as Ambassador
to Paris but the downfall of O'Dennell shortly
after led to his recall. In 1865, he was appointed
by the new O'Donnell Cabinet Captain General
of Madrid. For many years he has had a seat in
the Senate, where he has distinguished himself
by a uniform and vigorous opposition to the re-
dictionary policy of the old school of Spanish
statesmen, and by his hearty support of all
liberal measures. He has taken a quiet but in
6uential part in this last revolution, and he owes
his elevation to power as Regent to the character
he has won of late years for prudence and moder-
alton, joined to liberal and enlightened views.
Serrano is about seventy years of age, having
been born at the end of the last century.