New-York tribune., 1881-03-29
rur spLaIr 0F N1rlON1LITT.

The Roumanian sOvcreicn's change of tide,
which has been sanctioned by the legislative
houses, is q European episode of minor I'M
portance when viewed by itself. KingshiD will
not add an acre to his territory nor dollar to
his revenue; nor viii il tend TO promote civic
virtues among his subjects The sovereign CT
n State whose independence has heen Won III
,Sar and recognized by the European Powers In
the Treaty OF Berlin, does not gain anything III
a material sense by assuming the title OF hiHg.
The authority OF Queen Victoria in British
India WIS not increased by the Imperial title
conferred upon hcr in 1877 with the eilded
splendors of n coronation pageant at Delhi.
Nomenclature is small part of royal preroga-
tive The Prince Lad the nominal direction OF
a Government practically conducted by Min
istry responsible to the Legislature, and also
the privilege OF q suspensive veto in legislation;
aud the King will have precisely the same
powers under the Constitution. Nor will Rou-
mania have more weight in the European sys-
TEN of States as a Kingdom Jhan it alreaOy had
as PlinciDalIty Greece has been kingdom
iOI half a century, and yet stands to-day with
out an elective ally on tine Continent. large
principality makes only small Kingdom and
its prince only petty king.
The episode, unimportant IN itself, is interest
ing from the "reminiscences which 1t calls mp,
and the forecasts which it inspires. An ire
sistible national impulse brought the two halves
of the Principality together in 1851, after
European COnglcss had taken special pains to
separate them, precisely as the Bue9Tias were
torn asunder in 1873. The Principality re-
mained fof sixteen years under the suzcrainty OF
the Sultan WithOuc acquiring strength enough
to resist pressure from the north or fIOm the
south. When the Russians received marching
orders for the Danube they made the pTinci-
palty their base Of supplies, bat regarded the
military alliance with this nation OF CARPET
knights, as they nicknamcd them, - campaign
pleasantly. The L umauans themselves did
not suspect that they were good soldiers, and
fancied that independence would come to them
without their fatiguing themselves uuncccs-
saIily. The Russians were to do the fighting
for them and pay them we'll for military sup
plies ard transportation. The first pleat dis
aster opened the eyes Of tlHs pleasure loving
Latin race. Prince Charles brdgcd the
Danube, and with $4,000 men went 10 the relief
Of the army OF invasion and IL the trenches
before Plevna they worked out the salvation o!
their country like trae soldiers. They fairly
earned the independence which ttey had cx-
pected would como o them WithCut cfi0rt on
theirpart, and the 2.GGJ square miles OF territory
and the 2l7, 900 subjects added by the exchange
of Southern Bresarnba for tle Dobludia made
scant return for the stlvIces rendered TO their
northern ally in the hour ot danger. When
Deace wan concluded they were under no obi
cations to Russia, and this was a great gain Tor
Europc. They had found out their own latc,t
4 LII ff,r.f-
self-respect, and this was great gain for
themselves.
"reminiscences naturally open the way for
surInises in regard 10 fhe future Roumania,
Servia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece may
all be counted as substantial gains FOR Europe,
for civilization never loses from the develop
ment OF the spirit Of nationality. The gain
will be all the greater IL they stand by them
selves and do not depend upon Austria, Russia
or England for protection. The Greece which
Canning planned was a useful member ot the
European family, whereas Ignadc0S Bulgaria
was mapped out as an outlying Russian grO-
vince IL is for the interest of the world that
the States which rise upon tho ruins of the
crumbling Ottoman Empire should DO suong
and selt-respecting, forming alliances with one
another rather than with the older and stronger
Powers II such a Gordon OF kingdoms and
municipalities be formed, 20 whom will the
leadership be intrusted 7 Possibly to the ROu-
nanians, who fought 30 bravely four yeaIs ago !;
possibly TO the Greeks who now seem to be on
the verge Of campaign; but more probably
to the BulRarians. after they have undOne the
work of tho Berlin dipomatists and bound
together their provinces. But whichever race
gains the ascendancY, it will not be by virtue
of royal titles and kinGly graces, but in conse
quence of vire citizenship and the develop
ment of the best traits of national charac ter.
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EX.GOV. SEYMOUR on CURRENT POLITICS.