Restoration Manifesto of Alfonso XII (1874)
1. Classification and Typography
This text, part of the manifesto authored by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo and signed by Alfonso XII, was issued on December 1, 1874, in Sandhurst during the Restoration. A primary historical and political source, the manifesto is narrative in style as Cánovas prepares for the return of the monarchy. Addressed to the Spanish people, it’s public and national in scope.
The manifesto’s author, Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, was a prominent late-nineteenth-century politician from Málaga. A Conservative party leader and member of the Liberal Union, he served several terms as President of the Council of Ministers under Alfonso XII and as head of state during Maria Cristina’s regency.
2. Analysis
This analysis acknowledges that the provided text appears incomplete, as indicated by ellipses.
The text announces the return of the monarchy to Spain, claiming support from the Spanish people, including those of differing political ideologies. It justifies the abdication of Isabella II, portraying it as necessary. It advocates for hereditary and representative monarchy as the ideal system, while also mentioning the annulment of the 1845 and 1868 constitutions. Finally, it alludes to future policy changes, referencing past experiences with the monarchy.
3. Commentary and Historical Context
The manifesto emerged during the Restoration, following six years of political instability marked by a regency, a democratic monarchy, a republic, and several wars (including conflicts in Cuba, the Carlist Wars, and the Cantonal Revolution). This turmoil led conservative factions to push for the monarchy’s restoration. Antonio Cánovas, founder of the Liberal-Conservative party, selected Alfonso XII as the ideal candidate for king.
Following General Pavia’s coup and the dissolution of Parliament in January 1874, a military regime under General Serrano was established. Serrano’s rule, resembling a personal dictatorship, lasted until December 1874. Two key events then transpired: General Martínez Campos’s pronouncement in Sagunto on December 29 proclaiming the return of the Bourbon monarchy, and Prince Alfonso’s address to the Spanish nation from Sandhurst Military Academy in England on December 1.
Several figures played distinct roles during this period (January to December 1874):
- General Serrano attempted to establish a military dictatorship, suppressing remaining Cantonalist resistance and pacifying northern Spain with military support.
- Antonio Cánovas, with Isabella II (who had become head of the royalist party in exile), ensured her abdication in favor of her son, Alfonso XII, in 1870.
- General Martínez Campos, a monarchist, preempted Cánovas’s plans by proclaiming the monarchy in Sagunto on December 29.
Serrano’s government accepted the situation, acquiescing to Cánovas’s actions and Alfonso XII’s proclamation. Alfonso XII arrived in Madrid on January 9, 1875.
The manifesto’s opening references numerous birthday greetings received from Spain, likely orchestrated by Cánovas, who maintained contact with key figures to garner support for the monarchy. The king is presented as the solution to Spain’s political and social chaos, referencing Serrano’s dictatorship, the Cuban War, the Carlist War, the Cantonal Revolution, and peasant uprisings.
The manifesto declares the 1845 and 1868 constitutions invalid, prioritizing the establishment of a hereditary and representative monarchy. The monarchy and Parliament are presented as the two foundational pillars.
Finally, the manifesto appeals to the Spanish people, presenting a liberal, bourgeois, and Catholic image to gain broad support.
4. Assessment and Consequences
This manifesto significantly contributed to the unfolding events, marking the start of the Bourbon monarchy’s resurgence, culminating in General Martínez Campos’s pronouncement in Sagunto.