Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-14
abdication Of the King OfSpain.

The abdication of the Savoyard King will
nroye an event 10 history OF more than ord nary
ssgni6cance. Abdicaton of throne is no new
,hiug; history furnishes numerous examples;
Lut the abdication of a throne in the circum-
stances in which Amadeus abdicates is some
What of novelty. We all remember the Cir
cnmstances in which that throne was offered
and accepted. Queen Isabella was dethroned
and driven from her realm in the Fall of 1868.
How the fall of Isabella resounded throughou
the world and gladdened the hearts OF the
lovers of liberty no reader requires to be told.
Il was felt that powerful blow had been dealt
at the heart of despotism, 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 despotlsm and olgarchy IN
Europe. From some cause or other, however,
Europe did not respond Tc the rest OF Eu,
rope Spain became an object OF study and OF
curious interest but the revolution read the
nation, no lesson-lt gave them no impulse.
+ !, undeniable that after the revolution
p,;m - was master of the situation. He more
,han apy other man made the revolution sue.
ress: ard he more than any other man, at
tor the revolution, was master of Spain. How
Ear Prm was earnest in his efforts to establish
,Le Rcrublc it is difficult to say =; but that
he gave the Republic a chance, that he col-
snlied Nv constitutional means the wishes Of
the Snanish people, and that the idea Ut a re-
nublic was abandoned, it is impossible to re-
fuse to admit. 1t is not forgotten how the
Spanish throne was offered to and how it was
refused by the father OF the King OF Portugal.
II is not torgotton--it never can be fOrgOtten-
how the same throne was offered to and how
il was refused by Leopold of Hoheuzollern.
In all time to come the Franco-German war
will remain memorial Of the quest which
Spain, the once proud kingdom of Ferdinand
and Isabella of Charles the Fifth and Philip
the Second, made for king. 1t IS not for
rotten how the HoheDzoern candidate was
abandoned and how an appeal was made to the
Young Duke of Aosta If the records OF the
period are of any value it is not unfair to say
that to the Italian Prince the Spanish crown
was destitute of all special attractions. lie
cared little for it, his father was opposed to
his accepting it, and it was not until the popu-
lar voice loudly expressed itself and the repre-
sentatives of the greatest houses and OF the
best blood 10 Spain joined in the call that the
scrupies of father and son gave way and ANA
deus accepted the offered crown. His arrival
in Spain was marked by an event which, while
1t stained the Spanish character and gave an
ugly hue to Spanish politics, was fitted to daunt
the bravest spirit. Through the life blood OF
his patron, General Prin, he had to mount the
Spanish throne, but, nothing undaunted, he
marched to bis place and resolved to test his
destiny. That be began well, ,aud that from the
moment of his advent in Spain he has honest
" endeavored to do his best, no enemy has
ever denied. After most dastardly attempt
on his own life, and in spite, it is said, of the
earnest entreaties of mis- family and his young
Queen that he should resign, he has stuck to
his post; and now 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 thankless task
Neu York Herald.