Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-17
The Comte de Paris.

III mas been often assumed that the dis
appearance of the Comte de Chamhord
would place the Comte de Paris in the
position OF acknowledged chief of the
french Royalists. This is by means GER
tam. Louis Philippe's grandson descends
from fhlllp, Duke of Orleans, who was
brother of Louis XIV. but there are direct
descendants of Louis XIV. i'm the persons
OF Don Carlos, of Spain, and his son. Don
jaime, boy of Is, who is understood to he
heir to the COmte de Chambord's nrivote
property. Don Carlos springs from the
stock of Philip v, Louis XIV,s grand
son, who, on accepting the Spanish crown
formally renounced for himself and his
helrs forever, all claims to the Bourbon
succession IN France. But IN 1880 Fer
dinand Y ii. abrOgated the Salic law that
his daughter might succeed him. ana
Philip LV.'s descendants i'm the direct
male line being thus excluded from the
thrOne. Don Carlos claims that the act of
remuneration made under the SaIic law
has become void. 1t might exercise the
wits of jurists to determine whether an
eXlled Spanish King could become a
Frenchman like his fOrefathers bv n mere
act of volition; but the strength Of Don
Carlos position as possible heir to
imaginary rights does not rest only on the
fact that he is a Bourbon of straighter
lineage than the COmte de Paris. and that
ne married daughter OF the COmte de
Chamb0rd's only sister. Henry v. even
had he been seated on the throne. could
not have appointed Don Carlos his heir.
unless-and we offer no opinion on this
point-Don Carlos claims were lawfully
tenable; but the Comte de Chambord has
1t in his power to recommend Young
Don Jaime to the homage of Legitjmist
deYotees, and if he did this the R0valists
would doubtless remain as disunited as
they are now. There are MANY old
KOyallsts who cannot forgive the Comte
de Paris for being the descendant of
Phlilppe Egalite, who voted for the de-
capltatlon OF Louis XVI, and the grand
son of Louis Philippe, who, as they saw.
betrayed the interests of the boy. Henry
", by accepting the French throne after
he had been appointed Lieutenant General
of the kingdom by Charles Y. To these
men also the constitutional doctrines Of
what is called Orleanism are most
obnoxious; and in certain cases
political hostility to the Orleanists is
much embittered by the recollection of
snubs and petty prosecutions which the
Legltimists endured under the monarchy
OF July. But in reviewing these facts as
destined possibly to initiate against tbe
general recognition of the COmte de Paris
as head of the BOurbons, we are far from
af1rmIng that they would do so. There
mas Deen no indication yet of the Comte
de Chambord's intentions. He might i'm
a supreme hour relent toward his long
detested kinsmen, and leave the Comte
de Paris III the enjoyment of all
his royal rights for what they are
worth. In that case the Comte de
Paris would stand in the conspicuous and
position of being the nominal
leader to a large body of men VINO are
to the institutions now upstand-
ing in France. Assuming that he has no
desire to play the part of Pretender-
and he has often declared that he has
may experience some embarrass-
ment in restraining his supporters;
and if unfortunately these should
make any injudiciOus use of his name
we may expect to see the Republican
government sOrely puzzled as to how II
should encounter this new development of
ROyalism.