The herald., 1898-05-09
DON CARLOS

DON CARLOS
It seems from all accounts that affairs
in Spain are hurrying toward a grave
crisis. The fires of revolution need but
little tanning to quicken into fame
among the excitable dons. and the fate
Of the dynasty Of Alfonso XIII trembles
in the balance. The Vienna correspond
ence of the Daily Telegraph (London, May
7th), published In our edition Of The
Herald Of, that date, refers to the activ-
ity Of the Carlists and the republicans.
especially in the Spanish capital, in fur
thering the interests Of their respective
factions. The Carlists, however, seem to
be in the ascendent. The correspond
ent quotes the earl Of Ashburnham, the
representative Of Don Carlos. in England.
as saying in recent interview:
The issue of the war so far concerns
the present occupant Of the throne,
which is already lost. In very short
time either Don Carlos will be seated
upon the throne or a republic will be
proclaimed.
The Carlists are well organized, dis
ciplined and united under one leader.
while the Republicans are split up into
numerous factions; hence the chances
Of success are In favor Of the former.
The Carlists are the representatives OF
absolutism and priestcraft, and are the
antagonistic complement of the gradual
development of liberal or republican
principles which have struck root even
In the hitherto uncongenial soil of Spain.
The question of Carlistism, If we may
use the term, is not new. After the death
of King Ferdinand VII (September 20,
1889 "the Apostolic party" proclaimed
his brother, Don Carlos, king, under the
title of Charles v. Civil war ensued and
continued with varying results until 1889,
when Don Carlos, mainly because Of the
incapacity and treachery of his COM
mander- in chief, Guergue, was defeated.
This Don Carlos was the grandfather of
the present leader of the Carlists. He
died in 1855. beQueathing his pretensions
to the throne to his son, the duke of
Montemolin, the father Of the present
leader. All through the years since the
failure Of their first attempt to win
kingdom-since the collapse Of the seven
years war in 1S39-40-the Carlists have
vexed the fatherland with more or less
formidable attempts at insurrection and
civil war. They have been driven out of
Spain more than once. but always man
aged to turn up again as good as new
when some crisis in the affairs Of un-
happy Spain promised success to their
cause. The last time the Carlists were
forced over the frontiers Of Spain into
France was in 1876, by the armies Of
Alfonso XII, the father Of the boy king
now known as Alfonso XIII.
1t is interesting to note that after the
abdication of King Amadeo (1S73) a re-
public was declared by the Spanish
cortes, under the immediate inspiration
of CASTELAR,, one Of the few cool-headed
and common-sense statesmen produced
by modern Spain. But even CASTELAR,
Hispano-American trouble began. There
was a fine opportunity afforded Senior
CASTELAR, Of teaching his countrymen
some hard common sense touching the
affairs of the island of Cuba-regarding
"a decent respect for the opinions of
mankind" in removing the iron hand of
cruel and bloody Spanish despotism
from the Gem Of the Antilles. But he
let the golden hour pass by, thus inviting
. political status which brings Don Car
los once more to the front and relegates
CASTELAR, and his Spanish republic to the
tomb Of the Capulets.
In simple truth, Spain is not the soil
in which to plant republican sentiments
It may be that CASTELAR, has found this out
y republican government requires for its
successful working elements that do not
exist in the moral or political atmosphere
Of Spain. The present dynasty was
founded, and after its temporary over
throw re-established, by military force.
The time may be ripe in that country for
the doctrine Of absolutism and the divine
right theory, represented by Don Carlos,
to assume new and stronger propor-
tions. Force, and not reason, it would
seem, is the best argument to use with
Spaniards. We of the United States have
found that they will not listen to reason.
The man on horseback-ths man of blood
and iron-may at last be the only mar
TO bring order out of the chaos existing in
Spain. Don Carlos may be he.
Amidst the insanity that seems to cover
the spaniards as with mantle, amid all
the noise and bluster and absurd bombasr
.es tas Spanish press. ooEtss and court.