New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
ISABELLA.

The nassing Of Isabella. the deposed Queen
Of Snain. removes from the world figure OF
historical importance and some personal inter
est. With all the respect due at once 10
woman and 10 the dead, candor compels me
record that If was not a figure that command
ed great respect. Rather did t. at least ID
earlier wears. arouse 4 sentiment OF PITY III the
malicious mind We can imagine Few more
,vratrl,I lois than that Of the child Isabella, at
three years old queen. her father dead' her
orecn mother a profgate, her court corrupt
and bonevcombed with treason. In one of the
late AIr NIerriman's most fascinating tales there
is a slight but graphic sketch OF the crcum-
stances OF her childhood. 1t is avowedly nc
zion hut it is as close TO truth as any history
that is likely 10 be written The reader OF IL
and Of the history Of those times must Ieel
il9t the victims Of superstition on the Ganges
met q kindlier fate than the hapess child VINO
Inherited the proud crown Of Leon and Casule.
The nav Of the crocodile is more merclful thah
a heartless and soulless court
Nor was fate more gentle TO her when she
reached the years Of early womanhood. What
berp5itv and unrestrained inclination had al
ready made her we need not pause TO specu-
late Had she been the offspring OF chasuty'
ercirt by all the virtues, her fortitude OF soul
couId scarcely have been sufficient 10 sustain
her in the ordeal Of that unhallOwed and
obor1inable union. forced upon her by shame
less and lnexorable conspirators. The history
Of the nineteenth century contains record OF
no more detestable episode Of its kind which
must forever be n blot upon the memory OF
King who had otherwise many claims to regard
and Of q minister whose intellectual abilities
made him one Of the great figures OF his day.
We cannot, Of course, plead that even such en-
forced degradation could justify any lapse from
right iivin- Nevertheless, they Will not judge
Justly who ignore these things in casting up the
balance Of Isabea's character and career and
we believe the true judgment of history Will
be that she was at least as much sinned against
as SHINING.
Her place in history will he as the centre OF
some Of the stormiest scenes Of modern Spain.
It was over her that the Carlist wars began.
II was through the sacrifice OF her that the last
effort was made to unite the French and Span
isb crowns-that unrealized dream Of centuries
Of intrigue and war. 1t was against her that
the Spanish people revolted and established
short lived republic. The candidacy for her
vacant throne was made the pretext for the
war which transformed France into republic
and united Germany into an empire. At the
last she had the satisfaction, though herself in
exile. Of seeing her son. and after him her
grandson. ascend her ancient throne. She had
long since ceased to be 4 political force. The
wild deeds OF her youth were past, and. II
neither forgotten nor condoned, at least ig-
nored. and she was regarded chiefly
woman who had done evil. but who had suf-
fered much, and who had with all her faults
one Of the klndest hearts and most generous
natures in the world AS such she is best TO
be remembered.