New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-02
RUMANIA'S PRETENDER.
HIS DEATH CHARGED TO THE GOVERNMENT
DISTRESS IN TIE 1NGDOM

lyRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF The TRIBUNE
: Vienna, Nov. L.
Another mysterious tragedy has just been added
TO the long list Of sanguinary crimes which con-
stitute so graphic feature of the political history
Of Eastern Europe Occurrences such as these,
every now and then serve to remind the world
that notwithstanding the magnificent and ami
mated boulevards OF Bucharest, with its splendid
palaces, its opera, theatres and parks, both Ruma
MIA and the neighboring Balkan nationatics pos
scss but q mere veneer of Western civilization,
since not only the people, but even tie autbori-
ties, continue to avail themselves of peculiarly
Oriental methods of dealing with their political
sdversaries.
II is barely n week. ago that news was received
here 10 the effect that the general election in
Rumanla had resulted in on overwhelming victory
on the part of the Conservatives, who have OBJ
taned immense majorities, both in the Chamber
and in the Senate. Now the Conservatives rep
resent not only the Philo-Russian, but also the
ti-Dynastic, element Of the population. The
party is bitterly opposed TO the alliance with Ger
many and Austria negotiated by the Premier,
Bratiano and is determined all costs to prevent
the succession TO the Runanian crown OF King
Charles's nephew and recognized heir The Con-
r,atives aim at the overthrow of the pres
ent heretical occupant OF the throne, and their
organ, the "Adeverul" which is the most widely
read newspaper in the Kingdom, openly agitatcs
for the election Of an orthodox and native-born
sovereign by means of plebiscite, at the same
time recommending the country TO throw itself
upon the protection of Russia. Tho candidate put
forward by the party King Charles's successor
was until yesterday young Demetrlus Couza 'he
natural son Of the late Prince Couza who until
1866 was Hospodar, or Ruler of Rumania). by
his haison with the Princess Obrenowltch, the
mother of King Milan of Servia.
Radical evils require to be treated with rad-
cal remedies in semi-civilzcd States. The vic
tory of the Conservatives at the general election,
TIC fact that the clergy. the army and the i'm
mense corps OF provincial and metropolitan Office
holders all devoted to the cause OF the Pre-
tender. and that even the whole of the Cabinet,
with the solitary exception Of NJ Carp, the Min
lister OF Foreign Afa RS, were more or less pro-
nounced RussOphiles and friends Of young Couza,
brought matters to crisis Hence, when the
news was received here last night Of the Ruma-
MAN Pretendcrs sudden and mysterious death
at Ruginosa, his country seat near Jassy, there
was perhaps less surprise expressed than might
have been expected The kilograms assert that
Demetrius Couza committed suicide, but this
statement is universally discredited. Indeed, it
is difficult to understand what possible reason
an ambitious, handsome and wealthy young man
such as the Pretender could have had for putting
an end to his life at the very moment when the
efforts of his followers and partisans had just
been crowned with success The prevailing be-
lief here both in official and financial circles, is
that his death has been due 10 assassination. At
all events, il deprives the Conservative and Anti
Dynastic party in Rumania Of its only available
candidate for the throne, and that, too, at the
very moment when all its hopes and schemes were
on the eve of realization. There is no one now
IL or,1 I'M
whole agitation in favor of natvc-bon and
orthodox King falls to the ground OF course
nobody here dreams Of holding King Charles per-
sonally responsible for his rivals death. The
name of NJ Bratiano the former Prime Minister,
is however freely mentioned in connection with
the Pretender's death, and it is publicly asserted
both in print and conversation that this is by no
means the first occasion on which he has had re-
course to downright assassination for the purpose
of solving difficult political problems.
The history OF the late Pretender is both curious
and characteristic. His father, Prince Cousa.
belonged TO an old Boyard family, and By dint
Of intrigue and cunning had succeeded in getting
himself elected a. Hoepodar Ruler of Rumania
in 1859 The Prince was known in the West
as we'll as in the East Of Europe as one Of the
most INSCRIPTIONS and dissolute men of his day
Married to the charming Princess Helen daugh-
Ter OF the pdtGIcIdu IOuSS VI hOsclt',
lie neglected her in the most shameful manner.
Indeed, his intimacy with Princess Obrenowitch,
mother of King Milan Of Servia, was of so fragrant
neture as to arouse the indignation
even Of the Rumanians. who ad-
mittedly the most hcentious people who
exist. With a view OF counteracting this
feeling against him, he suddenly in 1854
brought about by means of a coup d. etat' the
emancipation from serfdOm and the endowment,
with land of the pcasantry. This achievement
practically ruined the great Boyard class TO which
he owed his throne and broke up the political
power OF the clergy and territorial aristocracy.
The latter TO be reyenged on their despoller
and on the night of February %, 1866 seven of
the Princes most trusted officials and confdants
who had been over to the Boyard party
forced their way into his palace, dragged him
from his bed, and after compelling him at the
muzzle of a revolver TO sign an act Of abdIcatlon
hurried him off to the frontier. Princess Obreno-
witch, who in the room at the time, hld her
self behind the curtains, and while the Prince
was signing his act OF abdication, managed TO
reach the door barefoot, and TO escape into the
street. On leaving Bucharest Prince COuza settled
down for a time in one Of the suburbs OF Vienna,
where he occupied two villas. In the one lived
his wife, whose marriage with him had proved
unfruitful, while the other tenanted by Prin-
cess Olrenowitch, and by his son by her, young
Den,etrus Couza. In 1870 death put an end
70 the romantic and adventurous career of
Madame Obrenowitch, who was famous thirty
years ago as being the most beautiful and fascinat
ing woman in Europe. Immediately after her
funeral Princess Helen COuza, with charity and
generosity beyond all praise, adopted the five
year-old boy of the rival who had caused her so
much sorrow and suffering, and brought him up
as her own son. AT the close of the Franco
German war the Couzas moved from Vienna to
Nice, where they remained until the ex-Hospodars
death in 1875. Young Demetrius, who had in
berited much Of his mothers good looks and
In n.oio a nn1r- In Erarn