His agents have been working among the army officers, and it is said that they have secured many recruits for their cause.  The throne of Spain, like the throne of Russia, during the last century, or that of Borne in the days of the empire, rests largely upon the army, and if the army, discontented and dissatisfied as it certainly is, were to revolt, Don Carlos’ success would be almost certain.

Ever since his marriage in 1894 with the Princess de Rohan, who brought him a large fortune, Don Carlos has been watching a favorable opportunity for a coup.  There cannot be a better one than that which will be offered when Spain is defeated by the United States, and it would not be surprising to see Don Carlos unfurl his banner to the breeze and call for troops to rally to his standard.

Those who are supporters of the pretensions of Don Carlos believe they have right on their side.  His supporters love him with the loyalty of the legitimists to the house of Stuart during the period before the restoration in England.  His personality is attractive.  He has all the elements of personal popularity with the masses.  He is brave and dashing.  He does not sit and weep over the fallen glories of his race, but he is always ready for action.  He is ready at any moment to lead an army in a forlorn cause and will fight, for what he believes to be his rights.

Flower of Spain.

The position occupied in Spanish affairs by Don Carlos is similar to that occupied by Prince Charles Edward toward the throne of Great Britain during the last century.  His family has been dispossessed for about the same length of time and he has made a fight just as romantic, but with more brilliant prospects, and at the head of the heroic highlanders, dwellers in the Basque mountains.  His followers are the flower of Spain, the most aristocratic families in the kingdom, willing to risk all in his support, setting property and life itself as worth naught compared with their honor.

There have been three Carlist pretenders to the throne of Spain.  The first was Carlos V., born in 1788.  He laid claim to the throne on the death of his brother, Ferdinand VII., in 1833.

Ferdinand had had a stormy reign, torn by dissensions between the court and the popular party.  Napoleon compelled him to resign in favor of Joseph Bonaparte, but he returned to the throne of his ancestors upon the fall of Bonaparte.  During twenty-eight years he married five wives in succession.  By four of these he had no children, but a daughter was born to the last, who had been Princess of Naples.  She secured an absolute mastery of the king, who was an imbecile unfitted to reign.  The heir apparent to the throne was the grandfather of the present Don Carlos, Carlos V., the brother of Ferdinand.  Between Carlos and his brother there had been a long enmity.