The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-06-04
SPANISH HISTORY.
Who the CarIists Are and Their Po-
sitiOn in Spain-The Present Pre-
tender 10 the Throne.

The talk of Carlist risings in Spain,
and particularly the rumor that the
person known as Don Jaime de Bourbon
proposes to put himself at the head OF
the Carlist party, may incite curiosity
in some to know who the Carlists are
and what they stand for in Spain.
Ferdinand v, who came to the throne
of Spain after the earth had settled
from tine Napoleonie earthquake, mar
ried. for his fourth wife, Maria Chris
tina. daughter of the king of Naples, a
sister of the duchess de Berri and niece
of Queen Marie Amelie, wife of King
Louis Philippe of France. Ferdinand
always miserable creature, like most
Spanish monarehs, became more lniser-
able after his fourth marriage. He fell
completely under the domination of his
handsome, energetic, ambitious and
thoroughly unprincipled wife.
Queen Maria Christina was determined
that the crown of Spain should descend
to her family. But governing the de-
scent was the decree of Philip V, which
had been law in Spain for 100 years and
which declared that no woman could
reign in Spain where there lived male
descendant of Philip ". In default OF
male heirs from the marriage of Ferdi-
nand V. and Maria Christina, the law
ful successor under the decree OF Philip
V. was Don Carlos, Ferdinand's brother.
As it turned out, the first child born to
this couple was a girl, Isabella, who,
IA months later, was followed by sis
ter. Even before the birth of lsa-
bella, Queen Maria Christina began
a movement for the setting aside of the
law of Phillip V. Ferdinand, for con-
siderable period, resisted, but yielded at
last, and on April 6, 1910, ordered that
an incomplete decree by Charles ~, in
1889, which appeared to repeal the Sale
law, should be published and made per-
petual All the Bourbons protested, and
the king endeavored to undo his action
by what was called decree of deroga-
ton" but on his deathbed he declared
that his act was the result of misrepre-
sentation, and was, therefore, null and
void. This restored his act intended to
make his daughter Isabella his heir.
When Ferdinand died Marie Christina
was reigning as queen regent, and the
little girl Isabella was the heir appar-
ent, just as the present Marie Chris
tina reigns in the name of the little
boy known as Alphonse XIII.
The brother of Ferdinand, usually
known as Don Carlos, but who INDUCED
in the name and title at home of Car
los Maria Isidor de Borbon-y-Borbon,
infant of Spain, entered his protest be-
fore the death of Ferdinand against all
the proceedings setting aside the Sale
law admitting the female line, and de-
clared himself the lawful heir-apparent
to the throne of Spain. Immediately on
the death of Ferdinand the northern
provinces of Spain rose and declared
for King Charles, as he was styled, and
these people were called Carlists, a name
which continues to exist. Those who
adhered to the existing government, the
government of the queen regent were
popularity called Christmas.
The cause of Don Carlos, dear to the
Spanish heart as standing for bigotry
and despotism, seemed at one time like
ly to triumph, but was betrayed by one
gifts generals, Morotto. Don Carlos fled
from Spain, and in 1914 abdicated in ia
vor of his son, the second Don Carlos
Cabrera invaded Spain in 1919, but he
neglected his former practice of muir
dering and mutilating his prisoners, and
his efforts were not supported with the
former enthusiasm. The second Don
Carlos attempted to enter Spain in 1915
and again in 1860, when he was arrested
and signed a remuneration of his claims
to the Spanish throne. The present pre-.
tender is third Don Carlos, grandson
of the first, son of Don Juan. He has
made several attempts to overthrow The
government of Spain; the most formid
able beginning in 1878 and lasting unit
1876. The Don Jaime, who is described
as DESTROYS of mixing in Spanish affairs
as the head of the Carlists, is the son Of
the third Don Carlos.
1t is a noticeable fact in Spanish his
tory that no real curse ever permanent
ly departs from Spain. One of the per
manent Affections of Spain is what may
be termed Carlism. In no other country
is such a party as the Carlists possible
IT is a party willing to shed its BLOOD
for a government of the worst type O
the fourteenth century. There have
been many Carlist risings, and they art
perpetually expected. Bad as the worst
Spanish government may be, there is
always a worse one threatening.-Kan
sas City Star.