The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-09

The Infantas Isabella. Eulalia and
Marie. daughters of the late queen, were
at the bedside when she died.
The queen had been afflicted with
the grip for two months, which grad
uaIly affected the lungs. Shortly be-
fore the queen died the papaI nunciO
was summoned to administer the last
sacrament, but owing to his absence
from Paris the last rites of the church
were administered by the vicar of the
Church of St Pierre. Prince Ferdi-
nand Immediately telegraphed the
news to the king Of Spain, to Foreign
Minister Delcasse and to all the Euro
pean sOvereigns.
NJ. Deleasse called during the day
and was admitted to the death cham
ber. and President Loubet sent an
officer of his household to present his
condolences.
1t is understood that King Alfonso
will not come to France for the fu-
neral. as he did not come for the fu-
neral of his grandfather, King Fran
els. who died in April. 1902.
The deceased queen had been one
of the conspicuous figures of Paris
since she left Spain. After her abdi-
cation in 1870 she continued to live
with queenly magnffcence here, giving
largely to charitable and religious
works,
Maria Isabel Luisa, Isabella II. ex-
queen of Spain, was born in Madrid,
October TO- 1890 She was the eldest
daughter Of Ferdinand VII, and his
fourth wife, Maria Christina. The ques-
ton Of her succession to the throne
caused in Spain bloody civil war. Her
father having no son. repealed the SaIic
law, introduced into Spain by Philip V
and named the expected offspring of his
fourth marriage to succeed him, thus
excluding his brother, Don Carlos who
was then heir presumptive by virtue of
that law. Ferdinand died in 1893. and
Isabella, then but three years old, was
1afr
arms, and was supported by the Carlists
The contest gradually assumed the
worst form of civil war. the clergy tax
ing sides with Don Carlos while the
of the liberabls, or exaltodos. The young
queen was supported by the majority
Of the people, and in 1884 it was almost
unanimously agreed by the legislative
cortes that Don Carlos and his descend
ants should be forever excluded from
the Spanish throne. Peace was con-
Tcluded in August, 1889 Don Carlos fled
to France. But more trouble came The
queen regent, Isabella's mother. vacil-
lated between two parties, the conserva-
tives and liberals. The ministry modi-
fed the constitution, enlarged the cleo
toral law and introduced other reforms.
The juntas were still unsatisfied. In
SurrectiOns followed. The queen mother
fled to France. Espartero became re-
gent, but was compelled to abdicate
The cortes then stepped in and ad-
vanced the young queens majority ii
months and placed her on the throne
November 10. 1S43.
On October 10, 1886 under the infu-
ence of Louis PHILIPPE, Isabella was mar
ried to her cousin, Don Francisco de
Assist, and at the same time her sister.
Maria was married to the Duke of
Aontspensier. This alliance gave rise
to sinister comments, and resulted III
domestic unhappiness and in injurious
reports in regard to the conjugal ft-
ness of the king and the conjugaI fdei-
ity of the queen.
In 1852 an attempt was made to as
sassinate Isabella. This was turned to
account by the conservatives who SUI
ceeded in getting the dissolution of
the cortes and the adoption Of repres-
siVe measures.
Several liberal generals having been
banished. some of their friends start
ed an insurrectiOn at Madrid and sue
J ceeded in again getting a liberal gov
ernment- The queen mother again fed
to France. Isabella proclaimed amnes-
! ty, opened a new cortes and legalized
the sale of church property. An at
tempted coup d. etat by some of the
liberals, caused their downfall, and
gave the queen more power than ever.
Within the next few years her arm
! les undertook wars of invasion ana
conquest in Morocco Santa Domingo
Peru and Chill. They practically de-
pleted the treasury. Isabella sold all
of her crown jewels for the benefit Ct
the nation.
In 1866 she abolished the freedom Of
the press and placed public instruction
I in the hands Of the clergy.
Instructions again began to break
out. In 1868 a larger one than usual
1 started at Cadiz and became so strong