The Washington herald., 1907-06-23

lis younger brother, he might, like the
latter. gladly avail himself Of the oppor-
tunity afforded by a change of govern
ment at Lisbon to transfer his home 10
a country where the present generation
OF the Braganzas are not 50 unfavorabiy
known.
II is extremely probable that Dom
Miguers recent proclamation Of himself
as an active pretender TO the throne OF
Portugal will be followed by demand
on the part Of Emperor Francis Joseph
that he should resign his commission as
colonel IN the Austrian army. For the
Emperor, while perfectly ready TO accord
hospitality in his dominions. and generous
treatment to sOvereigns who for one
reason or another have lost their thrones
and TO their families refuses to permit
his hospitality TO be abused by pretend
ers, or to allow them TO plot on Austrian
soil against sovereigns with whom he
is on terms Of friendship.
The Duke of Braganza Is a strikingly
handsome man. and very accomplished
being in this respect great credit 10
the Jesuits, who are responsible Tor his
education. He showed himself a dashing
officer of Austrian cavalry in the sup
pressiou Of the insurrection of Herzogo-
vina and Bosnia. and is one Of the clever
est sporting shots in Europe, having
hunted big game in India and In Cen
tral Africa as we'll as in the Rockies. As
for his claims TO the throne Of Portugal,
they can only be described as based on
usurpatlon. and I have before me as l
write this the copy OF memorandum
dated September %. 1898, addressed to
Emperor Francis Of Austria. by the great
Prince Metternich. the most vigorous
champion Of the principles Of legitimism
in the nineteenth century, and in which.
reviewing the situation in Portugal, no
declares in the most positive manner
that Maria da Gloria was the only lawful
heir to the Portuguese throne. and that
her uncle King Miguel. father of the
present Duke of Braganza. had no yes
tige Of right Of claim thereto, and could
only be regarded as usurper In fact,
when the late Dom Miguel proclaimed
himself king. at Lisbon, in the place Of
his niece. the Austrian ambassador was
at once withdrawn by the chancellor
Prince Metternich. and all diplomatic in
tercourse broken of with the court Of
Lisbon The late Dom Miguel was the
putative son Of King John VI. who had
developed such a fondness for Brazil
while living there as prince regent that
he refused 10 quit Rio de Janeiro on his
accession 10 the throne OF the two c0un-
tries after the death Of his crazy mother
Queen Maria Francesca. In lsl6. King
John was far fom happy in mis- marriage
His wife, Princess Carl0tta, Of Spain
who preceded him 20 Lisbon. was most
dss0lute woman, and made no pretense
! Of ConCealing her animosity toward him,
and toward her eldest son, Prince Pc
/ ter reserviug an her affection for her
youngest son. Dom Miguel who, II is
said could not by any possibility have
| been the offspring Of the King.
| It was not until six years later that
/ King John sailed for Portugal his de-
parture from Brazil being signalized by
/ the latter proClaiming itself an indepen-
dent empire. altogether separate from the
mother country. and electing his eldest
/ son, Peter. as its first emperor. On King
John reaching Lisbon, he pronounced
| himself In favor Of modifying the absO-
| lutte character of the monarchy, and
granted his people a parliamentary con-
stitution. on the English model, but
/ found himself confronted by the opp0si-
/ ton Of his queen, and Of her son. Dom
Miguel who raised an lnsurrecti1n against
/ him. in the course Of which his greatest
/ friend, the liberal-mindad Marquis Of
| Louie. author Of the new constitution,
was assassinated. and his associates inn
| prisoned. The king eventually succeeded
/ in effecting his escape TO an English man
/ of-war al anchor in the Tagus, and was
/ subsequently restored TO his throne by
/ the great powers of Europe. who eX-
! PEELED Dom Miguel and his mother
/ Queen Carlotta. A year later King John.
/ after establishing his daughter, Isabella
/ Maria. as regent. sailed for Rio. where
/ he acknowledged his eldest son, Dom Pc
/ dro. as Emperor Of Brazil. and died
/ there a couple Of years later. On his de-
mise, Dom Pedro. ruler of the indepen-
/ dent Empire Of Brazil found himself
/ King Of Portugal also. But in Difference
to the jealOusies Of his Brazilian sub
( jects. he resigned his throne Of Portugal
| 20 his seven-year-Old daughter, Maria d1
| Gloria. on the condition that on attain
| ing suitable age she should marry her
uncle, Dom Miguel, whom he hoped to
| convert thereby from q source Of dan
ger TO a source Of strength TO his childs
throne.
In lSG, Dom Pedro foolishly allowed
himself to be persuaded by Miguel to
nominate him regent, during the minor
ity Of the little queen. No sooner had
Miguel secured this appointment than he
proceeded TO expel the child from the
country, and to proclaim himself king
getting rid Of all the political adherents
and liberal statesmen who had identified
themselves with the policy Of King John
and Dom Pedro. Many Of them were put
/ 10 death. Executions were frequent
Thousands were deported to penal set
Elements in Africa, and at one moment
there were near 10000 people in prison
for political offenses Gen. Villareal, one
Of the ranking officers Of the army. de-
clined TO be a party to the use of the
military forces for purposes of political
prosecution, and, calling upon King Mig
uel, demanded to be relieved Of his com
mand. exclaiming. From now on. Portu-
gal VIII not need honorable soldiers, hut
merely hangmen." Beside himself witt
rage. King Miguel let fly his fist In the
face of the general. shouting. Here j:
for your soldiers Before any one could
interfere. and quick as lightning, the vet
eran returned the blow. with the swinging
box on the ears which sent the monarch
reellng. eXclaiming. And there is fol
your majestys hangmen." The genera