The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-02-06


the monarchies and despotisms Of the
OLD World. The assassination Of King
Carlos and his son. the Crown Prince.
i was but one more In the series Of vio-
Ience and deaths which are being en-
acted In various parts Of Europe. This
latest and most serious act Is at
tributed to anarchists and nihiiists.
but whether that IL true. or whether
1t was the logical outcome Of the un-
rest and dissatisfaction that appear
to be fast enveioping that part Of the
world. or to both causes. the crime
points to q condition OF affairs not at
all encouraging. There seems TO be
little safety for those in power. high
or low. In several of the European
countries. and it is dificult to predict
when or where It win end.
Some look on these frequent crimes
as heralding the doom of absoiutism
or anything approaching 1t In Europe.
but II we take that view Of II what
can we expect? People who for ages
have been living under kingly gov
eminent are not qualified to govern
themselves. unless they could come to
1t by slow degrees. When people who
have never known anything but the
rule of Kings and Emperors are sud,
denly and without preparation re-
lieved from that condition and find
themselves under the necessity of
formulating and maintaining Govern
ment of their own, 1t is q serious con-
dition Of affairs, and no surprise should
be felt II they prove themselves I'M
equal to the task. Yet there seems to
be q growing dissatisfaction among
the people. ana growing tendency to-
1 wards more democratic government
than now prevails in most foreign
countries Whether or not they are
prepared to undertake governing them
selves they are plainly progressing in
that direction. As an observant Mis-
| souri, gentleman remarked the other
day. THE people won't stand for as
much as they used to-" and that is
1 true.
l. But while we in this land of the
free and home Of the brave" sympa-
thise, with the oppressed OF all lands.
we look with horror on such means
OF obtaining freedom from kingly rule
as were used in removing King Carlos
ana the Crown Prince Of Portugal.
Sympathy for those who may be king
ridden does not extend to assassina-
ton as a means of relief. This re-
cent event was of more than usual
nendish brutality because IL was the
evident intention Of the villainous as
sassins to not only kill the King but his
sons so that there should be no one IN
the regular line OF descent to occupy the
throne. The fact that wife and mother
might also be killed had no deterrent
effect on the minds and hearts of the
murderers. II they did not intend to
kill all who were in the royal carriage.
they plaiuAy cared little If that result
followed their assault.
The most pathetic feature Of the ter
rible affair was the courage ana devo-
tion displayed by Queen Amelie when
she threw herself before her sons in
the vain effort to save their lives. She
is 9 queen, and may be naughty one,
but first of all she proved herself
woman and q mother and was ready
to risk her own life to save those who
were near and dear to her. Whatever
may be the result Of this tragic epI,1
sode. honor and sympathy must go to
the devoted wife and mother of roy
atty.
Ana while speaking Of sympathy toy
the widowed Queen. we may like
wise feel a touch OF sorrow for
young Manuel, who, while yet
boy, finds himself orphaned and
elevated to the throne Of a turbulent
people. He can know nothlng-or very
little-ef the duties of responsibilities
thus so suddenly thrust on him by as
sassins. To the natural grief he must
feel over the death Of father and grand
father must be added the burden of
governing a people who have shown
such a spirit Of lawlessness and MUIR
der as was displayed so recently.
It is a cruel and din1cult position in
which the young man now finds him
self through no fault of his own. He
is represented as being much more |
popular than was his father or grand |
father. and this may be of assistance |
to him in maintaining and sustaining |
himself on the throne. and may some
what lessen the difficulties OF his posi-
ton. 1t is also true that he will have |
ministry to share the burdens and |
responsibilities of his new and strange |
position, but whether that ministry
will lend all their talents and ener-
giles to the work Of assisting him to
govern wisely and well. or whether the
ministers will use him as a puppet to
further their own objects remains to be
seen. Any way we view 1t, the boy
King is entitled to some of the SYM
pathy we may feel for the other be-
reaved unennhers Of fha family