American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-03-08
Ex-King Amadeus.

The abdicatiOn of the Savoyard King
will prove an event in history of more
than ordinary significance. Abdicafion
of throne is no new thing history fur
nishes numerous examples but the abdi-
cation of a throne in the circumstances i'll
which Amadeus abdicates is somewhat of
a novelty. We all remember the circum-
stances in which that throne was offered
and accepted. Queen Isabella was de-
thrOned and driven from her realm in the
Fall of 1868. How the fall Of Isabella re-
sounded throughout the world and glad
dcned the hearts of all the lovers OF liber-
ty no reader of the Herald requires to be
told. 1t was felt that powerful blow
had been dealt at the heart of despot1sm,
and that from the success of the blow the
lovers of liberty would take fresh courage.
and by one bold effort make an end OF
despOtism and oligarchy in Europe.
From some cause or other. however, Eu-
rope did not respond. TO the rest of
Europe Spain became an object OF study
and of curious interest; but the rcvolu-
ton read the nations no lessOn-it gave
them no impulse. 1t is undeniable that
after the revolution Prim was master of
the sill uation. He more than any other
man made the revolution Il success and
he more than any other man., after the
revolution, was master of Spain. How
far Prim was earnest in his efforts to eS-
tablish the Republic it is difficult to say;
but that he gave the Republic chance.
that he consulted by constitutional means
the wishes of the Spanish people, and that
the idea of republic was abandoned. it
is impossible to refuse to admit 1t is not
forgotten how the Spanish throne was Of
fered to and how it was refused by the
father of the King of Portugal. 1t is not
fOrgOtten-it never can be fOrgOtten-hOw
it was refused by Leopold of Hohenzol-
lern. In all time to come the Franco
Mil
norial of the quest which Spain.
the once proud kingdom of
Ferdinand and Isabella, Of Charles
the Fifth and Philip the Second, made for
a king. 1t is not forgotten how the Ho,
henZollern candidate was abandoned and
how an appeal was made to the young
Duke of AOsta. If the records of the pc
Rod are of any value it is not unfair to
say that to the Italian Prince the Span
ish crown was destitute of all special al
fractions. He cared little for it, his father
was opposed to his accepting it, and II
was not until the popular voice loudly exr
pres ed itself and the representatives OF
the greatest houses and of the best blood
in Spain joined in the call that the scru-
pies of father and son gave way ana
Amadeus accepted the offered crown. HIS
arrival in Spain was marked by an evenb
which, while it stained the Spanish char
acter and gave an ugly hue to Spanish pol
Through the life-blood of his patron, Gen.
Prim, he had to mount the Spanish throne,
but, nothing undaunted, he marched to
his place and resolved to test his destiny.
That he began well, and that from the
moment of his arrival in Spain he has
honestly endeavored to do his best, no
enemy has ever denied. After a most das-
tardly attempt on his own life, and in
spite, it is said, of the earnest entreaties
of his family and his young Queen that he
should resign, he has stuck to his post;
and now it must be admitted that, If he
does abdicate. he abdicates because he has
done his best and because his best has
failed. He abdicates in favor of no son,
of no friend, but because he is sick OF his
thanklcss task, and because in reality ne
cares nothing for the worthless bauble
which men call a crown. His conduct
stands out in striking contrast to that OF
Macmillan, of Mexico. He abandons
position of which he is weary, and leaves
to their fate, without fighting for his
rights, a people who have not shown
themselves worthy Of his love.-Ne'o
Y,,E HeruIH