The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-10-28

which God repeats.
The birth of a princess, heir to the naughty
throne of Spain has stirred the hearts of its IL
OOOO0O inhabitants, and also of those who people
us Islands and dependencies. The babe is grand
daughter of Christina the fourth wife of Ferdi-
land VII, who, after the battle of Lepsic in 1873
vas restored 10 his heritage when the armies of
england forced Joseph BOnaparte to leave the
PENINSULA. Some Years afterward the king mar
led for his last wife young daughter of the king
Naples, ana was finally made happy 10y seeing
IS wife become the mother of two children, who
)minally were called his own. These girls were
e first and only children i'm the royal household.
no worse monarch ever cursed nation than
Is same Ferdinand. 1t was his mother who ut
ed the famous phrase that che had the head of
nule and the heart of a tiger On his return
from exile, he resumed a life of protligacy. The
Spanish COrteS presented for his ratification con-
stitution somewhat democratic and reformatory
IN character, but in vain. Twelve millions of
peasantry, unintelligent and priest-ridden, clam
Ored Tor absolute and irresponsible king~hp; they
demanded despOtism i'm the good old days. Ii
Is difficult 10 credit the besoted blindness of that
generation, but all historians agree TO the fact.
Their degradation was the result and the delight
OF the minions of the Holy Catholic Church.
Civil ecclesiastical liberty was fettered and the
captives danced hdeOusly in their chains O Re
HgiOn what crimes have been committed i'm thy
name! The InqusitOn revived; old feudal
privileges were restored; liberals were arrested
and executed for their opinions; cJ7eitH sUpcrsti
ton and blOOdshed roted at the beck Of dissolute
ruler and depraved church.
Christina, the young queen, was only less cor
rupt than Ferdinand Before his death She Sc
cured decree transmitting the succession 10
daughters well as sons in order that
Isabella might ascend the throne and exclude the
younger brother of the king, Don Carlos, who was
heir presumptive under the old Salic law. Then
he was induced, a a matter of policy, to give
luctant consent to a constitution amended by
the liberal party. They, regarding Don Carlos
with dread the representative of religious fanat
icism, recognized the claims of the infant Isabella,
now known a the eX-queen Of Spain.
At three years Of age she presented 10 the
Cortes, who swOre allegiance, and scene of bar
barrie splendOr followed, which is quoted Yet IN
Madrid something most princely and grand.
Ferdinand soon passed 10 the world where the
soul nakedly confronts its deeds, an OBJECT oi
loathing and infamy. Followers and relatives
quarreled over their spOis while he drew his last
breath. The voluptuOus Christina became regent;
the Carlists fought for their leader; bloOdshed fol-
lowed, cities were sacked and the country deVas-
tated The nation grOaned in its misery, but
Rugged still closer, i'm its blindness, so-caled re-
ligion and the kingly power which sapped the
very essence Of its strength and poisoned the
fountains Of life Education became obsolete, in
dustres languished-but churches hourished and
priests fattened on their spos.
During these years, Isabella was growing up
worthy of her base ancestry. At the age of six
teen, coarse and willful girl her mother endeav-
ored 10 coerce her into marriage with an imbe-
cile and repulsive cousin, Francisco. a long time
Ihe poor child resisted. Historians relate That
finally Christina and one of her ministers spent
night i'm her room, trying tears, brides, batteries
and threats before she consented to that outrage
yielded. 1t. is no wonder with such hereditary
traits and the victim OF such deadly wrongs
that in after life, she threw Off all semblance Of
decency, and became even more corrupt than her
mother Whenever marriage is indisSOluble, vir-
tue may grow to be a mockeTy; the most sacred Of
all relations may become the bitterest With no
legal redress from miserable yOking together
human nature will seek lawless remedies.
Isabella grew more reckless and repusive with
years. Coarse i'm person and low in taste she be-
came by-word even i'm that capital where vice
goes unchecked. She is the natural result of her
ancestry, her surroundings, her religion, and the
habtudeS of her race. Yet has she some noble
and redeeming qualities-kind and afiable to her
interiors, generous to the poor warm in her at
tachments, devoted mother, the common people
Of Madrid regard her with warm affection. In
spite of this eXcesses and extravagances hastened
her downfall. In the year 1865, after riot and
Oution, the queen was deposed, and two years
later her second child and eldest son, Alfonso NII
was declared king after she had abdcated in his
favor The child of thirteen became nominal
ruler, but not peacefully There is no rest for that
country till the illumination of reason and spirit
ual life shall dspe the masmatic fog arising from
bigotry and ignorance. AsmOdeus, the second son
Of Victor Emmanuel Of Italy, was king for a brief
season, but he and his wife fled the country in
disgust Then the republic had its premature and
shOrt-lived day; but since 1879 Alfonso has been
seated on the unstable throne.
AliOnsO's first marriage with his sweet and gen.
tie cousin Mercedes, is matter Of romantic ms
tory. love true and sweet blesses the
humble cottage threw its brief but beautiful light
over the palace for "a few short months, and then
poor Mercedes was gathered to her fathers. Their
affection was the one sunbeam which has pene-
trated the gloom Of jealousy and passion that en-
velOp the barbaric palaces Of the nation. In few
brief months it, hopelessly faded away. The young
king yielded TO motives of policy and soon after
married the Austrian princess, Christina who has
recently become mother OF the future queen Of
SPAIN Perhaps! The handwriting on the wall
OF her 1ortresses the knell Of mOnarchies has been
Tuhg- let little grace, for the people have been
kept as infants. Impoverished hidaigos eIoouent
orators beautiful gitanos, idle men and women of
an ranks must abandon the arena of the bull
nght ana address themselves to peaceful and or