The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
SICKLES, THE "YANKEE KING"
The Generals Influence in Spain Gave
Him a Unique Title.
New York Press.

New York Press.
General Daniel E. Sickles who is now
seventy-five years old and permanently re-
tired from active life, has recently been re-
ported as saying virtually that in his opin-
ion there will be war between the United
States and Spain unless 1t be prevented by
the business influences of the civilized world
which are now stronger than they were in
1873, when they prevented war between the
TWO countries over the VirginiuS affair.
General SickleS should be well qualified to
talk with intelligence concerning Spain,
since as minister to Madrid from this .coun-
try from 1869 to 1874 he made himself eX-
ceedingly popular with all classes. His
service there began soon after Spain had
thrown over Queen Isabella to accept Cen
eral Prim and the republic. Later Prim
was dropped that an Italian prince might
be made sovereign, but his reign was short
lived, and after it's close CASTELAR, was placed
at the head of the republican government.
Castelar, and Sickles were close friends, and
the American generals advice to the Span
lsh statesman was of great value.
1t was followed so implicitly, in fact, that
S1clIles was long termed THE Yankee King
in Spain, and there is no doubt in the minds
of some who are familiar with the facts
and situation that the republic would have
prevailed had he not been recalled at the
time of the Virginius affair, through the
influence of the late Hamilton Fish, then
secretary of state. Despite Gen. Sickles S
popularity in Spain and his sympathy with
that country in many things, he was much
averse to yielding a single point with
cause of his recall, since the business in
terestS of this country, as well as the rest
of the world, believed the incident not of
sufficient Importance to cause war.
General Sicl<leS had never met Isabella
when he was recalled, but he met her soon
afterward in Paris, where he spent some
months before returning to this country
The meeting was in her apartments, where
he called by special appointment, and the
conversation was opened by the general,
who stated that, although he had never
seen his hostess before, he could not fail
of recognizing her anywhere, since he had
70 hon foo h6aTs
portrait which still adorned the walls of
the royal palace in Madrid. This interested
the throneless monarch at once.
What she exclaimed, do those odious
rebels still tolerate the presence of my por-
trait in the palace?"
Certainly. madam replied the general,
land the palace also contains many other
souvenirs of your Majesty"
1T was with difficulty that she could be
made to believe this, and when she accepted
the fact she fell into a soiiloquy the bur-
den of which ran: In my palace! In my
palace! 1t is unexplainable! Why are these
things allowed to remain there when 1 have
been driven out %
General Sickles then assured her that her
downfall was not so much due to personal
unpOpularity on her part as to the odiOus
politics that had fiourished under her reign
The Spanish people continued to love her,
he said, in spite of all, and he had heard
many expressions of tender feeling toward
her. 1t was remembered that she had al
ways been averse to signing death war;
rants, and that many a wretch condemned
her influence. He concluded by the state
ment that while, in his opinion, she might
never resume the throne, the Spaniards
might some time be ready for monarchicaI
rule again.
Later he received news through private
sources that the republic was tottering to
a fail, and, meeting her son, Alfonso, then
only q lad of sixteen. the general commune
Gated the news to him. Alfonso was en-
gagged in roller skating on one of the boule-
wards with lot of other youngsters when
the general spoke to him, and, though he
was greatly interested, as was soon shown,
he affected to receive the information with
the greatest Indifference. The generals
message to the prince was decidedly simple.
1T will not be long," said Sickles, before
you"
Alfonso stopped to adjust a skate strap
before making reply. Then he Strengthened
up
rs it SOP" he said, nonchalantly per
haps 1 shall be ready TO go.
he glided away to join his companions. In
spite of his assumed nonchalance. Alfonso
left off skating as soon as possible, has
tened home to his mother and advised ner
to send for the American at once. She did
So and the general responded to her sum-
the source of his information, but this he
could not make known to her. lie succeed
ed, however, in satisfying her that it was
probably correct, and he advised her in the
strongest terms to abdicate IN favor OF her
son, that he might be able to take the
throne in regular course in case the people
felt disposed to accept him.
Before he left her she informed him that
she saw much of wisdom in his advice, and
the event proved that he had fully con-
for she soon after resigned all claims to the
throne and Alfonso XII assembled.