Evening star., 1897-01-30
A Spanish Minister Who is of Irish
Descent.
CLAIMS TO Be LORD OF DONEGAL
Many Sons Of Erin Have Settled
in Spain.
HOW 1T CAME TO PASS

emy of American interference in Spanish
colonial affairs-the man who dictates to
Minister Depuy de LONE at Washington his
bitterly anti-Cuban policy-in short, the
present powerful holder of the Spanish
portfolio OF foreign affairs. is an Irish
chieftain in his own right, and the owner of
a rame famous in the history Of Ireland.
Such is. however the case. His grace, the
Duke of Tetuan, Spanish minister Of for
eign affairs in the Canovas ministry, claims
to be Lord of Donegal in Ireland. and re-
joices in the very Milesian patronymic of
Charles O'Donnell
Senor Alexandra Ribera, licentiate Of the
University of Salamanca, and now a resi-
dent Of New York city, claims kinship with
the Hiberno-spanish grandee. Indeed. senor
Ribera accompanied the duke to Vienna IN
a secretarial position during the year 1877.
Speaking Of his former chief, he says: THE
Duke of Tetuan was born in 1894. and is,
therefore, sixty-three years OF age. In ap-
pearance he is the typical Castillian noble
man, of stately presence. fine face and dig,
nified manners. Age has somewhat robbed
him of his once soldierly port, and his hair
and mustache are almost white. But his eyes
ago in Vienna, when he laid the founda-
tions of the present Queen of Spain SOW
Ell eighty. The duke Is very proud or MS
name and Irish descent, but apart from
this the distinguished services which his
ancestors have rendered to Spain since
their exile from the mother country might
well give him cause for qualification"
Don Felipe Castro, the Spanish vice con-
sui in New York. said, in the absence of
Consul General Baldasaro, that the present
incumbent of the foreign office at Madrid
is one of the most popular persons who
have ever held that high place, especially
SO among the members of the consular
service. whose chief he is.
Il have met the Duke of Tetuan," said
| IIo fc
dignified gentleman, but his dignity is no
mere mask for lack of brains. Believe me.
he is keen and able statesman. Most OF
the foreign negotiations-the loans and
other affairs, for which entire credit has
been given to Senor Canovas. are actually
due to the mind of the Duke of Tetuan.
have heard him speak Of his Irish name
and descent. 1t was at distribution
of prizes among the royal military cadets,
and it happened that there were two
O'Neills, an O'Conor and an OMaher
among the recipients.
Tetuan on the Irish.
1.-THE duke made mention of the fact. and
discussed the coming of his sires, with those
of the cadets, from distant Ireland. We
| Irish,' he said. in settling on the Spanish
| plains and offering our swords to Spain.
| merely returned to our ancestors ancient
home. The Milesians went from Spain to
Ireland. We have merely come back to
| live among our cousins.
Don Felipe, speaking of the friendship
which long existed between Marshal Mac
] Mahon, president OF the French republic,
and his chief said: ''It had its origin in a
| correspondence over the two distinguished
mems Irish ancestry. MacMahon, like
QDonnell, claimed to be the head or heir
| Of his clan in Ireland. Their intimacy was
| only interrupted by the death of the sturdy
| old ex-president and the Duke of Tetuan
posted all the way from Madrid to be in
| time for his friends funeral
1 fruybS
many distinguished families of Irish name
and blood not the least notable Of which
| is that Of ODonnell, OReillys, O'Neills.
| O'Donajus, Lynches, OMahers, Fitzger-
aids. Purcells, OHigginses and legion of
| others figure in the Hiberno-Spanish or His
| pano-Irish annals. After the fall OF Lime
| rick in 1861 hundreds Of the exiled Irish, OF
| good birth, took refuge In the armies OF
| Europe, which gladly welcomed these ex-
| perieneed soldiers and well-born gentlemen
| Throughout the term of penal laws, which
| ensued, no professed Roman Catholic could
| enter the British army or navy, or hold
| any civil position of consequence. AS re-
| suit the Milesian Irish sent their younger
| sons over seas, to earn abroad the titles
and honors which were denied them a, a.
| home France, Spain and Austria had al
| their Irish brigades, and Irish generals
| were to be found in every European service
| save perhaps that of Sweden. Among the
| exiles were two younger sons of the par
ticular branch of the O'Donnell family tt
| which the Duke of Tetuan belongs.
In the reign of James /, Mall Gary
ODonnell was Prince of TyrconneI lord ol
the mountainous country of Donegal. ane
chief of his name and race. He Warreo
valiantly against the English, but was a
length taken prisoner. and died In the toWel
of London. From the brother of this chief
| Charles Oge O'Donnell, descended the tive
young exlles referred 10. They were Henry
| and Joseph O'Donnell younger brothers o.
| Manus O'Donnen of Wilford Lodge in thu
County Mayo.
Tetuan's Exiicd PrOgenitOr.
| Henry entered the Austrian service an(
! rose to be baron and a major general
| Joseph settled in Spain about 1850, and be
| came lieutenant general. There was NJ
| need to ennoble him, as in Spain all thu
Irish exiles were recognized as mobiles
ready made. This lieutenant general, Dor
Joseph. left four sons all distinguished il
the army of their adopted country. Th'
eldest, Don Jose O'Donnell, was captain
| general of Castillo, and the youngest-DoI
Enrique-was the famous lieutenant gen
eral, O'Donnell, Count of Abisbad, regent o
Spain in 1872 and captain general OF Anda
lusia The second of the four, Don Carlos
also a lieutenant general, and knight o
ST. Ferdinand died in 1880, leaving tw'
| children, of whom the eldest (Don Carlos
O'DonnelD was father OF the present DuK
| of Tetuan; while the second was the re
! | nowned Field Marshal Don Leopoldo ODon
nell, first duke of that name.
The field marshal duke died In 1857, hav
, ing attained the loftiest bonors and digni
, ties before his fftieth year-the year OF hi
, | premature demise. All his titles and es
tates passed to hs nephew. Don Carlos
new Duke of Tetuan, Marquis O'Donnell
, , ard Count of Lucena.
The second duke was born with silve
spoon in his mouth" as the old saw has IT
J The son of Gen. Don Carlos O'Donnell. VIII
! fell CALAMITY on the side of the pretende
! Don Carlos In 1895, and the nephew an
: : heir of the powerful field marshal an
prime minister, he possessed the affection
. of b 9TH Carlist and royalist parties. Borl
! in 1884. he was educated at the queee
mothers expense, and became page l
|. her household He entered the diplomat
I | service, and in 1857. on his uncle's death
! succeeded to the title and the immense fol
| tune left by that dignitary. In 1S75-16 h
| was sent to Vienna as Spanish ambassado
| extraordinary and minister plenipotentiar,
| and while in Austria intrigued successful
| to bring about an attachment between tn
: young King Alfonso XIII and the Gran
Duchess Christina, now Queen Of Spail
: When that monarch made Christina n
!. second wife. the Duke Of Tetuan's positio
TA N1,a o. fivx