, 1881-04-03
THE NEW KINGDOM OF ROUMANIA.

| Prince Charles Of Roumania has been eie-
| waited to a Ktngsllip, as reported by the for
eign dispatches. The event assumes no new
nificant as indicating the complete severance
of Roumania from Turkey. The new King
has no more power than he had as Prince,
nor does his Kingdom gain any more privi-
leges, or reach any higher status because it
has substituted a Kngly for a Princely
throne. 1t carries no particular political in
tluence, nor does it invest Roumania With
any new Importance among tie Powers. The
altered relations to Turkey, however. be-
come interesting as a reminiscence. Prior
to 1861 the present Principality Of Rouma-
mia was known rs AIoldayia and Wa'ta-
CHA. NIoldavia, after long series of
wars. In the sixteenth century submit
ed to the snzerainty Of the Porte.
In the Turko-Russian wars it was always a
bone Of contention. III the time Of CATH
crime II. it was a Russian province, but was
restored to Turkey in 1714 under 4 kind OF
Russian protectorate. In 17D, Austria and
Russia made war upon Turkey, and Moldayia
was the battle-ground, but its former status
remained, The war Of 1925 again brought
her into Russian hands. A new statute hay
ing been made with reference to the election
Of uospodars, it was confirmed by the Porte,
and then the agitation begin for a union Of
the principalities, which. was finally accom-
plished in 1861, Rounania, the new State,
being 4 vassal province Of Turkey. The his
tory of Wallachia is very similar: The Turks
occupied it as early as the fourteenth cen
tury, when it acknowledged the suzer-
ainty Of Sultan Bajazet. From ITO to
1879 it was almost continuously occu-
pied by Russia. After that time it re-
nained in Turkish possession, except in
1925, when the Russians reoccupied it in their
war with Turkey. They evacuated it in 1920,
hut the Treaty Of Adrianople gave them q
protectorate over it, and it remained in this
condition until the union in 1861 After the
union. Alexander John ]. was recognized rs
the Prince by the Porte, but he was forced to
abdicate in 1865, and was followed by pro-
visional government. The same year Charles
T. of uohenzollerli was elected Prince. His.
reign, with the exception Of a few internal
troubles, was a quiet and successful one,
though the relations of the Principally to
Turkey were always delicate. It paid an
annual tribute of about $780, 900 to the Porte, :,
and could not make commercial treaties OF
appoint Ministers to foreign Courts. With
these exceptions it was INDEPENDENT of
Turkey. The late war between Russia
aud Turkey broke The few remaining ties:
that bound it to Turkey. Russia made Rou-:
mania, by the latters consent the base of
supplies, and the latter also furnished q, 900
men, who not only bridged the Danube for
the passage Of the Russians, but did splendid
work in the field, proving themselves. to be
gallant soldiers at plevna. Their freedom
was their reward, and it was we'll earned.
Now their autonomy is complete. Their
Prince, who was elected By the popular hal
lot, has become 4 King, and they have be-
come recognized nation. It is another step
in the interesting sequences by which Tn1~
key has lost Seryia, Bulgaria, and Ron-
mania She has also had to sacrifice one
strip of her territory to Montenegro, and /
now. under pressure Of the Powers, must |