Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-07-11
A sorap Of European History.

Truth is sometimes great deal stran ger
than fiction. Let US give an example, which
viii not be cut of place, inasmuch as 1t bears
upon the present complication of affairs,
now threatening to eventuate IN war IN
Europe
The first overt act of what is called the
war in the Cpimea, was the occupation of
the Danubian Principalities by considera
bic Russian force, in the year 1854. 1t viii
be remembered that, having got the idea
that Turkey was "a sick man, the late
Emperor Nicholas, not having patience to
wait until death actually occurred, constitut-
ed himself residuary legatee, and hastened
to take possession of Wallachia and Molda-
via, part of Turkey, but generally called
1.-THE Danubian Principalities, because the
great river Danube, which falls into the
Black Sea, not very far from the Russian
port of Odessa, is the Southern boundary,
which separates them from Bulgaria. This
armed occupation was not permitted. An
Austrian army marched in and remained
there until all the fighting in the Crimea
was ended, the Russian troops having been
Withdrawn without boodshed The Danu-
bian Principalities, though belonging TO
Turkey, had State rights of their own, and
their allegiance to the Sublime Porte hung
very loosely upon them By the treaty OF
Paris; in 1856, and by convention in Au-
gust. 1858, it was agreed (sauctioned by
Turkey in 1861 that Wallachia and Mol
davia, TO be united and called Roumania,
should form a sovereignty, governed by an
elected, native-born prince, entitled Hos
podar, assisted by legislative body and a
responsible ministry-the H0spodar 20 pay
allegiance to the Sublime Porte.
Accordingly, early in 1859, Colonel Alex
ander John Couza was elected Hospodar of
Roumania, and after reign Of seven years,
during which he endeayored to obtain abSo-
lutte power, was deposed and exiled few
months ago. An electoral assembly imme-
diately invited the Count of Flanders, only
brother of the present King of the Belgans,
70 except the thus vacated sovereignty,
which he declined Next they offered it to
Prince Charles, of Hohenzollern, u young
man with long pedigree and small purse,
who had hitherto chiefly subsisted on his
pay as Sous-heutenant in Prussian regi-
ment of dragons; a relation of the Royal
family of Prussia, and also connected, through
the Murat line, with the Imperial family of
France. This young fellow, now twenty
seven years old, obtained two months leave
Of absence from his regiment, packed up a
few changes of linen in his carpet bag, took
the shortest and cheapest route to Buchar-
est. and announced his name and condition
to sentry at one of the gates of that city,
was warmly received by the populace and
by the Legislature, and has actually com
menced his reign.
Meanwhile, on the expulsion of the former
Hospodar, there was Conference of GER
tain great Powers in Paris which resolved
that the future ruler of Roumania must be
native of that country. Turkey, on one
hand, and Prussia on the other undertook
to cary out this resolution by military force.
The Roumanese do not believe in native
ruler-hence their adoption of Prince
Charles who reached Bucharest on May %,
Immediately visited the Chamber of Depu-
ties, went to church, was presented with
bread and salt by the authorities, and made
a favorable impression The national as
sembly of Roumania settled the question
very ingeniously, for, in order to comply
with that Article in the convention of 1858,
which prescribed that.the Hospodar should
be native, they unanimously adopted a
resolution that the father of Prince Charles,
of Hohenzollern- Signaringen, was natur
allied Rouman-which, Of course, made his
son native! Surely, Roumania has a leg
islature which cuts the Gordian knot in
fashion of Its own.