Washington sentinel., 1898-04-30
Carlos VII.
New York SuA,

Spanish patriotism was not directed
against America alone. Ever since IS33,
when Dona Christina induced Ferdinand
VII to juggle the crown away from its
rightiul heirs Spains difficulties have
been the Carlists' opportunities. Two
wars have already been waged in the
cause OF the exiled kings, the last one
only twenty-five years ago. Ofthe nine
colonial revOlts in Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippine Islands during the last
sixty years, seven have been signals for
Carlist outbreaks. Yet there are Span
iards, in this supreme moment ofSpain's
destiny, who affect to believe that the
Carlist leader. who has already headed
one iny aston, will consent TO withdraw
his claims and abandon a cause that has
always carried with it the support of the
nOft1eTn provinces and is more thsn
favored by the mass Of the Spanish
peasantry.
Sc long as the war lasts Don Carlos
| has promised not to embarrass the Mad.
rid Government. 1t is even said that
he Will take up aims in the national
cause and as policy and patriotism point
the same way so far as his chances Of
reaching the Spanish throne are con-
cerned, it is not unlikely that he may
seek popular applause by little active
fighting. Don Carlos can well afford to
wait. He must know the inevitable
result ofthe present war, and it will fall
10 with his plans admirably to make
spectacular attempt to ward off a disas-
ter for which be can never be held
responsible. The Queen Regent has
united Spain behind her only so long as
Spanish arms are successful. The first
whisper OF defeat Will provoke mutter-
ings against 'the Austrian the final
reverse VIII drive her across the Pyr-
enees
That, at least, is the result which
Spanish history during the present cen.
turY would lead US to expect. The
Madrid mob, like the mobs of Paris and
Athens, must always have its victim. II
has banished kings and queens and
recalled them; set up a militia ry adven
turer to rule in their place and pulled
him down; clamored for republic and
three months later broken it to pieces.
Most certainly it will not quietly tolerate
the loss of Cuba and the defeat oi the
Spanish Navy. And to the Madrid mob
there Is only one adequate requital for
an unsuccessful war--a change Of
dynasty, If the past is any guide, the
struggle with the United States will end
in the Queen Regent and her son fol.
lowing Christina, Isabella H., an6
Alfonso XII. into banishment
Such an outcome the Carlists have been
expecting, ready to turn it to their own
profit, since the Cuban revolt broke out.
Toward the end of last year, in the
pages Of an English magazine. Don
Carlos authorized a positive declaration
that he was once again TO put his cause
to the hazard Of war. He argued that
as a result OF Ferdinand's tamperrng
with the succession Spain had reaped
nothing but ceaseless civil war and re-
bellioD. If the legitimate heirs were to
be restored TO The throne, the country
might enjoy some internal peace So
long as a single carlist prince is alive,
the hardy mountaineers of the Basque
| Provinces and Navarro will support his
claims, and the peasantry throughout
the country yield only a forced and
passive loyalty to the present dynasty.
Moreover, the Carlists have twice been
within an ace OF success. In the thirties
aud again in the seventies foreign inter
vention alone kept them from entering
Madrid. A cause which is legally right,
which has twice triumphed oyer its
immediate opponents, which is believed
in BY great session Of the country, is a
cause that dies hard.
To day she condition ofaffairs is m re
| favorable TO the Pretender than at any
time during the last sixty FIVE years
The army has been decimated bv the
Cuban rebellion, and the peasantry
from whose ranks the conscriptS have
been largely drawn are dissffected, by
their losses and the excessive taxation,
to a point Of revolt. A foreign war may
cause them to sink their grievances Tor
a while, but civil war is a different
thing The Church, too, is well dis
posed to Don Carlos, and likely. if the
expected crisis comes, to throw its inn.
mense influence on his side. Moreover,
a kingship Of some kind is the only form
of government the Spaniards can under.
stand. They have tried a military
despOtism, a republic and a faint re-
fection of constitutional monarchy.
The republic went to pieces through its
total discord with the spirit Of the
people, and the experiment is not
likely to be tried again. A military
despotism can only be set up " hen the
Weyler party, the Campos party, and
the BlancO party have settled the ques
ton of supremacy among themselves.
II the overthrow OF the present dynasty
is as inevitable as il seems to be, some
king must take its place; ant Carlos apI
Dia6oIyS.
Il IS. OF course, a question what part
the European powers, who have always
been hostile to the Carlists, will take ir
the coming struggle. Austria, by reason
Of her kinship with the present ruling
family, and England, as the possessoi
OF Gibraltar, will each have a voice il
the matter. It is possible that history
may again repeat itseli; that at the las
moment the powers may intervene once
more and guarantee to the Queen Regen
the security OF her sons throne. Wha
Is certain is that as a result of ou
determination 10 free Cuba from Span
/ al v,.fertnIa kha FNa~Tfets b,,-a rh,r-, a.