New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-01
DON JAIME TO THE FORE

To-day may or may not be a crucial day for
Spain 1t was announced shortly after the death
Of Don Carlos that nine days after his funeral
Don Jaime would put himself forward as his
| successor, would proclaim his title to the crown
OF Spain and would begin pushing a campaign
for restoration in more modern and aggres-
sive way than his father had done Modern
methods and ideas would seem to be somewhat
out Of place in Carlist campaign, seeing that
reaction and return 70 mediavalism have
been the fundamental principles Of the Blancs
d'ESpdgne. But Don jaime is said to be a de-
cidedly modern and up-to-Qate man, and it is
quite possible that he may thus transform the
character Of the movement for q change of
dynasty; that is providing he does seriously
take up the work in which his three predeces-
I sors failed and which each Of them voluntarily
relinQuished
For it is an interesting circumstance that all
the 'reigns" of Carlist pretenders hitherto have
ended in abdication and not in death Thus
Carlos abdicated IN favor of Carlos VI. and
Carlos VI in favor of Carlos VII who has lust
died, and the last named prince Is also said to
have abdicated not long before his death in
favor of Don jaime The new pretender is in
sense man without country He was born
in Switzerland. but he has never claimed Swiss
citizenship. His boyhood was spent in France
Of which country he claims to be the lawful
privileges Of a Frenchman. He was educated
for the army IN Austria, but he does not claim
TO be an Austrian He is now an officer of the
Russian army, but he is not subject of the
Gear. He calls himself Spaniard. and is
doubtless Of Spanish blood, but in all his life
he has Spent little time in Spain and then was
in disguise or was fighting against the govern
ment Of the land
He may now put himself at the fore for this
is the ninth day since the funeral taking adj
vantage OF the crisis which exists in Spain and
of course, there is no telling with how much or
how little success he would meet The inspr-
gents at Barcelona and elsewhere are chiefly
members of parties which are as hostile m
Carllsm as 10 the Alfonsist dynasty But II is
not impossible that the people of the north NJ
Spain, who are very largely Carlist sympathiz
ers. VIII think this an opportune moment for
attempting change OF dynasties. One serious
handicap to such movement however would
De the hostility Of the French government
which arises from the fact that Don Jaime il
also pretender to the throne OF that connrrT,
In fact. he is the legitimate heir 10 the French
throne for he is directly descended from, Touis
XIV, while the Duke of Orleans is descended
from that kings younger brother II is trne
that upon ascending the Spanish throne phiIin
renowned for himself and for his descend
ants forever all right and title TO the throne Of
FRANCE but that does not count since the
Legiumlsts hold that such an act of renuncia
non cannot be operative beyond its maker and
cannon impair the divine right of his descend
ants
II, therefore, Don Jaime attempts to raise tha
standard or revolt in Spain he win not he ner-
United TO use France as a base of operations or
even 10 enter Spain across the Pyrenees, but