Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-08
Spaniards.
I.-CARLTSTS,

WIS llleDJeu 10 my Opan1Sn teach
err, once Spanish nobleman, for my
first clear knowledge of the Carlist
struggle. The old Salique law, which
prevented any woman from ascending
the Spanish throne, having been abro-
gated by Ferdinand, the last king, who
left the crown to his daughter Isabella.
under the regency of her mother, Maria
Christina, whose partisans were called
Christmas, Don Carlos, the kings
brother, and the direct male heir, re-
sisted the change.
The constitutional government es-
tablished by the Christmas, bringing
all under one general law, does away
wlththe ancient .tuerOs, or privileges of
the provinces.
This was especially resented by the
Biscay provinces, whose inhabitants
had been le1t to enjoy great freedom
among, and most probably on account
OF their mountains.
They therefore presented the singular
spectacle of a free people, ready at any
time to take up arms for absL Lutte kings,
because this absolutism had never both
cred them.
The career of my informant was a
good illustration of the recent history
of Spain.
He had begun life as an Andalusian
noble, and naturally espoused the cause
Of Don Carlos. Becoming one of "the
kings" staff officers, his position was
excellent for observing everything, and
his account Of Carlist camp at that
time was exceedingly interesting.
The old men and women, with the
smaller boys aud girls, remained at
home to work the farms, and procure
provisions for them all. The larger
boys conveyed supplies to the camp.
which contained all the able-bodied
men.
The young women were there also to
cook and keep things tidy until a fight
came, when they also brought in the
wounded from the battle field, and
tended them until they recovered, or
until they passed away.
The usual loose license of camp had
no existence there. Every young woman
was just as safe from harm or insult
among her relatives and friends in
camp as she would have been in her own
home.
One day as my informant, with the
rest of the staff, was riding with "the
king along narrow road among the
mountains, they met all old woman,
bowed down with age and grief, walking
in front of a rough hand barrow, borne
by four young women, on which lay a
ne-looking young man who seemed
badly wounded.
The clatter of the horses hoofs
reused the aged mourner, who raised
her head as the horsemen reined aside
to make room in the narrow road.
"The king" raising his hat, said:
"Mother, is this your son?'
The old woman turned toward him
her fine, though wrinkled face, and,
seeing who it was, saluted him and
answered
eyes, your majesty"
"He seems badly wounded"
eyes; he is dying, and he is the Sec
ond son that have thus lost, my only
consolation being that I have one more
still left for the service of your
majesty"
Bending down her head again, she
moved on as before with her sad train,
while all the horsemen remained I'M
covered till they passed.
Of course, with such devotion as
this, Don Carlos had them and theirs
always at his command. Whenever he
chose to raise his standard. he never
lacked for hardy soldiers. Their
mountains offered a secure base for
operations, insuring them a safe re-
treat, while their extended seaboard
put them in communication with all
the world, and gave them an amount of
supplies limited only by their power to
purchase.
Ny informant, while in command of
body of troops, was obliged, in order
to avoid capture, to cross the Portu-
guese frontier. He and his men were
disarmed and imprisoned.
For two years he tried in vain to free
his men. Then, feeling he had done
his whole duty toward them, he Sc
cured his own escape and went to Eng
land. Thence he gained the continent,
and finally settled at Paris.
H.-CUCHILLOS.