The National tribune., 1907-11-07

There seems to be little doubt that
the young King Of Spain is in a very
serious condition Of health. and If the
reports are to be credited his years
cannot be many. He has unfortunately
inherited from his father, Alfonso XII.
weakly constitution and tendency
to tuberculosis, which in the latter, tho
kept at bay for many years by his ener-
getic temperament, finally developed in
to consumption, causing his death at
the early age of 2S. The present Kings
open-air life has done much for him,
and he has now gone to London to sub
nit to an examination by famous spe-
cialist, but the outlook is gloomy, and
the greatest concern is felt by his SUBJ
jects for his recovery. The blood of
the Spanish BourbonS is hopelessly bad,
weakened by dissipation and excesses of
all kinds. and it has always been a mat
ter of surprise that the young King AL
phonso should be such q decent fellow.
His father was the son of woman
whose name was a reproach to Spain,
the infamous Isabella IL, who was OBJ
| liged to abdicate in favor of her young
son and flee to France for protection,
and who had been married thru the in
fluence of Louis Philippe of France to
her own cousin, Francis of Assis. sup
posed to be half-witted, a weakling
mentally and physically, from the de-
generate blood of his inheritance. This
| marriage of Isabella and her sister, Ma
| ria Louisa, constitutes what is known
| in history as the infamous Spanish
marriages" Louis PHILIPPE Of France,
who was very much mixed up In Span
| ish history at that time, insisted that
Tc1h hnI OH hn tod 70 Inr
sin. expecting no issue from the union,
and that her sister should marry his
son, the Due de Montpensier, hoping by
this means to secure the Spanish throne
| for the house of Orleans. However, his
| little scheme failed. England's diSap-
| proval contributed to his fall, while the
subsequent birth OF children to Isabella
deprived the Montpensier marriage of
| all Importance. Not only are the Span
iards distressed at the prospect of los
| ing their King, of whom they are very
| fond, but his possible death brings up
the matter of long regency. for the
| little Prince of AsturIas is still in his
! cradle. He may, of course, never live
| to reach manhood, but should the baby
live to grow up long minority presents
perils. or the possibility Of them. with
| which the Spaniards are only too IA
miliar. The chaotic condition Of the
country during the minority of Isabella
| IL. is still fresh In the minds or Span
iards, and a repetition of those trials
was only avoided during the regency OF
the present Kings mother by the high
personal character and courage of Ma
ria Christina. In the natural order of
| things, should King Alfonso die within
the next few years his Queen would be
regent, but it is doubted If Spaniards
would agree to this, as it is known that
she Is not popular with them. Altho
they received her very enthusiastically
at the time of her marriage, and she
seemed sweet and gracious then, she
does not appear now, particularly since
the birth of her baby, to attempt to
conceal her dislike of the tediously for
NAL court etiquet nor of the bull fights
which she cordially hates. The advan-
| tage gained to the throne by a matri-
moniaI alliance with England seems to
be lost sight of in the unpopularity OF
the Queen. In the event of the death OF
the King and the little Prince as well
the Spanish throne would pass to AL
fonso's sister, the widow of Neapoli-