The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-24
ii.

We now come to the eliminating period in
b life OF Prince Amadeus. The fact is recalled
by Mr.. Whitehouse that, four days previous
ly to the declaration Of war against Prussia
by Napoleon III. July 10. 1870, Gen.
LAMA received from the Marquis Yiscon-
H-Venosta a communication stating that
the British Minister. on visiting him the day
before, had read q telegram from Lord Gran
vile announcing that the Spanish Government
was prepared to do all in its power to nullify
the Hohenzollern candidature for the throne IL
It could rely on the acceptance OF the Spanish
GROWN by an Italian prince. AS there
IL no time to losc.' added the Italian
Minister for Foreign Affairs. II am starting
for Leghorn to ascertain the views of the Duke
OF Aosta." 1t will be remembered that. in 1863,
the overthrow OF the Spanish Bourbon mon
Archy and the fight Of Queen Isabella from st.
Sebastian to Pau had left Spain q prey to revo-
luton and party strife. Tho provisional Govern
ment which assumed supreme authority at
Madrid under Marshal Serrano in October OF
the year named resigned its powers on Feb. %,
1869. to the Cortes elected by universal
suffrage. This body. however. confirmed
6errano as chief Of the executive. and. on the
18th Of the following June. nominated him
Regent. A few weeks later General Prim an
nounced to the Chamber OF Deputies the for
nation OF the new Ministry. OF which no as
sumed the Presidency. Had the election OF q
constituent assembly been undertaken imme-
diately after the events at Cadiz In September,
3 9 events by which Queen Isabella lost her
throne. It is probable that but little difficulty
would have been experienced In eliminate
ing the Republican element considered as
q factor in national politics. The delay
which elapsed before an appeal to the
nation was made and the dissensions
among tho Monarchists allowed Democratic and
Socialist agitators to secure a hold over the
masses and to 'instil the conviction that a re-
publican form OF government was the only one
under which they could hope for peace and JUS
tlce. The Madrid Government. however, con-
WINGED that the monarchical system alone
offered serious guarantees of stability, which
views were shared by a large majority OF the
members OF the constituent assembly, began to
cast about for a successor to Queen Isabella ii.
After ~fruitless negotiations with Ferdinand
Of Portugal. attention was turned TO Prince
Thomas. Duke Of Genoa. as n candidate likelyt to
prove generally acceptable to Spaniards, In spite
Of his being under age. General Prim went so
far as to consider the fact OF the Princes being
q minor a point in his favor. as 1t would permit
Of his being taught during the regency the
political condition and wants Of the country he
was to govern. The project, however. was soon
abandoned. owing to the opposition OF the
young Dukes mother, In the autumn OF 1865
negotiations had been opened with Amadeus
also. but he being. at that time. heir pre-
Sumptiye to the crown OF Italy. the proposal
could not be entertained. The choice Of a con-
siderable faction in the Cortes was Espartero.
Duke della Yittoria, who had been appointed
Regent OF Spain during the minority OF Isa-
bella, but the aged soldier refused to permit
himself TO be brought forward. The Duke Of
Montpensier, a son OF Louis Philippe. was. by
virtue OF his marriage with the sister Of the ex-
Queen. a candidate for the throne. but his pop