Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-28
NOTABLE ANNIVERSARY.
KING CARLOS or PORTUGAL
FORTY YEARS kING-FINAh
clAL DIFFICULTIES.
Personal Popularity Of the Monarch
and His oueen-crown Prince Com.
Ing to the United States Next Year.
Fortieth Birthday Of King Carlos.

Fortieth Birthday Of King Carlos.
LISBON, Sept. 2S,-lThc Portuguese
capital was on fete today IN celebra
tion Of the fortieth birthday OF King
Carlos. The Portuguese press may
term the rotund and happy.golncky
monarch a manifest coward and q
incapable fool" and declare with en-
phasis that a revolution - Imminent
and the setting up OF a republic inev-
liable. but tho masses entertain for
their ruler a personal regard border
Ing on genuine affection. These
friendly sentiments were %abundantly
manifested today BY a lavish decora,
ton Of private houses and by festiv.
lilies In many quarters.
The hand OF King Carlos has been
greatly strengthened from 4 political
viewpoint BY the recent visit to Lis
bon OF King Edward and by the uni
yersai impression that prevails to the
effect that q complete understanding
exists between Great Britain and Port
ugal In regard to their joint interests
In Africa and elsewhere. II the finan.
cinl affairs OF the kingdom could be
bettered and the condition Of the PEG
pie thereby improved. the throne Of
King Carlos would become as stable
as any In Europe. As things 80 az
present, however, the discomfort Is
quite general and serious disturbances
are OF frequent occurrence. The coun.
try is bankrupt the treasury empty
and the government without q vest.
ige OF credit either abroad or ut home.
To provide the necessary funds for
carrying on the administration the
government has been forced year by
year TO increase the taxes until the
burden has become well nigh unbear-
able. Quite naturally. the king. - the
fountain-head Of the government, has
been blamed for the existing state q
affairs. The leading men OF business
and the chief citizens throughout the
kingdom are republicans at heart and
even the army has a leaning ~ tho
same direction, while the labor cle
ment is almost wholly socialistlc, In
View Of these conditions IL would not
be surprising II at any time the house
OF Braganza would be forced 70 20
and a new government established in
its stead.
Yet, as monarchs go nowadays,
King Carlos a not be described as
q bad ruler. lie Is certainly no fool,
while physically. at any rate, he is no
coward. whatever he may be polite
ally. lie has inherited. however. from
his father not only the latter's excess.
I've s%mbonpoint. but also his extra
ordinary Incidence and apathy In con
nection with his duties or fnieTship
In his earlier days the king was ox
ccssiyely fond OF swimming and alsc
was renowned as a toreador. Tbs
only sport IN which he INDUCES nov
Is that OF hunting, He Is reputed e
be The best royal shot In Europe,
The personal popularity which III,
king enjoys undoubtedly "a duo In !
large measure TO his %consuri, who Il
beloved for her simplicity, her soun'
common benss and her opcn.hande,
generosity. A, her own expense Qucei
Marie Amelle. who Is possessed Of Al
immense private fortune. maintain
magnificent hospitals and dispense
ries In Lisbon. She inaugnratcd iii
treatment by antitoxin OF diphtheris
that terrible scourge Of Portugal, sh
being the first TO submit herself
inoculatlon with the serum III order
prove 20 the poorer classes Of n
population that there was no DANCE
IN the remedy. The queen Is the onl
lady Of royal birth who has the rigl
to add the letters NJ. d. 10 her nam
having passed all the examination
and taken her degree as q fuliaedge
doctor 81 medicine.
The heir TO the Portuguese thron
Don Luis Felipe, IL now preparing 4
his trip TO the United states ne,