New-York tribune., 1907-06-23

cent proclamation or hlmSe1 as an active pre-
tender to the throne of Portugal win be fol-
lowed by a demand the part of Emperor
Francis Joseph that he should resign his COM
mission colonel in the Austrian army. For
the Emperor, while perfectly ready 10 accord
hospitality in his dominions and generous treat
ment to sOvereigns who, for one reason or an
other. have lost their thrones. and to their
families. refuses to permit his hospitality 10 be
abused by pretenders. 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 hand
some man. and very accomplished being in this
respect great credit to the Jesuits. who are
responsible for his education He showed him.
self dashing officer of Austrian cavalry in the
suppression Of the insurrection of Herzegovina
and Bosnia. and is one of the cleverest sporting
shots in Europe. having hunted big game in
India and in Central Africa, as well as in the
Rockies. AS for his claims TO the throne OF
Portugal, they can only be described as based on
usurpation. and 1 have before me as I write
this the copy Of memorandum dated Septen-
Der %, 1928. 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 he
declares in the most positive manner that Maria
da Gloria was the only lawful heir to the Portu-
guese throne, and that her uncle King
Miguel. father of the present Duke OF Bra
ganza, had vestige of right or claim thereto
and could only be regarded as usurper. In
fact, when the late Dom Miguel proclaimed
himself King of Lisbon. in the place OF his
niece, the Austrian Ambassador was at once
withdrawn by the Chancellor. Prince Meternch.
and all diplomatic intercourse broken off with
the court at Lisbon. The late Dom Miguel was
the putative of King John VI. who devel-
Oped such a fondness for Brazil while living
there as Prince Regent that he refused to quit
Rio de Janeiro on his accession to the throne OF
the two countries after the death OF his crazy
mother. Queen Maria Francesca. in 1916. King
John was far from happy in his marriage. His
wife Princess Carlotta Of Spain. who preceded
him 10 Lisbon. was a most dissOlute woman.
and made no pretenCe of COncealing her anmOs-
ity toward him. and toward her eldest son.
Prince Peter, reServing all her affection for her
youngest son, Dom Miguel. who II is said could
not by any possibility have been the offspring
of the King. II was not until six years later
that King JOAn sailed for Portugal, his depart
ure from Brazil being signalized by the latter
prOclaiming itself an independent empire al
together separate from the mother country. and
electius his eldest son, Peter as It's first en-
peror. On King John reaching Lisbon he pro-
nounced himself in favor of modifying the ab-
soluto character of the monarchy. and granted
his people parliamentary constitution, on the
English model; but found himself confronted
by the opposition of his Queen and OF her son
Dom Miguel, who raised insurreCtiOn against
him. in the course of which his greatest friend
the liberal minded Marquis of Louie. author OF
the new constitution. was assassinated. and his
associates imprisoned. The King eventually
succeeded IN effecting his escape to an
English man-of-war at anchor in the Tagus
and subsequently restored to his
throne by the great powers OF Europe.
who expelled Dom Miguel and his mother
Queen CarlOtta. A year later King John after
establishing his daughter Isabella Maria as re-
gent. sailed for Rio. where he acknowledged his
eldest son. Dom Pedro. as Emperor of Brazil
and died there a couple OF years later. On his
demise. Dom Pedro ruler of the independent
Empire of Brazil. found himself King Of POrtu-
gal also But in Difference to the teaIOusies ot
his Brazilian subjects he resigned his throne OF
Portugal 10 his seven -year-oId daughter Maria
da Gloria. on the condition that attaining a
suitable age she should marry her uncle Dom
Miguel whom he hoped 10 convert thereby from
a source Of danger 10 a source OF strength to
his child's throne In 1927 Dom Pedro foolishly
allowed himself TO be persuaded by Miguel TO
nominate him regent during the minority OF the
little Queen. No sooner had Miguel secured this
appointment than he proceeded 70 expel the
child from the country and to proclaim himself
King. getting rid OF all the political adherents
and liberal statesmen who had identified them
selves with the policy OF King John and Dom
Pedro. Many OF them were put 10 death. Exc
cutiOnS were frequent. Thousands Of persons
were deported 10 penal settlements in Africa,
and az one moment there were nearly one hun
dred thousand in prison for political offences.
General Nillareal, one OF the ranking officers OF
the army, declined TO be party 10 the use OF
the military forces for purposes Of political per-
secution and. calling upon King Miguel de-
manded 10 be relieved Of his command ex-
claiming, From now on Portugal will not need
honorable soldiers, but merely hangrnen" Be-
side himself with rage King Miguel let fly his
fist in the face OF the general. shouting. Here
is for your soldiers" Before any one could in
terfere. and quick lightning the veteran re-
turned the blow, with q swinging box on the
ear which sent the monarch reeling exclaining.
And there is for your majesty's nangrnen' The
general was at once seized, tried by court mar
tial and sentenced to death. But before tho
sentence could be executed the prison in which
he was confined was stormed by mob OF stU-
dents. soldiers and citizens. and he was set at
liberty and enabled 10 escape from the country
This is, believe. the only Instance on record of
king having his ears publicly boxed.
Dom Pedro was at length led 10 resign his
crown OF Brazil 10 his infant son. and sail for
Europe to champion the cause Of his daughter
as Queen OF Portugal. \ civil war ensued
which lasted for nearly two years and finally
in 1884 Dom Miguel and the remnant Of his
army were captured and in consideration Of his
life being spared. he sOlemnly abjured all claims
10 the throne of Portugal, and undertook never
10 set foot on Portuguese soil agafn. Dom Pedro
thereupon proclaimed his young daughter Of
age, and his fathers old friend. the Duke %
Palmella, Prime Minister. re-established
parliamentary form Of government. on the basis
of the constitution granted by King John and
which had been suspended during Dom liiguels
absolutist usurpatiOn. One of the first things
that the national legislature did was u declare
Dom Miguel and his heirs forever Ineligible 70
succeed 10 the throne, and enacted a law decree
Ing death against any member Of his family who
returned 10 Portugal Dom Pedro did not long
survive and died few months later at Lisbon
leaving a which is hOnOred 10 this day