The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-09-08
TROUBLES OF SPAIN.
War BeEan-IIer Throne Has
Long Been Shaky.

Those who are rusty on Spanish his
tory can brighten their knowledge by
reading an epitome of the serial story
of political troubles that began in 1908.
1t was then that Ferdinand VII, a full
blooded Bourbon, was overthrown by
Napoleon, who placed his brother, Jo-
seph Bonaparte, on the throne. Six
years later Ferdinand was restored by
the help Of the English. He reigned
until 1888, when he was succeeded by
his three-year-o daughter, Isabella.
How Ferdinands designing wife
brought about this break in the legiti
mate line of succession, and how it
was resented by Don Carlos the law
full heir to the throne, has already been
told in detail to the readers of the
Free Press. Out OF this unwarranted
transfer of the crown grew up the
party of the Carlists, and the almost
unbroken periods of revolution inter
vening to the present.
In 1910 the queen regent, Isabella's
mother, was banished, and Gen. Es
partero, commander of the royalst
army, became dictator and afterwards
regent. Three years later a revolu-
ton drove him out, and brought the
queen regent back. Though Isabella
was then but 13. it was solemnly de-
creed that she had reached her ma
joritN, and she was united in marriage
with Francis d'Azzis, of the house of
p0n h.,c
an event that goes far toward ac
counting for the sympathy that Spain
enjoys with the royalists in France.
There was a double wedding. Maria.
the sister of Isabella, marrying the
duke of Montpensier, son OF Louis
Philippe and heir to the throne of
France. Their son was the count of
Paris, the French pretender.
Peace obtained till 1854 when Gen.
O'Donnell started a revolution that
compelled the cortes and the ministry
to proclaim constitution that had
been adopted in 1897, but completely
ignored. In 1856 there was another
revolution caused by disaffection in
the army. For nearly year business
was suspended and the entire kingdom
was under martial law. In 1860 the
Carlists made futile effort to regain
the throne. Petty revolutions fol-
lowed each other thick and fast till
1868, when the movement led by Gen.
Prim and Marshal Serrano was sue
cessful. The queen, her mother and
her children fed to France, and Ser
rano became dictator. This continued
to November. 1870. when a jnnta placed
Amadeus, son of Victor Emanuel and
brother of the king of Italy. on the
throne. In 1873, during the bloody
uprising of the Carlists. that lasted
four years, Amadeus abdicated to save
his life. The cortes proclaimed re-
public that endured just II days. when
Nicholas Salmeron was made dictator
| and president. his term enduring for
53 days. Then came Emilio CASTELAR,
| to the head of the government. who
| in short time. abandoned the SUI
preme purpose of his life, declared the
Spaniards incapable of self-govern,
| ment. dissolved the republic and
turned both civil and military authori
ty over to Serrano. who, January 9
1878. proclaimed as king Alfonso Mi.
one of the many "irregular" children
| Of sabella.
| After the close of the Carlist war
March !, 1876, there was comparative
| peace to 1889. when there was revolt
extending from barcelona to Cartha
| 1nvn1vi ,f L,
's4 came the military conspiracy a,
Madrid, the dynasty having a narrow
escape. the same year being marked
by half dozen republican uprisings
The entire country was on the verge
of revolution when the king died ant
the attention of the people was di
verted. Maria Dc Las Mercedes, the
oldest daughter of Alfonso NIL, wa:
proclaimed queen, with her mother a:
regent, but six months later Alfonso
XIII. was born, compelling the retire
ment of his sister, but continuing the
regency. Revolutions and riot!
marked 1891 and '92. and in 90 in
ternal conditions had grown so bat
that Infanta Isabella, aunt of tn,
infant king, and having more influenc,
with the Spanish people than has an,
other one person, was not permitted
to visit the worlds fair. In 1894 ther,
broke out the violent revolution in tn,
Philippines, the ravages of which hav,
not ceased even with the victory O
Admiral Dewey. In 1895 began tn
revolution in Cuba, one of the mos
justifiable revolts against long-contin
ued tyranny in all the worlds history
In this brief review it will be seel
that Spain enjoys just as stable gov
ernment now as she has for the las
two-thirds of century. She has mad
herself notorious chiefly for corrup
ton in civil circles, gross misgovern
ment and barbarous brutality in wal
l-Detroit Free Press.
Diamonds in Steel Rails.
Microscopic diamonds have bee
found in worn steel rails of the North
leastern Railway cOmDany in Engla nf