New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-31
JUE KING dVD his KIN

There was once an Alfonso of Spain who
was surnamed the Wise, and the present
sovereign of that name may be considered a
candidate for the same honorable designation,
if he rigidly follows rule he seems recently
TO have laid down. Recognizing the import
ance of young mans keeping good company,
he has been trying to revise his visiting list
in the interest of sound morals, and has put
it through a thorough expurgation. We must
draw a line somewhere-one can imagine this
judicous young monarch as saylng-and then
proceeding to draw it this side OF his mother.
A very worthy woman in her way. widely chair
table and affectiOnatc, generous and kind !;
much appreciated in august quarters, His
Holiness the Pope having sent her the Golden
Rose of Virtue but, after ALL not quito the
sort of woman young king, with his charac-
ter to make, could afford to entertain or be
in the least intimate with. She is therefore
barred out of Madrid, and lives in splendid
exile at the Palais Basiowski in Paris.
This makes Don AlfOnsos duty in regard to
tho rest of his family comparatively easy.
few days ago I royal decree reinstated the
Duke dc Mont ensier in his rank and titles
This was eminently proper in itself, as Mont
pensier is q most respectable man and able
officer. The Spanish service does not possess
many men of better life or more honorable
spirit than this Prince. There were many
who thought that this public rehabilitation of
his uncle was only prelude to the announce
ment of the Kings betrothal to his Young
cousin, the daughter of the Duke. This has
been talked of since the birth of tho two chill
dren, and if the young Princess inherits any
of the good qualities Of her father and her
mother, 1t would be the happiest fate which
could befall Don Alfonso. At all events tho
Duke of MOntpensier had the right to think
that the road of Spain was open to him as to
any other citizen, and, in accordance with this
idea, he applied at the Spanish Embassy in
Paris for passport. This was refused, on
the ground that if one were given to him
Queen Isabel would think herself equally en-
titled to one. and that her return to Spain was
at this time inopportune. 1t is astonishing
that the Duke of Montpensier should have
been so needless as to expose himself to a re-
buff like this-by asking for what he might
have ascertained privately would not be
granted. But the reason is certainly valid
and logical The King, having drawn the line
of presentable persons at mothers, could not
be expected to let in a swarm of uncles, no
matter what their personal merits might be.
1t would be an excellent thing for Kings of
Spain, if, like Mechizedec, they had no fami-
lies whatever. Ancestors are necessary, how
ever, to give the requisite sanction and tone
to their tenure of Office and ancestors involve
the disagreeable consequences of collateral
kindred. The present King, 1t must be adj
mittcd. is not fortunate in his kinsfolk. No
man in recent times has married into his
family without having had reason to regret 1t.
The Duke of MOntpensier married the best of
the race apparently, and though happy in his
dOmestcity, the connection has been an in
finite trouble to him ever since, giving him all
the care of public station and none of its
cOmpensating advantages. The Count Of Cir
GENT married the Kings elder sister and after
n year or two of storm and tempest blew out
his brains at Geneva, that being the only way
to get out Of the family. Our young COM
patriot, Pnnce Perkins, formerly vi Connecti-
cut, married cousin. and after some rather
hazardous kitc-nying in Paris was collared and
marched of TO jail. where no still lanRuishes.