A PAGE OF HISTORY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 37, 13 February 1930, Page 9

A PAGE OF HISTORY

In ISGS the Government of Queen Isabella of Spain collapsed after a long period of misrule, accompanied by military revolts and massacres. A Republican party, under Don Emilio Castei'lar, found Spain not ready for Republican Government. An attempt was made to find a candidate for the throne other than a Bourbon, a family discredited by its previous record in Spiiin, as in France. Prince Leopold, of tho House of Hohenzollern-Sigmar-ingen, accepted, but the French opposed the choice, and tho .upshot was tla Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, in which Spain was nearly involved. At last, in August, 1870, Prince Amadeo, of Savoy, second son of Victor Emmanuel 11. of Italy, was elected. The nominal reign of Amadeo lasted till February, 1873. It was a scandalous episode. Amadeo was the tool of intriguing politicians, and generally regarded as an intruder. He resigned after he and his wife had been treated with the utmost insolence. The Republicans entered tho place he left simply because there was nobody to oppose him. The country fell into anarchy. The Cartists were joined by Royalists, and bauds of ruffians found an opportunity for plunder' with both sides— Republicans and Monarchists. Three "Presidents" succeeded ono another within a year, and Ministers changed every few days. In January, 1874, General Pavia, Governor of Madrid, turned the Cortes, or Parliament, into tho street. The restoration of the Bourbons became inevitable, and Don Alplionso, Isabella's son, was proclaimed King by the troops on 20th December, 1874. He died in ISBS after a reign which was distinguished by unselfish energy and courage and personal qualities, which endeared him to his people. Ho was succeeded, after a regency of 17 years under hi 3 widow, Queen Maria-Christina, by his posthumous son, the present King, Alfonso XIIL, born in May, iSB6, and proclaimed King in the same month in 1902.