, 1873-02-12

cation Of Amadeus, King OF Spain, shows that
that unfortunate country has not yet touched
tho bottom Of her troubles; and is apparently M
far as ever from securing form Of gov
ernment, atablo and permanent enough to &c.
cure to Spain tue blessings Of peace and general
prosperity. The threatened abd,cation Of tho
King, coming In the midst Of q general Carlist
uprising, and neeesstating a Regency at + time
when the whole Kingdom is unsettled and rent
with oontonding factions, is only repo!i-
tion Of history from the fifteenth con-
tury, when tho provinces wore first con-
solidated into QUO Empire. From that
titno to the present the history Of Spain presents
an almost unbrokon record Of foreign wars md
domestic outbreaks. revolts, abdications, and
assassnations. Tho consolidation Of the En-
pire WAS followed by the expulsion Of the Jews
and Moors, Which laid tho train for a series OF
overwhelming disasters. Philip H., with his im-
monse war expenditures, precipitatod these dis
SISTERS. Philip III. and Philip ". succeeded in
getting into war with Holland and Franco, md,
during thoir re!gna, Portugal rabel1ed. Charloa
lis death wan followed by bloody War Of
Succession. Charles ". plunged tho country
into war with Great Britain. and then abdicated
in favor OF Ferdinand VII, md Napoleon
mado him prisoner aud placed his own brother
Joseph on the throne. Spain at once made war
on Napoleon, IN alliance with England, which
recognized Ferdinand VII Thon followed tho
long Peninsular war, which eventually drove tho
r1It tsf Gy,nf 1r.1
lsabolla Ills roigu Was d acono Of constant
turmoil and intrigue. First cAmo tho long con-
test betwoon Espartero, the Regent, and tue
Queen Dowager Ohristina, for the supreme power
during tho minority Of the Queen then almost
endless changes Of Ministry and an almost equal
1y endless succession Of rovolts; then
the baniklment OF Queen Chriatina
then the mrs with tho Moora; thon
the quarrels with her South American colonies,
aud finally general revolt Of tho people, which
drove Iaabella out Of Spain, In September, 1868,
which was followed by her formal abdpation In
November, 1869. Marshal prim was tho Regcnt
during the interregnum, and his rule was closed
by assassination. In November, 1870, Amadeus,
Hocond son Of Victor Emanuel, King OF Italy,
WAS elected Hing by the Cortes, began his rcign
in January, 1871, and nov, after ru1o of two
yesra and oue month, which gayo promise Of &C.
curing repose to Spain from hor long agitation,
Amadeus Is firm IN his determination to abdicate,
The specific cause which laa led tho King to
Ills determination la stated to DO q difference
oetwoon the King aud his Miniptry, which arose
n November laut, concerning ths promotion Of
mo Don Hidalgo, General Of Artillery to tho
captain Goneralship OF tho Basque Provinces.
Tho majority Of tho officers in the service at
'nce throatened to resign If the promotion wus
made. Tho Ministry then appointed him to
'ew aud important command in Catalonia, and
he officers rendered their designations. Tie
ling oidod with them but the Ministry obtained
u almost unanimous vote OF confidence,
'hlch. virtually oompe1s tie King, through
he vote Of tho Cortos, to aoqulcsco in tho ap-
It is not At al probable that this
ause alone has induced the King to abdtcate.
might bring ebout q contest between the
Ing and his Minlatry, but Of itself ia not
utlQisnt roason for abdication, especially BY