The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-07
UNEMPLOYED NONARCHs.
Uneasy Lie These Heads Which Would
Like to Wear Crown.

Even today there are thousands of
people in Spain who refuse to regard
Alfonso KILL. the husband of our own
Princess Ena, as their rightful ruler.
In their opinion Don Carlos de Bour-
bon. duke of Madrid. should reign over
them as King Charles VII. of Spain.
Indeed, this head of the kingly house
of Bourbon is an uncrowned monarch
in the fullest sense of the word, for,
taking up arms in 1872, he did actually
reign over the greater part of North
ern Spain for nearly four years, being
acclaimed by nobility and peasantry
alike as their lawful sovereign. Yet
YOU will search historical tables in
vain for any mention of King Charles
VII, and also for the name of his
predecessors in the Garlist clan.
Kings" Charles v. and Charles W..
tor these also were uncrowned mon
archs. The long struggle of the Car
lists to win the throne they regard as
theirs dates back to 1888, and theil
claim is based on the contention that
Ferdinand VII, acted illegally in ap-
pointing his daughter Isabella his sue
cessor, for under the Salic law, no
woman was empowered to reign. But
today, at the age of IS, tired of life
of political plot and counterplot, it is
suspected that Don Carlos is content
with the quiet repose of the Palazzo
Loredan at Venice. and that he is
willing at any time to waive his claims
in favor of his son, Don Jaime de
Bourbon, the future leader of the Car
list faction.
Oddly enough. Don Carlos. as the
undisputed head of the Bourbon FAM
lily, could also present the strongest
possible claim to the throne of France.
But he has never desired dual pre-
leadership, and although often urged
by French royalists to place himself
at their head, he has invariably declin-
ed to do so. In the case of France.
however, there is no lack of pretend
ers, the most popular of them all be-
ing Prince Victor Napoleon. the pres
ent head of the Bonapartes.
The Portuguese crown, again, is
claimed by Dom Miguel de Braganza,
who, although he has many support
ers, stands but scant chance of un-
seating the present ruler, King Char
les. And there are many "Other men
who want thrones" and at least one
woman-namely, the Princess Paleo-
logae. who is considered entitled to
rule at Constantinople in the place of
the sultan, Abdul Hamid.
A fact which should bring cheer to
all uncrowned monarchs is that one of
their number has recently succeeded
in his claim, Peter Karageorgevitch,
so long pretender to the crown of
Servia, has waded to his hearts de-
sire through the blood of the murdered
Alexander Obrenovitch. But his is a
kingship Of constant dread. The MUIR
derers of his predecessor surround his
person. probably quite as willing
should 1t be worth their while-to in
trigue against the present occupant of
the throne.
There are even few-a very few
people, in our own country who hold
that King Edward himself has NO
strict right to the position he so nobly
fills. They acclaim Princess Ludwig
OF Bavaria-born Mary of Modena-
as the true ruler of Great Britain anG
Ireland, because forsooth, she car
claim descent from Charles rs daugh
ter, Henrietta Stuart, while King Ed
ward can only claim to be descended
from the same monarchs sister! Blu
all this was settled by act of parlia
ment long years ago, and no must
old question Of pedigree can ever dis
turb our loyal adherence to the frs
of kings and gentlemen, Edward Re!
ct Imperator.