Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-04-19
DON CARLOS.
An Interview With the Fallen Spanish
Pretender.

A London letter to the New York
Herald reports an interview with Don
Carlos, from which we extract the fol-
lowing:
II saw that further resistance would
be useless, that it would only result in
hundreds and thousands of brave fell
lows being killed to no purpose, and al
though the army was still willing to
fight on to the last, issued orders that
the troops should abandon the conflict
without further fighting and return to
their homes. | did this as soon as l
saw the contest was hopeless. did it
only because [ did not wish to have
upon my hands the blood that would
have been uselessly shed in prolonging
the conflict
On this point my conscience is clear.
| have no blood upon my hands. I
have never condemned q single man to
death, nor ratified the death sentence
of single soldier. I have pardoned
every case that was ever submitted to
me, and only in few instances were
men shot without my having had time
to interfere. l am blood guiltless. The
blood shed in battle / am, of course,
not responsible for.
Nor am | accountable for the war it.
self. It was the people who made the
war and who called me there to lead
them after it had been fairly begun,
and that at a time when Spain was
without a king and without 4 govern
ment. People seem to think that it
was for pleasure that I put myself at
the head of an army and led the life of
the camp for four years among the
mountains, when [ might have been
enjoying a life Of luxurious case in
Paris and Vienna did it only because
duty called; and in these days when
people in general talk only of their
rights it is necessary for somebody to
think likewise of duty"
The present government" he said,
cannot last long. The Red Republic is
fast approaching. My cousin will be IN
his turn overthrown, and the state of
anarchy which has existed in Spain for
the last ten years will be renewed.
Then will be my opportunity"
"Do you think, the revolution will
come from the Republicans or the par.
tisans of Isabella?"
From the republicans Of course.
Isabella would never encourage any
movement for the overthrow Of her son.
That eventuality is not to be taken into
consideration for moment. Never
theless it is possible that her partisans,
if they ever come into power, may
make her pretext for measures that
would render the young King very un-
popular, and this might help the repub-
lican agitation and do Alfonzo much
HARM"
"Is Isabella very unpopular in
Spain %
!" No, do not think she is as unpop-
ular as people seem to think; because,
after although / have no personal
reason for saying SO, having never re-
ceived any kindness at her hands
Isabella was very good-hearted. She
was very charitable, very generous, and
good woman at heart. The people
know this, and remember it in her
favor Besides, it is natural that, after
having been on the throne as long
as she was, she should have a
strong party Of adherents in the country,
SO that / do not think she is at all I'M
popular as is generally believed. Many
Unpopular things were done by her
Ministry in her name for which she was
not in the least responsible. She was
woman, and was powerless for good,
surrounded as she was by INSCRIPTIONS
and ambitious men who had only their
own selfish aims to accomplish, with
out the slightest regard for the interests
of the country. She was not so much
to blame as people think.
" In what way do you hope to profit
by the revolution which you foresee
coming" 4t4aa
Thus: The tide of republicanism
will go on growing stronger, rising high
er and higher, until the throne of Al
fonso will be submerged and swept
away. Then, when they see the cur
rent too strong for them, when they see
it is carrying them away, they will APP
peal to me as their last hope, and the
very men who have placed Alfonso
upon the DEMONSTRATING Campos,
Canovas de Castillo and the rest-will
come to me and offer me the sceptre
torn from the feebler hand of my little
cousin"
'tBut, did you not once refuse to &C
cept the sceptre at the hands of the
revolutionists Did not General Prim
offer you the crown?'
Yes; but that was under very differ
ent circumstances from what it will be
offered to me next time. Then [ was
asked to go to the revolution, to COM
promise with it, to become a part of it.
Of course I refused. But the next time
I will be asked to crush the revolution
instead of taking it by the hand. No
matter whence such an offer comes, I
am ready now as I was then to accept.
That the offer will be made to me soon
er or later have not the shadow of
doubt. This is why ] have refused all
compromise. This is why have
neither surrendered my sword nor bro
ken it. I have returned it to it's scab-
bard to be unsheathed again when the
time comes. Tout est perdu hors phon-
neur. That | have preserved intact.
We have been beaten, but we have at
least fallen with glory, with no stain on
our honor"
UyI,o onI N1,o:,. C4,,ox,.o D:4oa