New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-25
THE M0NTPENSIER BLIGHT
Objections Raised IN Spain to the
Consort Selected for the King.

Although Princess Louise OF Orleans is a very
r-etty girl and in every sense OF the word accom-
pashed and charming. yet the project OF marrying
her 20 Young King Alfonso excites much opposition
"a fl VII throughout Spain This is mainly due to
the fact that she is a granddaughter OF the late
Duke Of Nontpensier. whose title is now borne by
her younger brother. There is no name more pro-
soundly exeorSted throughout the Peninsula than
.rat OF the Duke OF Montpensier. who was hated
<or his sor6id Evarce for his inability 10 abstain
from fntrgues CT the most Questionable character.
ard who displayed the basest ingratitude to-
I'D his wife's elder sister. Queen Isabella 70
whom be indebted 1Or al his honors. his dig
,f-ies and lis Possessions infant OF Spain
r'sss-oointed IN his hopes thai her childlessness
,rouls bring his wife and himself 20 the throne
80 ss not hesitate openly 20 aIlege that her pro-
ee-v were llegitinste n 50 far that they were
"a. ne offspring OF King Francis. and he was one
- The principal authors OF the revolution OF 1855
-Aich drove Isabella from the throne. though he
was frustrated in his design Of being elected TO
-ske her place In fact. he distrustec and
eisilke6 that the people o. Spain expressed their
determination 20 offer the crown 70 any foreign
prince rather than permit the Duke OF Montpensier
20 -u'e over them. The way in which he killed
Prince Henry OF Bourbon IN 1s7O-it was more In
the nature of cold blooded murder than duel
tended srI further 20 increase the hatred IN which
his name was held and after the restoration or
lis nephew. Don Alfonso 10 the throne in 1873 his
own return 10 Spain regarded almost in the
rlage Tor the King with his daughter. Princess
Christine. but the latter died suddenly. and then
smother o. his daughters. Princess Mercedes. be
came aflsnced 20 the young monarch. the mar
riage taking place A few months later the young
Queen died suddenly as her sister and while
IhCre are some people who insist that both prin-
cesses were poisoned by people who dreaded the
influence which the Duke as father-in-law OF tie
King would exercise over the latter, there are
others who saw II the sudden and untmey death
OF both charming Processes indication that the
Duke ans everything connected with him were
bughted with curse IN punishment OF his many
Infauaies
Misfortune has pursued the Duke. living and
dead his only son. Don Antonio. IS 20 all intents
and purposes al exile. making his home IN Ttaly.
his WIFE the Insanta EUslie. declining live with
him while the Dukes daughter. the Countess OF
Paris. after seeing her husband expelled from
France end die IN foreign land finds her
eldest son subjected 70 SIN more unhappy fate,
since not only is he banished from France, but he
receives the colo shoulder al nearly al the foreign
courts BY reason OF his unfortunate behavior
Should. therefore. the young King OF Spain marry
Princess Louise OF Orleans, the daughter OF the
Countess OF Paris and The sister OF the Duke OF
Montpeusier. large number OF his subjects would
be filed with supersttious dread that he would
b doomed 20 misfortune and fall & prey 10 the
Nortpensier blight The marriage OF the young
kings elder sister the Princess OF the Asturias
70 Prince Charles q Bourbon. son OF the claimant
20 the throne o. Naples. was so unpopular that IL
actually LED 10 sanguiuary riots IN Madr'1 and
other parts q Spain There no objection TO
the Prince personally, but merely HIS branch OF
the Bourbon family. which Is noted for its reac-
-io-ary tendencies. An6 50 IN the same way while
there can be no possible objection OF personal
character 70 Princess Louise OF Orleans Yet the
ve-y fact that she is Nontpensier is enough 10
prejudice Spanisrds Of every shade OF political
opinion utterly against the projected marriage. It
is much more likely that the King viii wed either
E1vz-lan princess. or else, possibly. OF the
Young Austrian srchduchesses o. whom there are
g large number more suitable in the matter OF age
q become the cOnsort OF the King OF Spain than
Princess Louise q Orleans who is several years
his sCrlc-.