The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-11
KING ALFONSO'S PLATFORM.

Prince Alfonso Of the Asturias, now King Of
Spain, received at his residence In England,
addresses from the graDdees OF Spain and from
many OF the political "clrcles' OF Madrid con-
graduating him on the advent OF hts eighteenth
birthday, which occurred on the 2sth OF November.
The Prince delivered the following auswer:-
have received from Spain a great number Of
Congratulations upon the anniversary OF my birth,
ana some from countrymen OF ours now resident
In France. desire to convey to YOU as well as TO
all VINO have congratulated me, the expression Of
my gratitude and aleo that OF my opinions. All
VINO nave written 10 me snow themselves equally
constitutional monarchy can the oppression, the
uncertainty and the cruel disturbances expert
tns ia re- rscornizeI by the majority Of our coma
patriots and that before long all those who in
good faith viii be with me, whatever may have
been tneir political antecedents understanding
that they have TO lear no exclusion from q new
and unprejudiced monarch or from system
which IS imposed to-day precisely because 1t repre-
septs Union and peace.
Yknow not when or how, nor II this hope is TO
be realized: can only say that ! WIZ omit moth
sion OF reestaDllshing In our noble country legal
order and political liberty at the same time US
me. In virtue OF the spontaneous and solemn alb
dlcation OF my august mother, whose generosity
Is only equaed by her misfortune, am the sole
Representative OF monarcnicai right in spain.
TINS right rests upon the legislation OF ages con-
hrmed oy all the precedents Oh history, ana It Is
tons, which never ceased TO act legally during the
thirty-fve years which passed from the beginning
oi my mothers reign until l. being still child,
trod, with all my family, foreign soil. The nation
being now orphaned OF all pubic rights and indef-
nltely deprived Of her liberties 1t Is natural that
she should turn her eyes to her accustomed con-
stituuOnal rights and to those Tree institutions
which neither prevented her from defending her
Independence IN 1872 nor from concluding IN lS40
another obstinate civil war. Sne owed to them
also many years OF constant progress, OF prosper
ity oil credit, and even OF some glory; years which
1t is not easy 70 blot out from the memory when
there are still so many who nave known them.
For all these reasons II Is doubtless that the nered-
itary and representative monarchy alone inspires
Spain with confidence since she regards 1t as the
guaraotee l,or when no SUBSTITUTE can DC ioundl
classes up to the highest. In the meantime, not
only has everything been overtnrown winch ex-
1t has been attempted TO create since
then. If Facts have abolished the consu.
1869 upon the basis, longer existing OF the mon
archy mas also been abolished by iacts. il Junta
| legal form. decreed the Republic, the only Cores
| convoked with the deliberate intention OF estao-
lisnlng that system were very soon dissolved by
All political questions are thus pending, and
even reserved on the part OF the present rulers to
hereditary ana constitutional monarchy possesses
in Its principles the necessary nexiDility and the
coHiormlty with The desires ' ana interests OF the
nations OF all the problems involved In LIB re-es-
| taDishment
hastily or arbitrarily. without the COrtes Spanish
princes never transacted serious business IN the
ancient times OF the monarchy, and THIS most Jnst
rule OF conduct Will not be forgotten by me in the
present state OF things and wnen all spanlards
are already used TO parliamentary proceedings
When cases shall arse II Will be easy for true.
hearted prince and a Tree people to understand
each other ana TO agree upon all questions winch
much as that our country should be truly free. To
this the hard lesson OF these times must power
fully contributes lesson which, II IL can be lost
upon no one, can be so least OF all upon the hon
est and laborious men OF the people, VINO have
been victims 70 perhdlous sophistries or 10 ABSURD
decisions. All that We are witnessing shows
US that the greatest and most prosperous
nations-where order, liberty and justice are besl
united-are those which have the greatest respect
for their own history. This, in TRUTH does mo-
prevent them from observing attenuvey and f0l
loving with secure steps the progressive march
civilization. May, then, Divine PROVIDENCE gran
one day the Spanish people may be animated u
follow these examples. Por my part ] am In
debted TO my misfortune for being Ia contact Will
the men and things OF mouern Europe, ana
Spain does not obtain position IN II worthy o
bar history. and at the time indanandent ann de