The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-01-12
A Singular Story of the Franco. .Prussian War.


A Singular Story of the Franco-PrussiGn War.
Tho Washington Patriot publishes curious
story, Which It calls.a page of secret. history:
sfhe worH docs:lfot know that the warwhich
hss'infAietea such untold caamities upon two
great nations, and turned back the hands OF
: progress on the dial of civilization, might, and
probably would not have occurred, but for
cause entirely personal, and involving the am
bilious aspirations Of one of our own country
women. His Majesty, Don Fernando. father
of the King of Portugal, somewhat surprised
European Courts, as well as his Immediate
friends by sudden marriage, eighteen months
h ago. with Miss L. Hensler, to whom he had
4 been much attached during nine previous years.
d She was born in Boston, of respectable German
parents. in humble life, and educated in Italy
for the operate stage, by the aid of few lib
eral patrons of art, who had discovered her
precocous talent for music and her fine voice.
After completing her studies abroad, she re-
turned to the United, States, but failed to reach
the,eminencs of which her early youth had
given cheerful promise. Seeking another field
for professional success, she went again to Eu-
rope, and in 1860 became attached to the opera
at Lisbon, where the widowed King Oonsort
was first attracted by her beauty, vivacity and
other charms. Then began the acquaintance
which terminated in her becoming the wife of
a Cobourg who had shared the throne of Por-
tugal with Donna Maria IL. JUST previous to
the marriage the Duke of Saxe-Cobourg con-
ferred upon her the title of Countess DEda,
so as to obliterate even a nominal connection
with the past, or with her American nativity.
That repeated overturcs were made by Prim
and his colleagues to induce Don Fernando to
accept the throne of Spain, is no secret. He
refused to give any encouragement to these pro-
posals, and an effort in that direction, made in
the early part of 1859, only few monts before
his marriage, was repelled with 80 much decls-
ion as to be considered even rude to the Span
ish people. But after the marriage came social
embarrassments and new ideas, which the gov
ernment at Madrid was prompt to seize upon,
| in the hope of overcoming the prejudices of
Don Fernando, by the temptation of high hon
ors for his wife, who, by transition to the
Court at Madrid, would become the equal, if
not the superior, Of those who had welcomed
her with GOODNESS, and not for choice. The
Spanish Minister at Lisbon was instructed to
approach his Majesty with delicate suggestions,
and found him willing to entertain the subject;
so that informal negotiations were opened. and
made considerable progress last spring.
| Don Fernando proposed certain conditions,
perhaps with view of ultimately debating the
terms for matter which was much nearer his
heart, as will appear in the sequel. For ex-
ample, he required that the crowns OF Spain
and Portugal should never be united on the
same head, seeking by this means to preserve
the throne Of Portugal for his SON and his de-
scendants. After some discussion the Spanish
government accepted the condition, with this
modification: Except in the course of time,
the two nations should spontaneously agreeup-
on sovereign" &c. Don Fernando refused to
adopt any reservation on that point He also
demanded that certain amendments should be
made to the Spanish constitution before accep-
ting the throne; but the government at Madrid
objected to submit that question to the Cortes
until after his election as King. THESE nego-
tiations occupied several months, and were once
or twice suspended entirely, as hopeless, but
renewed by friendly Intervention. Finally they
were broken off altogether, and the causes al
ready stated were assigned as the reasons OF the
failure.
But persons who are familiar with all the
facts attribute the rupture TO another and very
different motive. At one of the last interviews
between Don Fernando and the Spanish Min
ster at which the Countess Edla was present,
his Majesty inquired what would be the eventual
position of his wife should he go to Spain ?
After putting this question he withdrew, leav
ing Madame and the Minister to settle the del
icate point betw eellthen. The Minister stated
that she was at liberty to name any title, dis
tinction or donation, adding that she would al
ways be the first lady of the palace. Towhich
the Countess replied, $50 far SO good; but his
Majesty desires my position to be as clear as
possible What wish to know is, what will
be my part on great ceremonials like the open
ing of the Cortes or other corresponding occa-
sions?" The aim of this inquiry was evident,
and the Minister was not taken by surprise.
He rejoined that she might be made a duchess
or Sgrandee, or have any other title, but as
''Queen--necer, NEvERI'
| This took place on the 18th of July, and
when the conferences were going on there was
perfect understanding that the refusal of Don
Fernando to take the throne would involve the
most grave complications, and probably the
war, which is still raging; for it was then
known that the Spanish Government intended
to turn to his Majesty's son-in-law, the Prince
Hohenzol!ern, if the negotiations completely
failed. AS soon as it became certain that there
was no probability of inducing Don: Fernando
to go to Madrid, unless the Countess d'Edla
was recognized as Queen, the offer was made to
4 Hohenzollern. So it may be said that a great
European var, with all its vast consequences,
is to be attributed to the unsatisfed ambition
of Boston girl.
= The immortality of the age is a standing
| ton;o of oop,nlaint with snrnn man But If any