DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47347#0112
96
HISTORICAL ESSAY, &C.
just claim to the gratitude of Europe. It has a right to
insist that it shall not be deprived of that law which has
ever formed the foundation of its political existence—a law
for which it has endured unparalleled calamities and fought
the most sanguinary fight against the common foe of all
sovereigns—a fundamental law, the unflinching adherence
to and recognition of which by the Spanish nation could
alone guarantee the recovery of the lost throne to the house
of Bourbon, to king Ferdinand VII., when the rest of
continental Europe was too weak to defend his legitimate
right against the attacks of usurpation I
It would be truly deplorable to see such a country, such
a people, which, even in its present horrid state, extorts our
admiration by the heroic devotion of the combatants on
either side, plunge deeper and deeper into the abyss of
anarchy by the dissolution of all social and moral bonds. Such
a fate would be an indelible disgrace to the continent, which
might so easily have extended a helping hand to the unfor-
tunate country ; and from such a state of things an aveng-
ing Nemesis might arise to punish the rest of Europe,
for having abandoned the legitimate government of Spain
to the anarchical fury of parties. Ever since the era of the
Carlovingians, nay, ever since the Caesars of Rome, the
right of succouring orphans and minors has existed and has
ever been reputed the fairest prerogative of kings. If this
protection, this defence of assailed right, may be claimed
by the meanest subject, the great sovereigns of Europe
surely will not refuse it to the legitimate heiress to the
throne of Spain, to Isabella II.
HISTORICAL ESSAY, &C.
just claim to the gratitude of Europe. It has a right to
insist that it shall not be deprived of that law which has
ever formed the foundation of its political existence—a law
for which it has endured unparalleled calamities and fought
the most sanguinary fight against the common foe of all
sovereigns—a fundamental law, the unflinching adherence
to and recognition of which by the Spanish nation could
alone guarantee the recovery of the lost throne to the house
of Bourbon, to king Ferdinand VII., when the rest of
continental Europe was too weak to defend his legitimate
right against the attacks of usurpation I
It would be truly deplorable to see such a country, such
a people, which, even in its present horrid state, extorts our
admiration by the heroic devotion of the combatants on
either side, plunge deeper and deeper into the abyss of
anarchy by the dissolution of all social and moral bonds. Such
a fate would be an indelible disgrace to the continent, which
might so easily have extended a helping hand to the unfor-
tunate country ; and from such a state of things an aveng-
ing Nemesis might arise to punish the rest of Europe,
for having abandoned the legitimate government of Spain
to the anarchical fury of parties. Ever since the era of the
Carlovingians, nay, ever since the Caesars of Rome, the
right of succouring orphans and minors has existed and has
ever been reputed the fairest prerogative of kings. If this
protection, this defence of assailed right, may be claimed
by the meanest subject, the great sovereigns of Europe
surely will not refuse it to the legitimate heiress to the
throne of Spain, to Isabella II.