The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-25
The Spanish Marriage.

AhO RPAhAoA 1kdkkld6Cs
Caprcious. fortune holds out a promise
that the dream which Louis Philippe so long
cherished will be fulfilled. A granddaughter
of the Citizen King is now Queen of Spain,
and it is in the line of probabilities that
child born of the marriage Of Alfonso and
Mercedes will one day mount the Spanish
throne. This result of the celebrated "Span-
ish Marriages" Of 1S46 is not however quite
in accordance with the French Kings hopes
and expectations. He looked for succession
in the male line and for the establishment of
the House of Orleans as the reigning family
in the Peninsula.
The story Of the intrigues Of 1846 is one
of the most interesting chapters of modern
European history. The attempt to seat
descendant on the Spanish throne cost Louis
Philippe his own, for he alienated England,
awakened the distrust of Europe. and ex-
cited the suspicious of his own people at a
time when he was in sore need Of all the
allies he could win or retain. At the close
claimed Queen of Spain and her sister, the
Infanta Louisa, became heiress-apparent. It
was then that the King Of the French formed
the project of marrying one of his sons to
the Spanish Queen, hoping thus to establish
French influence in the Peninsula, and to
make Spain virtually an appanage to his own
crown. Always patterning himself after
some model he seems to have chosen Louis
XIV this time for imitation, and aspired to
play again the great part which that mon
arch assumed in the famous dispute of the
Spanish Succession. His design becoming
known to England that power fell victim 10
one of her absurd panics and had fit
of the horrors at the thought of the possi-
bility of her ancient rivals increase IN
strength and dignity. She had more infu-
ence in European politics then than she
has now, and her objections could not be
disregarded. In answer to a vigorous
remonstrance from the British cabinet,
Louis Philippe gave his word that the
marriage should not take place, and even
took the unnecessary trouble-for no one be-
lieved him-to assure the British ministers
that he had never entertained thought of
the rumored alliance. Foiled In his first
purpose he undertook by indirect means the
accomplishment Of his plans, and did not
hesitate to break his promise in spirit while
he kept it in word. An intrigue with the
Spanish leaders was entered into which re-
suited in the marriage of Queen Isabella to
her cousin Don Francis d'Assisse and of her
sister to the Duke of Montpensier youngest
son of the French King. These marriages
took place on the 10th of October 1S46, when
Isabella was sixteen years old and Louisa
fourteen. The reasons which dictated them
were worthy of the cunning nature of the
Citizen-King. Don Francis was physical
wreck and it was confidently believed that no
issue could come of his marriage. In case OF
the failure of issue the Duchess of Montpen-
sier would come to the crown and the
Orleans dynasty be established in Spain. The
indignation which these marriages ex-
cited was intense. England regarded them
as shameful violations of faith, ,and the French
people were alarmed at the dynastic ambi-
tions of their King. The feeling engendered
by the intrigues no doubt fastened the fall OF
their protector and alienated all his possible
allies.
But Engand's fear was baseless. 10 two
years the throne of the barricades was over
turned, and the Orleans family ceased to reign
in France. Nine years after, Isabella disap.
pointed physiological calculations and gave
birth to son, thus destroying all hopes oi
the Orleans succession in Spain. Thirty-two
years after the "Spanish Marriages" the son
of Isabella and the daughter of Louisa are
married, descendant of Louis Philippe be-
comes Queen of Spain, and all the European
powers send congratulations on "the auspl-
cous event. The "Spanish Marriages
have resulted after many years in the union
of two branches of the House of Bourbon and
France and Spain. are as wide asunder as
ever. England's apprehension was, as usual
without reason. Surely there is good chance
| that an English fright will come to be syno
nYmous in Europe with causeless terror. Sht
recalls the old fable of the timid hares ant
the rustlng leaves.