Morning journal and courier., 1885-01-08
ALFONSO XIII.
King Of Spain, The Young Sovereign
 Who Rules A Country Shaken hy Ecarthuuakes.

King Of Spain, Ehe Young Sovereign Who Rules A Country Shaken Ely Earthquakes.
 A commercial treaty with Spain is before tue United States Senate for ratification o1 rejection. The interest taken in the matter by leading merchants of the United States, particularly in New York, evidences the im- oortance of the questions involved in the treaty especially as they relate to tobacco and sugar interests as effecting our commercial relations with the Spanish colony, Cuba. For the reason alleged Spain occupies large attention in this country at the present time, emphasizing in the public regard the supe- rior interest generally characterizing matters Castilian.
 A reactionary and unpopular administra- ton of domestic policy, great popular disaf- lection in consequence of this, political in +rigue, taking, among other serious forms, that of promoting disioyalty in the army to- wards the young king, awful natural catas- trophes throwing down cities and destroying many lives and much property are features of the present condition of Spain which ex- cite the sympathies of her friends and provoke their fears of another revolution in d country which has been so much injured by sudden and violent political changes. Further justifying anticipations of trouble is the serious sickness of Alfonso XII, the young monarch who wearily wears the crown, the anxieties of which assist the prog ress of his disc Should he survive this year it is not probable that he will be, for the whole period, ill his present position. Evi- dences of his unpopularity abound, and the army, the main support of his power, IS said to be honeycombed with republican senti- nent A sick man is not likely to conciliate and lead the only force which can maintain his power
 The unfortunate king is, however, a sol dier by profession, and this, such as it is, IS something which suggests the possibility of his maintaining his hold of the crown longer than he otherwise could.
 He was born as recently as November 2S, 1S57 the son of the then relgnlng sovereign of Spain, the famous or infamous Queen Isa- bel. who abducted in 1868, to the great relief of the country. A provisional government succeeded this revolution which in 1869 was followed by the regency of Marshal SeTrano Tn 1870 Prince Amadeo, son of the King ot Italy was made King of Spain. He resigned the crown in 1873, and returned to Italy. Then came the republic and at the end of 1871 the proclamation ot Alfonso XII as king. In January of the next year he assumed the dignity to which he had been called, amidst the united good wishes not only of his own country people but of England and other nations of Eng land particularly, because there he had stud jed the art of war, at Woolwieh, near Lon don, and he had made many friends. On January 23, 1878, Alfonso married the Princess Marie-de-las Mercedes, daughter of the Due de Montpensier. She died the same year, and, III November, 1879 the young widower married the Acrchduchess Marie Christina, of Austria, by whom he has a daughter.
 A sister of the Rev. J. E. Allen, of Middle