New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-15
pnLrPRAN nECREP[TTDE.

II is rumored that the infant Mercedes oil
Spain has manifested the symptoms of pulmon-
arv disease, and that the prospect of her sur
vival to the period of her majority is slight
While such reports might under other circum-
stances be plausiby explained by ascIlDlhS
them to Carlst malice and intrigue, in the pres
cnt case there is ample reason for regarding
the story as probable. The fact that Alfonso
health had for years been such as to doom HIS
oaspring to the misery of inherited disease
was common talk in Europe long before he
married the Austrian princess. But with Bour-
bon alliances in these days there is nothing 10
be expected but rickety heirs, happy if they
escape actual imbccilty. For the great old
world principle of royal privilege has, III the
case of the House of Bourbon, been squarcy
pitted against natural law, and with results
both moral and social, which are more eloquent
than revolutions. Here is n house which Tor
centuries has bred in and in, and all of whose
scions have been educated to believe that thcJ
were born to rule their fellow
Now the results of these theories have been
before the world a considerable time, and there
is no room for doubt about them. The very
name Bourbon has come to signify benighted
and obstinate stupidity which cannot realize
the character or extent Of general progress, ana
which entrenches itself in obsolete ideas. The
actual Bourbon has for years been the most
active dtmocratizing influence cXtant; for ne
has in all places been living proof of the folly
and puerility of the principles he represents
In this century there has been one bourbon
prince of decided ability, namely, Louis
Philippe As for the rest, they have been
uoncntitics or worse, and probably not one IN
q dozen of them, if set down in the world un-
aided. could earn enough to keep the wolf from
his door. In plain truth these feeble and de
crepit princes are what the controlling motives
of their house have made them. lnherlting the
physical defects and vices due to generations
of unchecked proligacy; inherltlng also the
weak brains which come OF sccluslOn from
strenuous life; stepped in all sensual lnduI-
genccs puilcd-up with carefully lnstllled IDEAS
of their own importance. surrounded always Dy
living hattercrs and base sycophans or crack
Drained enthusiasts, they demonstrate to all
the world what the divine rights of kings come
to when given their own way.
II is indeed curious that Il house Of princes
should thus have come to represent a house OF
incapabcs, but it is the only possible result
when men undertake to reverse the laws oi
Nature. The modern BOurbonS show just Wlat
the limitations of human action in such case
are. 1t is possible, by coercion or p"rsua''on'
10 make nation accept the rule of such princes
Ii is possible TO maintain around them an art
fetal reserve and pGctcnce of reverence "nd
dignity. But here the possibilities end. Nat
IRE ha, dcclccd that folly and vice, the closer
they are allied shall produce the weaker and
mcancr issue. Nature has doomed the children
of blood alliances to physical and mcntal in
fcriorjtv. And it follows from the impo ST.
bility of controlling Nature that the Honrbon'
illustrate more ard more strongly the survival.
not of the Fittcst, bit of the Cniipcst. They
no longer possess any native virtue or
strength. They live only 10y the indulgence OF
others. They present all the characteristics oil
ipcapacity that are recognized, and they are a
standing satire upon the principles fidelity to
which ha, resulted in holding them forth, III al
their weakness and ineptitudc rs hcavon-scni
ruler, whom it is the duty of piou- men to re-
ccivc and submit to. The Bourbon theory oil
government i, in lAct destroyed by the SHOCK
ing example OF those who cmbody It,