New-York tribune., 1886-08-24
PRINCE ALExANDERS DOWNFALL.


it's supremacy in Bulgaria The revolt against
Prince Alexander, his abdication and the for
nation Of Provisional Government In which
Zankoff is Minister of the Interior, mark the
elimination Of long campaign OF secret
diplomacy. For months every consular and
diplomatic office supported by Russia In inc
Balkan peninsula has been a centre Of intrigue
against the Prince The chiefs OF the anti
Government party, who had been deprived OF
official influence and patronage. were encour-
aged to plot against the sovereign ana amply
supplied with money from ST. Petersburg. An
army Of secret agents has been employed 10
foment informal discord and to fnghten the
Princes subjects with threats OF invasion froE'
the North. where 100000 soldiers were re-
ported to he concentrated. So thoroughly had
Prince Alcxanders throne been undermined
that the final result was accomplished without
the firing of shot. AT signal given by the
palace guard at Sophia, the popular sovereign,
who had fought so bravely against Servla, was
dismissed from service like lackcy. The
Provisional Government was created without
bloodshed or rioting. The submission ol
Bulgaria to Russian asccndancy was formally
rendered by the new Ministers and graciously
accepted by tho Cars representatives.
Prince Alexanders fate will be deplored
throughout Western Europe, where his mill
tary genius, independence Of character and
robust virtues have won general appreciation.
He has lost his throne because he possessed
too much spirit and sclf-respect to become q
puppet worked by wires from the Russian
Foreign Office But plucky and credltable as
his resistance to Northern aggression has been.
his failure has been from the outset forcgonc
conclusion. Russia having liberated Bulgaria
was determined to have ii governed in its inter-
est In order that the road TO Constantinoplc
might be kept open for the Imperial army.
Prince Alexander recruited the civil service
with Germans, turned Russian officers out Of
the army, created strong National party,
placed himself at the head of the Eastern
Rumclian revolt. reunited the Bulgaias,
rcpclcd the Servan invasion and obtained
powerful diplomatic support in Berlin and
London. The magnitude Of his success in
volved his speedy downfall Ru sa threat
ened with the loss of every practical advantage
gained in the Balkan in 1877, was bent
upon comprising his ruin. Prince Alexander
must be driven from tho throne, even at the
risk Of exciting general European war; for
II he were allowed TO remain. the Cars pres
tige in the Balkan would lie destroyed and
a native State strong enough to rule and defend
Constantinoplc would be built up like ram
part across the path Of Russian ambition.
The consequences Of this triumph of Russian
intrigue and revenge 1t would be venturesome
to forecast. Suddenly and unlocked for as the
Princes downfall is to the general public, 1t is
not improbable that the German and Austrian
Governments have received warning of it in
advance and that they have acquiesced in it in
view of the exigencics of European peace. If
the journals which are accustomed to reflect
Prince Blsmarck's judgment in great crises are
to be depended upon at present, the dethrone
ment of Prince Alexander may be looked
upon as tending to defer rather than to hasten
a general war. If Russia has obtained the
consent of the two German courts to the
Princes dismssal-and Austria, as the ally of
Servia, would not be averse to it-an immediate
campaign will be unnecessary; for Bulgaria
will be restored to its former relations to st.
Petersburg, the complete union of the Bull
garas will be effected under another and less
Independent Prince, and every pretext for the
resumption of the march to ConstantinOple will
be removed. England is terribly startled by
this new proof of the ceaseess activity of a
rival whose bad faith in the Batum affair it
has recently denounced. But England will
to his throne. Nor will any other Power inter-
vene so long as Prince Bismarck deems mac
ton expedient.