The Portland daily press., 1879-05-02
The New Prince Of Bulgaria.

A despatch from Trnova says-The proceed
;ngs in the Assembly at the election Of
prince on Tuesday were brief. Bishop Clement
said that Prince Waldemar of Denmark,
Prince Henry Rauss ard Prince Battenberg
had been prominently pus forward as candi-
dates. Some of the great powers might oppose
the election of Prince Wsldemar and Prince
Reuss as bling too old. The Assembly then
elected the prince of Battenburg by acclana.
tor, amid a scene of great enthusiasm. Iu
the evening the town was illuminated. A Ber-
lin despatch says Prince Waldemar's candida
ture for the Bulgarian throne was supported by
England. bot Russia determiuedly opposed it.
Prince Alexander Of Battenberg, like Charles
OF Roumanis previous to his installation at
Bucharest, is aIsimpls lieutenant Of the Prus-
sian cavalry. The prince, the second son of
Prince Alexander of Hesse, morganatically
m trried to a Countess Hancke, the daughter of
a former Polish minister of war, is a nephew
of the empres9 of Russia, who was much inter-
es,ed id Bringing about the alliance of her
brother. with the countess. then one of her
MAIDS of honor Rnmors assert that her mai
esty almost forced the prince of Hesse, who in
his youth was rather wild, to keep his word
pledged to the countess, although he was
little inclined to dissever the ties connecting
them. His highness had certainly no cause
for regret, as the marriage turaed out most
happy one. The countess raised to the rank
of princess of Battenburg, a title descending
to her children, took up her residence at
Darmstadt, where she socn attracted universal
affection and esteem. Her eldest son. Prince
Louis, joined the British Navy, and the second
eutered the Hessian dragons. On the out
break of the Turco-R1ssian war Prince Alex
ander, only twenty two years of age, requested
the cZ4r's permission to join the stiff of the
Graud Dnke Nicholas, the commander 10.
chief. He was one of the first to cross the
Danube and remained always 10 front through
ont the campaign He was successfully with
Gourko at the Shipks Pass, with rodleben
) before Plevns, and ultimately wSth Skobeleff
ou the victorious advance to ConstantinoDle
On the coDclusioa of the treaty of San efano
the prince, decorated with the highest Russian
military orders. bestowed on him in recogDi-
ton OF bis distinguished services, returned
home. After a short stay at Darmstsdt with
his regi meut he was transferred to thu Prus-
sian Gardes du Corps, the emper0r'S body
guard. He was much liked by his comrades
on account of his trauk, amiable character, un-
dauuted courage and the ardOr with which he
devoies himself TO mis- military vocation.
When hrs prospects of election to the throoe
of Bulgaria were irst mooted abroad he was
said to be exceedingly averse to abandon his
subaltern but pleasant position for the ques-
tiouaole honor of ruling nation depraved dur
| ing its long oppression by the baugh,y Otto
mao masters His nomiuston is due not 10
personal qualities, but rather TO the fscs Of no
| other suitable candidate beng at hand. His
nomination will, doubtless, bs supported by
| the powers in the hope that in the course of
time he will emanclpate himself from Russian
tutelage, and follow the example of Prince
Charles of Roumania, by pursuing a policy of
his own for the welfare of his subjects, and IN.
tram meled by foreign influences. His fathers
intimacy with the sovereigDs of Great Britain,
Ausrro. Hungary and Russia will greatly ia
ciitate his obtaining their consent to the NOM
inatiou. Ptiuce Alexscder of Hesse, whose
eldest 500 enjoys great favor with Queen VIC
toria and the prince of Wales, is general in
both the RussIsn and Austrian armies. He
fought with the latter in the war of 1859, aud
commanded a mixed corps Of German troops
against the Pfussians 10 1866, without, how
ever, achieving any signal success. His friends
maintain be is better diplomstist than strate-
| gist, a0 affirmation which he may have an
| opportunity of proving, especially as he is re-
| ported to be exerting bimself 10 favor of q
| nnion of eastern Roumania with Bulgaria.