New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-02
Ramon Cabrera.

| The secession of General Cabrera from
the Carlist cause, which was accompanied
by his earnest recommendation to Dor
Carlos to lay down his arms aud make terms
with King Alfonso, his cousin, is a matter
of very great importance in the present
crisis of affairs in Spain. Cabrera was edu
Gated for the priesthood in the University
of Cervera Born in Catalonia in August,
1910, he was only twenty.three years old
when Ferdinand VII. died, leaving two
| daughters-the eldest of whom, not quite
three years old, then became Queen of
Spain, and has since been known as Isa-
| bella II. It is her only son, now ia his
| exile, is now in Madrid as Alfonso XII.
The death of Ferdinand VII. 10 Septem-
ber 1888, was the signal for a civil war,
| into which. tlinging off his students gown
and abandoning the breviary for the sword,
young Ramon Cabrera flung himself, in a
most impetuOus manner, at the head of a
guerrilla troop.
grandson of Louis XIV. of France, having
been placed on the throne of Spain, after
what is historically known as 'the war of
tho succession he introduced the Salc
law, which had been in operation in France
since the year 1916. the effect of which was
absolutely to forbid the sceptre passing into
female hands.
After this Salic law had been on the stat
ute book OF Spain for more than a century.
Ferdinand VII. secretly abolished it in
March, 1880, several months before the
birth of his eldest daughter; but this was
solemuly protested against by Don Carlos,
bis brother, and other pi noes of the family,
when it became known two wears later. On
the death of Ferdinand, IN september, 1880,
Don Carlos declared himself sovereign de
jurc, treating the abolition of t''e Salic law
as absolutely null aud void. Then began
that strife for the sceptre in Spain, which,
like the present, is called the Carlist war.
1t lasted from November, 1888, until March.
1889. In short time the undar1ted bravery
and dt cided military talents of young
Cabrera became SO apparent that Don Car.
los gave him rank and advancement. In 1886
his mother and three sisters, having fallen
into the hands of the Queens troops (gen-
orally called the Christinos), were executed
under circumstances OF great cruelty by
General Nina, after which Cabrera gave
no quarter, but had every prisoner shot,
without trial or delay, and carried On the
war in most vindictive manner. In 1888
Don Carlos appointed him Lieutenant Gen.
eral and Governor of the provinces of Ara
gon, Valencia and Murcia, ere :ting him
Count de Morella, and subsequently, Duke
de la Victoria. After Don Carlos had
retired from Spain Cabrera continued in
u
in the midst of the mount .ins of Catalonia
and Aragon. Finally, in July, 1910, he was
defeated by Espartero, and CT. ling the
frontier into France, was detained for
short time in the fortress of Ham. In lS42,
still champion of 'the lost cause" he wa1
appointed to the chief command of the
(nOn-existent) Carlist army. He made
several attempts to renew the civil war in
Spain, but failed. Finally, finding an
asylum in England, he married young and |
beautiful heiress Of that country, and, his |
own means being considerable, has lived |
happily ever since, SO free from politics that |
he declined command offered him by Don |
Carlos in the northeast of Spain.
The position Of Cabrera. with respect to |
Spanish affairs, is peculiar. All through the !
Carlist war he fought rather for the abstract |
monarchlcal principle, on which the Salic |
law is based, than in favor of Don Carlos,
who claimed the crown under it as she next
male heir on the death of Ferdinand, his |
brother, without legitimate male issue. |
This made Cabrera remain in the field in |
1899, after Don Carlos himself had quilted |
Spain and given oyer the contest for the |
crown. Cabrera, in fact, has never forgot |
ten the lesson of submission to and cham. !
pionship Of the Church which he learned in |
the university. This made him assure Don |
Carlos that, Alfonso having promised to |
restore the property, privileges and infiu- |
ence OF the Church, he now truly is ''his |
most Catholic majesty as his predecessors |
were tor centuries, and that being what |
Spain wants, it is useless and foolish to |
carry on the civil war any longer. There |
are very many Spaniards who have the |
same opinion. It has been a. great discour- |