Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-03
A KING ron spAIN.

A KING FUR SPAIN.
The advices from Madrid, which
state that it is almost certain
that the Spanish throne will b.
given to the Duke of Montpensier
/. who is expected to arrive from Lis.
bon in about fortnight, show that
Spain has not yet emancipated itseli
from the Bourbons. Louis de Or
leans, Due de Montpensier, is q
Bourbon, the fifth child of the late
King Louis Philippe, of France.
He is married to the sister of the de-
posed Queen Isabella, and is a mod
est and exemplary gentleman, his
wife being also lady of great do
mestic virtues, with several chill
dren, to whom the best care has
been given. Such is the account
given of the family by American
visitors. The Spanish vote limits
his term of Office to eighteen years,
the exact period during which his
father swayed the destinies of the
French people.
1t is difficult to conceive that
Louis Napoleon will consent that
the House of Orleans shall supply
King TO Spain. He looks with in
difference to the pretensions of the
elder branch of the Bourbons; but
he appreciates the popular hold
which the family of Louis Phil
lippe still retains upon France. 1t
is impossible to believe that he will
consent to this house, exiled from
France, regaining power and re
suming royalty upon the Spanish
throne. If he does submit, it is
because he has lost his power Of in>
trigue and combination, or despairs
of the loyalty of his French sub
jects, in case Of a collision.
There has been an intrigue to
make one of the sons Of Victor
Emanuel the successor of Isabella
But the house of Savoy can show
neither character or intellect to be
compared with the family of Louis
Philippe. The movement for a
republic is not so much an ebulli-
ton of popular feeling, as the result
of secret instigations from the par
tisans Of the rival aspirants for the
crown, and chiefly of the dethroned
Bourbons and their imperial ally.
The willy old Citizen King, when
be contrived the Spanish marriages
for his sons, and procured the eS,
pousal of the Queen with her incom-
petent husband, aroused against
himself the jealousy of the European
dynasties. The intrigue cost him
the friendship of England, at the
vital crisis of his life. But his self
ish policy now brings forth its
fruit. Montpensier crowned at
Madrid, threatens the dynasty of
Napoleon at Paris. Even should
the Emperor live out his term, and
the indications of public sentiment
are seriously threatening, it will be
almost impossible to transmit his
power, through the regency of the
Empress, to his infant son.
The Orleans party in France is
strong and hopeful. 1t embraces
even such revOlutionists as Yictcr
Hugo. 1t includes the publicists,
the men of the press and the tribune,
Silenced and reduced to utilities
under the repressive system of the
Emperor. The Bourgeoisic and the
monied classes would welcome again
the moderate administration and
peaceful reign of the Citizen King.
1t can not be denied that the Parlia-
mentary era which followed the ex-
pulsion of Charles Y. was the most
brilliant in the history of France
History, poetry, the drama and the
arts, seemed to partake of the popu
lar energy. The coup detat of De
cember paralyzed the genius o
France and cowed its heart.
The Duke of Montpensier will no
take his seat at Madrid without diff
fculties. The Bourbons and tn,
republicans will work to the sam,
end against him. But if he succeed
in battling these enemies, Europ
will welcome the change and Spair
profit by it.