New Orleans Republican., 1875-11-19
DON CARLOS, SENSATION.

Liz pIOpOSltlOu SuDIulUteu Dy Ion
Carlos to Alfonso, King of Spain, to
stop quarreling with each other and
maintain truce until the latter re-
conquers Cuba, is step beyond any
stroke of Bourbon policy which has
been exhibited in Europe for several gen.
erations. In the present depleted condi-
ton of Spain, anything which promises
temporary lull in the work of killing each
other in the respective interests CT the
hostile Bourbon cousins will be eagerly
clutched at by all except soldiers offortune,
priests and army contractors.
1t places Alfonso and his ministers in a
very embarrassing position, as they are
likely to suffer in the public estimate
whichever horn of the dilemma is ac-
cepted. If the truce is declined and Cuba
succeeds in gaining independence, the
court will have to account to the people
for the loss of q province, which the Car
lists will be ready to declare might have
been saved if the patriotic offer of their
leader to temporarily sacrifice his ambi-
ton had been accepted. II, on the other
hand, the truce is agreed to, and the
chains Of Cuba are again riveted fast and
strong the Carlists will be sure to put in
claim for all the credit of The success.
Had I reigned," says the persistent
Bourbon, "the revolution would not have
occurred, at least not gained ground"
He, however, magnanimously offers to
forego for the present his efforts
to maintain his right to the
crown. This is virtually an offer
to stop the game of war until Don AL
fonso can make the stake better worth
contending for. He cautiously holds on
to his "loyal volunteers" whom he pro-
poses to utilize by making privateers of
them, with the privilege of preying upon
the merchant ships of sour enemies and,
perhaps, chase them into their own har-
bors." Here is rare prospect for fun
and profit combined opening up to the
descendant of the Bourbous, now turned
into simple guerrilla and marauder of
his native land.
1t is commentary upon the civiliza-
ton of the age and the Christianity of
Spain to see these two princes, the one
to be the "Most Catholic King"
and the other claiming the right to be
such, thus engaged in wearing out their
fellow-countrymen in their contention for a
place for which neither is in any sense fitted. |
Of the two we believe Carlos possesses the
better right to the throne. His father was |
Don Carlos, of Bourbon, the second son |
Of Charles w., King of Spain, who gave
name to the Carlist faction in 1880 and /
following years. His elder brother was
Ferdinand VII, the reputed father of Isa.
bella H., the ex-Queen of Spain, and
mother of Alfonso. But Ferdinand him
self was delared by his own mother, Maria
Louisa, to be illegtimate. This declara-
ion was made repeatedly, and in
public, and notably in an interview
between Napoleon l., Charles w., Ferdi-
nand's reputed father, and the young
prince himself. Ferdinand, however, as
,ended the throne, and failed to have
ssue, though he married wife after wife,
Until he reached his forty-ffth year, a
confirmed debauchee, broken in health
md prematurely old and infrm. He then
married again, and as the necessity for an
,eir to the throne had become a State
natter, the young Queen was persuaded
% give birth to a daughter, Isabella,
whose legitimacy there was every reason
% doubt. Even Don Alfonso's right to be
'alled the son Of Isabella's husband has
'een stoutly denied, with sufficient reason
% blast the reputation of a peasant girl,
II any other woman who had such thing
o lose. Don Carlos, however, comes
lown through purer ancestors, and is be.
'ond question the legal heir of old Charles
", though the Queen of that monarch
vas one Of the most proAigate sinners
hat ever received absolution, even in
pain. |
Such is the pedigree in brief Of the two