The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-08
The Reign of King Amadeus.

The greatuprisingof September, 1868,
led by Prince TOpete and Serrano, hay
ing driven Queen Isabella II from the
Spanish throne, provisional govern
ment was proclaimed, and remained in
power until June, 1859, when Marshal
Serrano was declared Regent. The
regency continued until November IA,
1870, when Amadeus, the second son Of
King Victor Emanuel, expressed his
willingness to accept the throne, pro-
vided the CorteS elected him by major
ity Of tWO-t thirds.
After vigorous opposition on the part
of the Republican leaders, the Prince
was elected, by the requisite majority,
NovemI2er Is, 1870, and formally accept
Ell the throne on the 4th of December
following. He landed at Carthagenaon
the 30th of that month, and three davs
later entered Madrid, where he was re-
Celyed with great enthusiasm. He ad-
dressed letter to the Soyereigns Of
Europe announcing that he had accept
ed the throne offered him by the Cor
ties, and promptly entered upon the
graver duties of government.
His first Ministry obtained n two
thirds majority at the new elections for
the Curtes, held in March, but was
compelled to resign in July, having be-
come unpopular on accONnt Of the great
embeZziements discovered in the ad-
ministratiOn of the finances. After
several cndeavOrs ON the part of the
King to form new Cabinet composed
Of representatives, Of different parties
had failed, Ruiz ZOrrilla, one of the
leaders OF the Progresistas, accepted the
pOsit ION Of Prime Minister, and formed
Ministry which included Sagasta, Ruy
Gomez and Malcampo.
The first measure of the new Ministry
made favorable impression, and when
it asked for loan Of $3O,O00scyen times
that sum was offered. The King madca
| tour through the provinces in the fall of
1871, and was received with enthusiaS-
tic demonstrations in several cities. He
was, however, soon again embarrassed
by ministerial complications. Gorilla
gave way to Malcampo, and great po-
| lltlcal excitement prevailed until De
| under the leadership Of Sagasta, with
Topete as Minister Of the Colonies.
In,ApFil q general truce was declared
between Spain and the eSpanishrepublics
With which she was nolninally at war.
| Cuba was in revolt when Amadeus
| assembled the throne, and during his
brief reign her patriot soldiers pelsist-
emily resisted his authority. While ex-
pressing an ardent desire for peace he
never relaxed the remorseless policy of
his predecessors, and allowed the power
OF the volunteers to remain unchecked
He sanctioned the savage acts of Val
mased8 and treated with indifference
the murder Of the Cuban students at
Havana. He acquiesced in the existence
of slavery in the colonies, although
there was no doubt of his readiness to
enforce any scheme of emancipation
which the Cortes might adopt.
During the past year King Amadeus
narrowly escaped assassination, and
his kingdom was disturbed by Carlist
insurgents, mainly in the northern
provinces. The Sagasta Ministry was
forced to resign, and after successive
changes, Ruiz ZorEilla, the present Pre-
mier, came into Office, early in the year
and, supported by a strong majority
ltas resisted the vigorous efforts of the
opposition to drive him from power.