The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-28
IS NOW KING
HAS TAKEN CONSTITUTIONAL
OATH OF OFFICE.
Attains His Majority and the Long
est Regency in the History of Spain
Comes to an End.

MADRID, May 1.-THE young AL
fonsO of spain attained his majority to-
day and became King in fact as well
as in name, having reached the age of
16, prescribed by the constitution.
Beautiful weather favored this, the CEN
trail day of the fetes. At an early hour
all the bands of music of the troops
composing the garrison marched
through the principal streets, play
ing lively marches, to the royal palace,
where they performed beneath the wins
dOws of the Kings apartments. the
decorations along the line of the coro-
nation procession were very rich, and
many other streets were prOfusely
| adorned with flags and bunting.
The King and the Queen Regent were
seated side by side in the royal coach,
and were accompanied by the Infanta
| Maria Theresa, youngest sister of his
| majesty. 1t was drawn by eight fine
| speckled grays in drak red harness,
! having heavy ormolu ,ornamentation.
| Immense white ostrich plumes waved
| from the heads of these horses. The
officers of the Kings military household
and three squadrons of the kings body
guard closed the parade.
| The procession proceeded to the Cham
Der of Deputies, before the steps Of
which had been erected purple can
opy.
A delegation, consisting of twelve
| Senators and twelve Deputies, received
their majestes al the step. The King,
the Queen Regent and the Prince and
| Princess of the Asturias assembled
platform especially constructed, facing
the semi-circular gilded hall, around
which the benches were filled to their
capacity by Senators, Deputies, cour-
tiers and Ministers. The foreign prin-
ces and other special ENJOYS were seat
ed Immediately to the right of the plat
form, which was draped with red. Four
gilded arm chairs were placed in the
front of the platform beneath red
canopy. The King and Queen Regent,
who had entered together, took the
center seats and the Prince and Prin-
cess of the Asturias seated themselves
in the others. On the left of the King
stood a table on which was a Bible
with a silver crucfiX behind it. on the
side of his majesty was a stool, on
which was a golden crown, blazing
with jewels, and a scepter
AS the royal party entered the hall
every one present rose, and remained
standing until the Queen Regent pro-
nounced the words BE seated" The
President of the Chamber, Senator
Armijo, who approached the table on
which the Bible rested, then said amid
impressive silence: Senior, the COrtes
ConVoked by your august mother is
assembled to receive from your ma
jesty the oath, which, in accordance
with the law, you take to maintain the
constitution and the laws"
Senior Armijo then drew near the
King and held out the Bible, at the
same time keeping open a book con-
tanning the formula of the oath. His
majesty, placing his right hand on the
Bible, then uttered the following
words: Il swear by God, upon the
Holy Bible to maintain the constitu-
ton and the laws If so, may God re-
ward me. If l do not, may he call me
to account"
The Queen Regent, the royal party
and all others present listened to the
foregoing standing. King Alfonso then
again seated himself on the throne, and
the others also reseated themselves.
The President of the Chamber returned
t. the table, and from there, addressing
the King, said: The COrtes has re-
ceived the oath your majesty has taken
to maintain the constitution and the
laws"
At the same moment the booming of
twenty-one guns was heard, announc-
ing to the city that the King had taken
the oath.
The procession passed through the
crowded streets and re-entered the pal
ace, where Senior Sagasta, the Prime
Minister, presented to his majesty the
formal resignation of the Cabinet,
which the King confirmed. King AL
fcnso requested Sagasta to retain the
seals of office.