New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-05
Manuel De In C0ncha.

Marshal Concha, Marquis del Duero, one
of the most celebrated Spaniards OF his
time, whose death, while leading the attack
of the republican forces on Cariist posi-
ton at Estella, is announced, was born at
Madrid in 1874. He was the son OF Captain
Concha. of the Spanish army. who was
killed by the revolntionists of Buenos Ayres
during the early struggles OF the South
American colonists against the authority
of Spain. His brother, younger than he,
General Jose de la Concha, Marquis de La
Hsbana, is now Captain General OF Cuba.
Marshal Concha's first essays at arms
were in the Spanish war OF independence
against the Emperor Napoleon. In 1916 he
accompanied the expedition under Espar-
tero which was sent to South America to
suppress the revolt against Spain whlch
had broken out in the colonies. In 1874,
after service of ten years, he returned to
Spain; and when few years later the frst
Don Carlos waged war against the regency
of Maria Christina in defense Of his claims
to the throne, he took the field against that
Prince. At the close of tie instruction he
was elected to the Cortes as Deputy from
Cadiz, and in this capacity he joined the
Moderates, distinguished himself as an
ardent supporter Of the Queen mother
and of the young Queen Isabella and
exerted his influence in defense OF
the administration OF Espartero and
subsequently,, after the defeat of the latter.
of the government of Narvaez. In June.
1913. on the occasion Of the insurrectlon OF
Saragossa, General Concha was placed in
military command of Murcia and OF Nalen-
cia He defeated the rebels in brief cam
paign, compelled the capitulation OF Sara
gossa, and occupied Barcelona in the name
of Queen Isabella. The liberals of CarEa-
gena again rose in insurrection in February,
1874, and again were suppressed by Coneha.
who, in consideration OF his services, re-
ceived the title @. Captain General of Cata-
lonia. Following this revolt the Carlsts of
the province recommended hostilities. Mar
shal Concha defeated them, however, and
declared Don Carlos, as well as the Prince
of the Asturias, traitors to Spain, and ont
laws.
General Concha's next field Of service
was in Portugal IN 1877, in consequence
of the difficulties between Spain and Portu-
gal of that year. arising from Portuguese
Instruction against the relgning dynasty.
he crossed the frontier of Portugal with an
army OF 5000 picked troops and occupied
the town of Oporto. The British fleet, I'M
der Admiral carker, assisted in the capture
of The town from the insurrectiOnists. Gen
eral Concha owed to this exploit his dignity
of Marquis del Duero. In this same year
he accompanied Queen Christina to Paris,
and on his return 70 Spain continued to act
in the Cortes with the constitutional and
conservative party. In 1919 he was again
called on to perform military service. He
went to italy as second in command CT
Spanish corps darmee, which was sent to
that country to aid In the establishment
Of the Pope, who had been exiled from
Rome by the revolutions of tina. and the
preceding year. After occupying Terracino
he soon returned to Spain, and resuraed the
duties of his office las Captain General of
Catalonia.
Shortly after the young Queen Isabella's
accession to the throne the tendency of her
new government was such as 10 alarm many
Of her old and influential supporters: among
others General Concna. Toward the close
of 1853 therefore, in common with ODon.
nell, Gonzales Bravo, and other Spanish
statesmen. he issued an address calling for
an immediate conv0cation of the Cortes.
He was exiied to the Canary islands in cor
sequence, and the revolution of 1851 fol-
lowed General Concha, however, retired
into France, and from that country watched
the progress Of the revolution. Speedily
recalled to Spain to take part in the insur-
rection, he repaired to Saragossa, where
the chief command OF the revolutonists
was offered him by the insurrectionary
,junta. With the ensuing success of the in
surrection followed the exile of Maria
Christina, the fall Of Narvaez, her min
lister, and the Remittance of the admin
istration OF Espartero. General Con
cha reaped new honors from the
successful and principal part lie had
played in this important political drama.
He was re-established in all his old digni.
ties, and besides was appointed Director
General Of the artillery and finally Marshal.
During the next ten or twelve years Concta
rose and fell with the tiuctuating and chang.
ing tide of Spanish politics. When EsDar.
tero was overthrown in 1856 by coup d etat,
and O'Donnell, with whom Concha mad act
ed in the matter OF the famous address of
1853, succeeded to power, all the titles that
had been conferred on the subject of this
sketch were retained to him; but when.
later, Narvaez assumed the reins of govern
ment Marshal Concha lost his honOrs and
emOluments, and was compelled bv the
NarvaeZ government to retire altogether
from public affairs.
The decisive year, 1861 so pregnant with
events of Importance to Spain, found Mar
shall COncha, Queen Isabella's Prime Min
lister. He presided at the last hours of the
in Spain, for when the revolution
OF September of that year began to assume
the dangerous aspect which afterward
marked it, Isabella called on the old war.
riOr and statesman to form Cabinet.
he should be president, and with
which she hoped to stay the troubles that
envirOned her throne. But Isabellas o.
stinacy destroyed the emily chance she
might have possessed to regain the lost
Aztec tons of her people. The instruction
spread, but Concha was still not without
nope of checking it if the Queen would but |
return to Madrid and dismiss her I'm worthy |
iavorite, the Intendant Marfori. This Isa- |
bella refused to do, and then Marshal Con |