DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47347#0109
THE SPANISH SUCCESSION.
93
on the cognatic order of succession, and that owing to
it, that country, originally subdivided into a great num-
ber of petty kingdoms, has become by their union one of
the most powerful states in the world. We have endea-
voured to place the real right in the strongest light, with-
out party spirit or passion, and to unmask the errors under
which people have contrived for a series of years to dis-
guise the simplest truths. We have scrupulously and rigidly
examined every thing, and yet we have not met with any
solid legal argument on which the pretended legitimacy of
Don Carlos could be founded. We have, on the contrary,
discovered in all that has been advanced in favour of that
pretended legitimacy, a singular medley of historical errors
and false conclusions. On the other side, we have not found
one plausible objection to be urged against the legitimacy
of Isabella; history, custom, and the fundamental laws of
the monarchy, in short, every thing that takes the strongest
hold on the mind of man, have furnished us with incon-
testable proofs of the right and the legitimacy of queen
Isabella II.
Though our aim is purely scientific, we have deemed
it our duty not to withhold the results of our researches,
because the difference which separates the fundamental
laws of Germany from those of Spain may easily lead
the most upright and impartial person into error relative
to points of European importance. We have avoided all
political questions, adhering closely to our task, which has
been throughout to discover and to demonstrate the right.
We conceive, moreover, that we have proved argumenta-
tively that the question of legitimacy in Spain is totally
independent of politics. At any rate, we cannot perceive
that there is, as it has frequently been alleged, any thing
to endanger the tranquillity of Europe in the accession of
a young queen to the throne of Spain. We need not appeal
93
on the cognatic order of succession, and that owing to
it, that country, originally subdivided into a great num-
ber of petty kingdoms, has become by their union one of
the most powerful states in the world. We have endea-
voured to place the real right in the strongest light, with-
out party spirit or passion, and to unmask the errors under
which people have contrived for a series of years to dis-
guise the simplest truths. We have scrupulously and rigidly
examined every thing, and yet we have not met with any
solid legal argument on which the pretended legitimacy of
Don Carlos could be founded. We have, on the contrary,
discovered in all that has been advanced in favour of that
pretended legitimacy, a singular medley of historical errors
and false conclusions. On the other side, we have not found
one plausible objection to be urged against the legitimacy
of Isabella; history, custom, and the fundamental laws of
the monarchy, in short, every thing that takes the strongest
hold on the mind of man, have furnished us with incon-
testable proofs of the right and the legitimacy of queen
Isabella II.
Though our aim is purely scientific, we have deemed
it our duty not to withhold the results of our researches,
because the difference which separates the fundamental
laws of Germany from those of Spain may easily lead
the most upright and impartial person into error relative
to points of European importance. We have avoided all
political questions, adhering closely to our task, which has
been throughout to discover and to demonstrate the right.
We conceive, moreover, that we have proved argumenta-
tively that the question of legitimacy in Spain is totally
independent of politics. At any rate, we cannot perceive
that there is, as it has frequently been alleged, any thing
to endanger the tranquillity of Europe in the accession of
a young queen to the throne of Spain. We need not appeal