Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-26
DON CARLos's CHANCE.

The weakness OF the Spanish govern
ment was well Illustrated some time
ago, when the birthday OF Don Carlos,
the pretender to the throne was cele-
brated throughout the kingdom. Ac-
cording to all accounts there were fetes
in the principal towns and villages. and
many were held in the open air, the
people shouting for Don Carlos, Eel
rev." or the king. and the government
did not interfere. 1t is reported that the
Carllsts are armlng themselves, NUM-
tons are pouring across the frontier
and the signs indicate that rising is
contemplated as soon as the time is
considered opportune. Spain is divided
against herself. in the crisis the ruling
spirits have brought upon her, and 1t is
certain that a divided kingdom cannot
stand. Tho reigning house is not popu-
lar. while the belief prevails among the
peasants that Don Carlos would be able
to give them relief from the intoerable
burdens of taxation under which they
are suffering.
Don Carlos has had checkered
career. He was born in a little village
in the Austrian Alps, his parents being
In exile. The emperor of Austria placed
the boy under the care of the priests
and the training he received has had a
determining influence upon his entire
life. Thirty years ago the Spanish
crown was offered to him by Prlm
and Sagasta. the only condition being
that he should promise to support the
liberal constitution and favor the separ-
alton of church and state. This he re-
fused to do. remarking that when he
came to the throne he would rule the
land as he saw fit; the church was
more to him than the throne and he
would not bind himself to deprive 1t OF
From that hour Sagasta was one Of his
most bitter enemies.
Several Instructions have taken
place In behalf of the pretender. The
last one. commencing in 1873 and last
ing COR three years. was the most
formidable. He then clearly defined
his program. Spain wanted. he said.
real king and a government worthy
and energetic; no outrage should be
" AhAAit ~ "a 'shNhF''N'NS
was truth and the symbol of all the
country's glories, the spirit OF her laws
and the bond of concord of the people.
That Is to say, absolutlsm and loyal
support to the church are what the
leader of the Carlists stands up for
During the last instruction Don
Carlos had large army. To him
Hooked followers from many nations
They were finally defeated because they
could receive no support by the powers
Even the recognition of belllgcrency
was denied them, owing to the position
token by Great Britain, which was ex-
pected by the other European powers to
take the lead; but Gladstone was firm.
There remained nothing for Don Carlos
to do. his resources being exhausted
and his heroic bands gradually dissolv-
ing, but TO leave Spanish soil, For
years he lived quietly at Paris, and
afterwards In Switzerland ard Italy.
AT present his followers constitute the
strongest political party in Spnin. The
probability is that as soon as 1t lawns
upon the Spanish people that the queen
regents government has led the .oun-
try into a disastrous struggle with n
foreign power. there viii be a general
revolt and the masses will turn 10 the
pretender and proclaim him king. Re-
publlcanism was tried by the coun-
tsy for two wears, but these were
marked with disturbances 20 such an
extect that 1t Is doubtful whether even
the leaders Of the republican party
would dare to try the experiment again.
The country may have to pass through
the regime Of absolutism before 1t is
prepared Cor republican Institutions.