The Portland daily press., 1885-11-26
ALFONSO XII.
Sketch of His Life and Accession to
the Throne of Spain.

When Isabella of Spain fed into France, with
her children her lover Marfoci and her chaplain
Claret her Oldest son. Alfonso Prince of Asturias,
was not quite IL years of age. The misdeeds of
Queen Isabella's administration, and her own per-
sonal misconduct and moral depravity, had caused
widespread dissatisfaction, which led to numer-
Gus Instructions from 1866 to 1868, and finally
eliminated ISept. %, 1868, in the defeat of the
royal army at Alcolea and the flight of the Queen
to France. Alfonso was the son of Isabella and
her cousin. the Infante Francisco, and was born
Nov. 2S, 1857 Upon the fight of the Queen
provisional government was established in Spain
under the direction of Generals Serrano and Prim
and Senior Olozaga. During 1869 several Repub-
liean instructions against the provisional govern
ment were suppressed with terrible bloodshed
and the cortes voted to establish regencyiwith
Serrano at its head. Violent discussions ensued
concerning the choice of King. At this juno
ture with no hope of again ascending the throne
in person. Isabella abdicated her claim to the
AS there appeared no immediate prospect of the
young King de jure ascending the throne of his
ancestors, he was sent to the military school at
Woolwich, England, to be educated; In the
meantime several Princes had rejected the prof
fered crown of the disOrganized skingdOm of
Spain. Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern Seginar-
niger was proposed to the cortes by the provincial
government, but he declined in consequence of
the strong opposition of France-a factor that re-
peration the ecortes finally elected for King
Amadeus, Duka of AOsta, the second son of Vic
tor Emanael of Italy The crown was accepted
Dec A. 1870. His reign was short and strong.
The dislike of the Spaniards for foreigner and
the demorallzed condition of all parties forced his
abdication on Feb. IL, 1878. semi-republican
form of government, or rather series of govern
ments, followed Don Carlos had proclaimed him
self King and insurrection followed insurrection
in all parts of the Kingdom.
Proclaimed King.
Amid all these divergent factions there was
constantly growing element in favor of the young
son of Isabella. During the winter of 1915 he
was proclaimed King by the armies Of the centre
and north and in Madrid, and on Jan. 9th Alfonso
XII landed in Spain, and with the forces that
rallied his standard, took the field in person
against the Carlists but with slight success Sub
Sequently however, operations were resumed
with greater vgor most of the CarliSt chiefs sub
mtted, others fled to France and many were shot
as traitors With an empty treasury and almost
innumerable political factions even in Madrid, the
young King gained friends and strength every
day Though the opening of his reign gave little
promise of peaceful career it has been moderate
ly successful and quiet Young, patriotic and un-
assuming he soon gained the affection of his sub
iects, and under his short rule his people have
joyed greater degree of civil liberty than every
Twice Married.
Although so young man and recently King,
| Alfonso has been twice married His first mar
daughter of the Duke of Monthensier, to whom
he was united Jan. 90, 1873, was a powerful fac
tor in cementing his hold upon the affections of
his people. She was idolized by the Spaniards,
| who became frantic with grief at her unhappy
| death the same year. The royal couple, also,
was very much like other folks in their logefor
each other, and after the death of his fair yQHng
Queen, Alfonso refused to be eemfoftsd, ana fof
several months remained an IS onabres seclhSip1
within his apartments stsatM EscuriaE Tue del
mands of his subjects, however were too strenui
| Gus to remain unheeded, and the following yeaf
| he began to look around for q second party. Tho
| Archduchess Marie Christina of Austria was set
yenfbef 1879. The only 6ffsbqfhgS 81 this union
| is daughter, named after the first wife Of Al;
| fonso. While the right of the deceased monarch
to the throne Of Spain only existed through a-vii
olation Of the Salic Jaw by the father of exQueeli
tksa6s% st Ss9dIIhs IL t S g E ta Spgesedd ed
While the Infanta Mercedes will doubtless be
proclaimed queen, Spain will indeed be fortunate
if it escapes at this time the horrors of civil war.