The Portland daily press., 1886-08-31
PRINCE ALEXANDER,

rhe adventures of Prince Alexander of
bulgaria within the last ten days form a
1ost sensational chapter in the diary of Eu-
.opean politics. That he is back again in
Ibis realm seems to be due not so much to the
interference of any friendly European power
, as to a lack of nerve on the part of the Rus
| SLAMS to carry out plan which they found
to be extremely distasteful to the Bulgarian
people. The result of the episode seems
to establish two facts, both of which have
been suspected for some time: the existence
of an independent national feeling in Bulga-
ria, which accepts Alexander's leadership as
a permanent arrangement; and the rapid de-
cadence of Russian influence in State
which Russia intended for an outpost for her
operations against Turkey. 1t has hereto
fore been doubted whether Alexander really
had any deep hold ON the hearts of his peo-
pie. He is young, a foreigner by birth, and
was elevated to the throne by foreign infu-
ence; his people have not long enjoyed ma
tionality; it would be the natural SUPPOSE
ton that his position is insecure. But last
winters brilliant campaign against Servia
confirmed in the Bulgarian people the re-
spect which they had gradually come to have
for their Prince. The action of the people
in the trying crisis now at hand shows that
he can be deposed only at the risk
| of alternating the entire nation. Of the
| decadence of Russian infence in Bull
garia the present instance is a sig
nifcant indication. Russia has always
thought that she could do as she pleased
with Bulgaria. By her influence the little
Gtot tod riu fho PoII
whence the route to Constantinople should
be easy By good rights Bulgaria should
have extended beyond the Balkans, too,
but Beaconsfeld, desiring to preserve their
passes for Turkeys defence, had those
Bulgarians beyond the mountains left, as
Eastern Roumelians, to the direct suzer
ainty of the Turk. This was to prevent Rus
STA from gaining the Balkans through the in
fluence which it was felt she had in Bulga-
ria. 1t was while Russia believed her influ-
ence paramount in Bulgaria that she in
trigUed, so it is said, for the union of Bulga-
ria with Eastern Roumelia. With such I'M
ion Bulgaria would have Turkeys Balkan
defences, and it was assumed that Russia,
her influence being paramount in Bulgaria,
would be well situated for descent on Tur-
that her plans had succeeded only for anoth-
er to reap the fruits. Prince Alexander, in
stead of allowing Bulgaria to be an entering
wedge for Russia against Turkey, showed
that he intended to build up an Independent
State, which would be rather buffer to Rus
sia's assaults on Turkey. Thenceforth
Russia was his enemy; and as her influence
was supposed to be great in his realm, she
was formidable enemy. But the result of
the palace revolution in Sofia shows that
Russia's influence has diminished rapidly, so
rapidly that the Prince she placed on the
throne can appeal successfully to his people
in defiance of her. Henceforta the issue is
between the Prince and the people of Bulga-
ria Oh one side and Russia on the other.
Whether Russia will be permitted to do by
force what she has failed to do by intrigue is
said to depend much upon the attitude of the
other powers. 1t is certain that the Cars
agents have hesitated to carry out their plans
in the present instance in the face of the
popular uprising in Bulgaria.
Mrs. j. Ellen Foster addressed 500 persons
on Tuesday afternoon at a temherance mass
meeting and basket picnic at Mssisquoi
Park, VT. She advocated prohibition, but
was against third party actlon as means of