The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-27
THE DEAD QUEEN.
Queen Maria de Ia, m.re.se. OF Spain.

There seems to De fatal star shining over
Spanish royalty. The position OF the Kings OF
Spain has nj all times been precarious enough {;
but the fate Of the Queens Ia possibly still worse.
Natural calamites Join il their lives political
disasters. Ex-Qucen Christina is living the
life OF an exile in Paris. Ex-Queen Isabella
lie in a like position. Ex-Queen Maria. wife
OF Amadeo. had to take to flight out OF child
bed and never having recovered from the
shock. died when barely thirty years old. And
now Queen Maria de lns Mercedes is carried
away after only five months Of wedlock.
Deep and sincere will be the popular sorrow
both in Spain and outside. for II was well known
that the marriage Of Alphonso MI. was not an
ordinary royal union-it was "A love match. The
husband and wife. being in this case first
cousins. were brought up together Thor
affection for each other ovcrcame all political
difficulties and even tho animosty OF their
parents. Queen Isabella detests the Duke Of
Montpensier. who consprcd with Serrano and
Topete for her overthrow in 1868. She has ever
since objected to her son having anything to do
with the family OF her brother law; yet
Alphonso's attachment TO his cousin stood
mistaken. He was separated from her for
over six years but the moment he came 10
power and was enabled to return 20 Spain. he
declared that his personal sympathiss should
not be regulated either by Cabinet Ministers or
BY his relations and that he would not marry
any woman except the one he had loved from
his childhood.
Strangely enough. this love match came to be
the realization Of an old political scheme. 1t
was always the dream of the late King
Louis Philippe to make an alliance between his
dynasty and that Of the Spanish Bourbons. Al
most every one Of his sons was In turn proposed
ma he N lap nal n ha
Queen Isabella but England put In her veto.
Intensely jealous OF any increase OF tho power
Of France. she declared that no Prince Of the
reigning French dynasty should be the consort
OF the Queen Of Spain. The long contest which
took place in regard to this subject between the
Cabinets OF Guizot and Sir Robert Peel will
always stand n memorable page in the d plomatic
history OF Europe. 1t resulted in victory for
the English. Isabella WIS married to man she
detested Don Francisco d'Assise. and by way
Of compensation to France. her sister. Maria
Louisa. was allowed TO become the wife OF Louis
Philippe's youngest son. tho Duke OF Montpen-
sier.
The members OF the Orleans dynasty did
not. however. despair of attaining their object
From the beginning Of Isabelas misrule
they eyortcd all their efforts to put Montpen-
ser upon the throne Of Spain. But the Span
lhrus uhteu tne french 100 intensely To give any
hope Of success TO n scheme Of this nature
They refused to accept him even as deputy in
the Cortes.
After this defeat ut the elections. the Duke re-
tired from political life and became a ndrdnjero
an orange merchant. IA he IL popularity called
on account OF the immense orange plantations
he possesses around Seville. The constantly
growing affection between his daughter and the
son OF the ex-Quecn made him evidently conf
dent that. IL he WIS unable to get the crown
for himself II would at all events be secured for
one Of his descendants.
And he was not mistaken. On the 23d Of last
January his third daughter became the Queen
Of Spain. The nuptial ceremony was performed
in the ancient Church Of Atocha by tho Cardi-
nal Primate. assisted by the Patriarch OF the
Indies and a long array OF other distinguished
priests The ceremony was Of unusual splen-
dor even for Spain. whore pageantry Is carried
to absurd extrsvngancc. The festivities through
out the country lasted five days and nobody
would have believed that five months later the
nation would be thrown into mourning
The bereavod widower s not fully Fl years Of
nge. The poor Queen was eighteen on Monday
last.