The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-02-15
AMADEUS ABDICATION.
fFrom the Courier-Journal.1

Scarcely four years have passed since the
last and worst Of the Bourbon was driven
from tho Spanish throne. An interreg-
mum ensued, during which Spanish states
men looked around for . sovereign to I'LL
tho seat left vacant by the flight Of Isa-
bella. Various personsges were proposed
tor the august office, their claims canvass
ed and rejected. The young Prince Al.
fonso was brought forward by the
Legitimate, and regency proposed
during his minority. The Due Dc Mont
psnsisr, nearly allied to tho ex-quesn by
marriage, was also . candidate. The
Csrlists brought forward the heir Of the
direct line, in whose prejudice Isabella
had succeeded by the pregmatic sanction
Of her father, Ferdinand VII; but all
these claims were rejected. They had had
enough Of the Bour bons, and however un.
able to agree on another, the cortes we're
| at least resolved 10 have none Of them. A
succession Of weak, vsnAl, proaigats mon
archs from the time Of Philip Of Anjou,
grandson of Louis XIV. Of France, was
enough 70 disgust even Spanisrds with
| Bourbonism. The crown was then Of
fsrsd TO the King of Portugal, but WAS
refused. Next WAS brought for.
ward the candidaturs Of Prince Leopold
Of Hohsnzollsrn, the occasion II not the
cause Of the dreadful war which stripped
France Of Alsace-Lorrains, dsluged the
country 10 blood and saddled France
with debt which will take generations
to pay, IL ever. Failing in every other
quarter, Gen. Prim, who had undertaken
the Management Of affairs, turned his eyes
to the house Of Savoy, which, nestled
among Alpine ersgs for . thousand
years, had developed hardihood and
ability. capacity and patriotism. Tho
crown was offered to scion Of this house,
Amadso FsrdinandO Maria, Duke of
under whose reign the little kingdom
dom Of Italy. On the 18th Of October,
1870, his csndidaturs was formally an
nounced to the Regent Serrano. On
the 10th Of November, toe Cortes elected
him King Of Spain BY l9l votes against
100. or the dissidents, sixty.four voted
for the Republic, twenty-five for the Due
de Montpensier, eight for Marshal Es-
partero, two for the infant Alfonso,
one for the niece Of Isabella, and eigh.
teen refused 10 vote at all. Immediately
after the election, . formal notification was
conveyed TO the king elect at Florence,
and deputstion appointed to make for
NAL tender Of the crown TO Amadeo.
This WAS accepted December 4, snd,
shortly after, the young duke set out to
take possession Of the crown Of Spain.
Only day or two before his arrivrl, Mar.
shall Prim had been shot and mortslly
wounded by cowardly assassin. On the
very day on which Amadso landed at
Csrthsgsna, Marshal Prim died Of his
wounds. In January, 1871, the young
king was presented TO the cortes, took the
oath to support tho constitution and was
crowned king Of Spain.
Little more than two years have pass
cd. The loyalty OF SpSnisrds, given to
Intriguing and plotting ~ they have bosr
from time immsmorial, could scarcely be
expected 10 DO intense. The dem onstra-
ton attending his Inauguration soon gave
place to sullsn discomfort. No faction IN
the state was sufficiently strong to insu-
gurato . conntor-revolution, and, though
unable to unto on any rival claimant, still
the disadscted always constituted min.
ority large enough to thwart and paralyze
all attempts TO tranquillize the King.
dom. Not unfrequently the ministry was
20 hopelessly bewildered by factious op-
position that change Of cabinet WAS
rendered necessary, and, In extreme cases,
. dissolution OF the cortes. Seven or
eight cabinet crises have occurred sinco
his accession, and two or three general
elections. Not only has the cortes been
the scene Of faction. discord ard disloyalty,
but these feelings, fostered by disappoint-
ed local magnates, have found vent In or.
gsnizsd rebellion. Csrlist bands, with
no definite grievance and no defined poli. |
ey save that Of dissfection and plumber.
have kept the northern provinces In a
state Of chronic confusion and
alarm. Mails have been robbed,
railways torn up, peaceable
towns assaulted and sacked, and q general
reign Of terrorism and brigsndags insuy.
urstsd. These contemplate organizs.
tions have not been confined TO districts
mountainous and difficult of access. but |
have extended TO tho southern sections of |
the kingdom, and even invaded the pre-
cincts Of the royal residence. Last year
IN attempt WAS made 10 sssassinats the
young king himself, and, though The At.
tempt happily failed, yet II saficsd to re-
veal the desperate nature Of the contest
they were determined TO wage. To add 10
the difficulties OF his position Cuba was
and still 10 10 armed revolt. The Spanish
army has been taxed 10 supply The men