New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-27
Hereditary AbdicatiOn.

King Amadeus of Spain has but followed
what seems to be the inevitable traditionary
fate Of his family. In the annals Of the
house Of Savoy natural demise OF the crown
that is, by death-seems to be almost the
exception. Amadeus VIII, first duke of the
name, Noltalre's bizarre Amedee," ap-
pears to have set the example. He threw up
his duchy merely because he grew tired oft
for his career had been a successful one; es-
tablished himself in n comfortable retreat on
the Lake of Geneva, with a court OF jolly
companions came out again to be made
Pope under the title of Felix ", (whether he
was the particular pontif who became cele-
brated in German song as ''leadng life di-
vine" and drinking the best of Rhenish
wine," we cannot tell y resigned the papacy
in couple of years, and died quietly in his
bed as a private gentleman. Emmanuel
Phillbert, greatest of the dukes, a soldier and
a statesman of celebrity, abdcated in 1915 in
favor of his son. Victor Emmanuel, first
King of Sardinia, abdicatcd in like manner in
favor of his son, in 1870. But he did not d.
gest his resignation so quietly as his prede-
cessors had done. He wanted to come back,
melted thereto by an ambitious woman of in
ferior rank whom he had married and created
Countess de Spino. PrOfiting by the opportu-
nifty of his sons casual absence from Turin, he
started from Chambery, over the Mont Gems,
for his capital, in order to ascend the throne
again. The young King, warned by an in
triguing confessor, set out for the same point
at once, on horseback, across the pass OF
Saint Bernard. The rivals, son and father,
fairly raced for it. The son won by neck.
He got into Turin, and his father and moth
er-in-law could hear the discharge of artillery
which greeted his arrival, just as they
reached the Castle of Rivol. Then they
knew that the game was up. A "Roi-
eyenant'' is by no means a popular charac-
ter with cOurtiers or with subjects. Victor
Amadeus had to abdicate once more, and
this time In earnest his lady was shut up in
a convent.
In 1902, Charles Emmanuel the Second
went through the form of abdication it is
not easy to see why, except to maintain the
family usage, since the French Republic had
seized just then on all his continental pos
sessions. He went into a Jesuit establish
ment and died there. Victor Emmanuel the
Second abdicated in 1921, from sheer fright
at a constitution which seemed to be impend-
ing. OF Charles Albert, known in his youth
as Prince de Carignan, in his latter days as
the "Sword of Italy," the memory is yet
fresh among US. Never did any leader more
deliberately, or more cOurageously, sacrifice
himself for a cause which he knew to be des-
perate, but to which his own defeat might
yet communicate more persistent vitality.
He fought the battle Of Novara against adj
vice, without generals and without hope. He
looked for bullet with all the quiet valor of
his chivalrous race, but the bullet came not.
lie too abdcated and died. ''IIe was hardly
fifty-two, and of a strong constitution but
he had lived for his work, and his work hav-
ing failed he had no reason for living longer.
Life and hope withdrew from him together"
The young Amadeus has now added one more
name to the long list of his progenitors who
have renowned thrones. His grandfather
himself-to compare small things with great,
for the contingencies were of very different
order-could not have contended more hon.
estly or more bravely against the embarass-
ments of an untenable position.-PaH Mall
Gazette.