The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27

to that title, no matter what his descent
was. 1t seems, too, great pity to spoil
SO picturesque a pTetender as Carlos is to
couldn't make any other kind. No Bourbon
ever did. And probably this posturing
scion of an ancient house is having far
than he would have If he added the burdens
of actual kingship to the load he already
carries.
Pretendership is chronic in the Bourbon
family. Not only is there Don Carlos, but
Louis Philippe is patiently waiting for the
monarchistS to call him to the throne of
France, old Francis IL, of the two Sicilies,
is willing to slip back at any time into
the royal seat, from which his people un-.
Parma is still waiting to resume the duty
of reigning over that duchy, from which
King Victor Emmanuel of Italy relieved
him, much to the satisfaction of his form
er subjects. Little Alfonsos father was also
in the pretending business for awhile, and
was only ELECTED King of the Spanish h PEG PEG.
the present King of Spain will yet have
taste of the ancestral fate.
The house of Bourbon has undoubtedly
had a long and distinguished career in the
history of Europe. AS far back as SSS one
of their number became King of France.
Bour bon family, but others are the per-
qusites of the Spanish monarch, as such.
Alfonsos official designation claims for him
lordship over at least half the world. he
is called King of all America, of India and
of the East and West Indies, whilst as is
well known, the colonial possessions of
Spain are now confined to her slender hold
on Cuba and Porto Rico, as representing
the former great American colonies, to the
Philippine islands, and to the Insignificant
island of Fernando Pc, on the west coast
of Africa. In many other ways the amiable
delusion that Spain is still a great colonial
power is fostered. There are still in exist
ence official organizations such as the
bureau of Archives General Of the In
dies" which imply in their titles that Spain
rules yet the new world discovered by Co
lumbuS.
One would think that more of humiliation
than of pride would naturally be felt by
the bearer of a title, the reality of which
claim had long since been disproved, but
evidently the matter does not thus strike
the Spanish mind. The Spanish people
would rather have their King still claim to
be lord of ali America, bringing UP before
the memory all that black history of cru
city and misrule, rather than to have him
drop a title which feeds their vanity whilst
it Shames their ineapacity for righteous
government and calls the world once more
to remember their cruelty
KING OF GIBRALTAR"
But why, OF all things, should Alfonso
still retain the title of King of Gibraltar?
locality in the whole peninsula that Spain
would wish to keep severely silent about it
would be Gibraltar. That impregnabIe fort
ress is situated on Spanish soil and yet bids
defiance to all the powers OF Spain. Il for
bids Spanish ships to pass from the Medlte ter
by Great Britain, power that throughout
history has been SPANS greatest enemy.
England has captured in war most of
Spains West Indian colonies and holds
them to this day; she has the power to
infiict upon Spain at any time the most
cruel insults and deepest injuries, in pres
ence of which the Dons would be absolutely
powerless. Yet poor, proud, decrepit, old
Spain still permits her boy King in terrible
irony TO call himself king of Gibraltar"
The King Of SPANS claim to be King of
Jerusalem is merely to be considered a
harmless piece of vanity quite pardonable
in its nature In fact, to be a European
monarch in good and regular standing one
is almost compelled to call himself by this
title The Emperor of Austria adds this
handle to his name, as do the Bourbon pre-
tenders and a number of the small fry.
on the whole. little Alfonso's prospects
in life arc veil symbolized by the titles he
bears: the latter are numerous and grand
floouent but nearly all of them are names
with no reality back of them, and no power
to support their pretensions. The little
King is placed in the midst Of the most
ceremonious court in Europe. and so hedged
about with adusation and f1attery that his
pride Is enormously stimulated, but back
of all this there is no reality. A large sec
ton &C the people do not regard him as the
rightful King, the clergy especially, that
all-powerful class In Spain. considering him
an inferloper. His court IS honeycombed
with treachery. that is ready at moment