New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-07
CHILD SOVEREIGNS.
HOLLAND. SPAIN AND SERVIA IN LITTLE
HANDS


present moment by mere children and if al the
persistent rumors concerning the i-heath OF En-
neror William and Dom Carlos have any founda-
MON it is possible that the number of infant
will shortly be augmented by nine
vear-od Kaiser of Germany and a four-year-od
King of Portugal. 1t is therefore quie possible
that ON the occasion Of the next congress of
crowned heads in Europe, the Amounted of the
Iord will be attended by their nurses in lieu OF
Cbancellors or Prime Ministers, and that the fes-
tivities in honor Of the meeting Will take the form
Of reviewing dolls instead OF soldiers. Their con
ferences will he devoted TO the discussion of car
dies and they viii toast one another IN bumpers
Of pap.
While this reducto ad absurdam may call forth
a smile, the latter will quickly make way for
look Of extreme gravity when one remembers how
vast are the interests which centre on the pre-
carious lives of these Royal children In the case
Of the little Queen Of the Netherlands, as in those
of the baby King of Spain and of the boy monarch
OF Serva, the happiness and welfare of their re-
spectiVe subjects ana the tranquility and peace Of
Europe are staked upon their existence FOR the
death of any one Of the three before the attain
ment of their majority would result in certain
chaos at home and in probable war both within
and beyond the frontier A painful feature Of the
situation is TO nc found in the fact that although
the majority of people thus impelled by con-
sideraf1ons OF sef-interest TO express wishes and
10 offer up prayers for the continued safety and
health of the infant sovereigns, yet there arc
many who yearn and hope for their death. Sew
eral dastardly attempts have already been made
at Belgrade TO take the life Of young King Alex
ander Of Serva In Spain both the Carlists and
the Republicans made no attempt 10 disguise their
disappointment when the little King began TO re-
cover from his severe illness n year ago and they
make no pretence Of cOncealing their conviction
that they have everything 10 gain by his de-
parture for another world. With regard 10 the
Netherlands, the disappearance Of little Queen Will
heimina would result IN the accession 10 the throne
Of the wife of the reignng Grand Duke Of Save
Wemar, and Holland, with all its enormous trade
and magnificent colonies, would become 10 all in
tents and purposes German province, endowed
with about as much autonomy and independenc,
as cities Of Hamburg and Bremen 1t is doubt
full, however, whether the population will submit
TO German domination without struggle for the
maintenance of their liberties and although the
Dutch Schutters' or militiamen are scarcely
match for the trained armies of the German En-
peror, yet the victories Of the Beers the Eng
lish in South Africa, and the magnificent resisanc,
which has been offered TO almost every foreign in.
vasion of the Netherlands, furnish .~tunds for
belief that they would not surrender without max
ing big and sanguinary fight in the defence Of
their political and material interests
Although little Queen Wilhemina is eNceeding-
~ frail and delicate. and, like the majority 81
Albinos. suffers greatly from anaemia Yet the Ger.
mans are determined 70 take no chances. and 70
secure themselves against the improbable eventu-
atty OF the girl living 70 the attainment of her
majority With this object in view. the Court
Of Berlin has arranged with the Regent of IlOl-
land, who is a German Princess for match he
tween her daughter, the little Queen and the
second son OF Prince Albert OF Prussia. The lad
Is about fifteen years of axe. and instead Of being
educated like the other members OF his family in
Germany, is passing his boyhood az the Hague,
where he resides permanently in house purchases
for his He attends Dutch schools, receives
lis military training from Dutch officers, and is
being fitted in every conceivable manner o the
somewhat delicate and difficult position o. q. King
C0nsort of the Netherlands II was the knowl-
edge Of this projected alliance that embitterei
the last year OF old King Williams life. and which
converted his love and gratitude for Queen Emma
INTO feelings of intense anImOslty. For, a Dutch
man 10 the very core, he hated and feared Ihe
Germans Of whose covctOus designs he PEI
fecuy aware lie could not bear the thought OK
his Kingdom falling under the sway of the llohel-
zOllcrn Emperor; and during his last days his
malay assumed the form Of maniac ravin-s and
ratings against Germany and eycrythln- and
everybody connected Herewith, including his own
wife.
While the infant sovereisnS Of Spain and the
Netherlands are jealousy tended by mothers who.
ependentlY OF their feelings of maternal de
yotlon. are impelled 10 particular watchfulncS> hy
the knowledge that the death of their children
would De at once followed by loss Of rank. wealth
and power, and by probable expulsion from the
country the poor little King OF Servia is pas>in.
his boyhood IN solitude. No mother is permitted
10 smooth his pillow 10 greet him with affection
III the morning and 10 kiss him good nl.lN. lie
Is LETT alone 10 face the dangers which surround
him, and they are many In rnnter. His father.
predecessor the throne of >crVla murdered
IN cold blood by the harage0rgewltcy pretcnders.
who as eager for the crown to-day they
were then. and who have even far more 10 gain
now by the death Of Alexander than by the
eassnaton Of Mll0sh twenty-five years ago. " r.
over, the kidnapping OF Prince Alexander of l}ul-
CARA IN the middle OF the nshi from his palace
By Russian cmlsSaries affords another drronstr3-
uon Of the perilS TO which Balkan rulers are eA-
posed.
The domestic troubles which lei to his p,rcHts'
divorce and to his fathers ahdc1tlon IL las ft,cr
have resulted in his being declared from seeing ,
mother. except on rare occasions, notwithstanding
the fact that she resides within a hundred Yards
of his palace gates. Ever. effort IS moac 10y Ter
enemies IN general and 10y her husband IN plrtcuioT
10 influence the lad against her. and only The other
,lny he was induced by his father Ia write ncr
letter in which he declares that no W J break
oil all relations with her If she persists IN sub
hitting to Parliament the disputed question IS
10 legality of the divorce which Milan. by i'm
proper methods. secured against ncr Queen
Natalic's reply Ia her child. To whom she -
devotcdlN attached, IS worthy of being placed Oh
record II runs thus
Il would give much if you had not written
that letter. my boy. But rs | know who made
you write II | excuse you For twelve years
taught you To love your father and 10 honor him.
and Concealed the misery of my life from You.
Had King Milan seen the situation clearly, he
would have done Is much for me This must show
YOU how different are your parents charactsfS-
II appeal 10 the Skuptchina merely make use
of my good right II yon fulfil your threat you
Will lose the respect of your people and of the
whole civilized world Kings are expected Ia
have hearts rs well rs other people. the nation
viii say. He has no heart for his mothcr-he VIII
have no heart for us. ~