The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-24
declaration in regard to the manner

pared declaration in regard to the manner
of government. 1t is expected that Queen
Emma will be proclaimed Regent to-mor-
row, aud will take the oath at an early date.
William III, King of Holland. has been
an invalid for years. The succession is in
the Princess Wilhelmina, who was born in
1880. During her min ority the widow of the
King, and mother of the heiress, viii con-
tinue TO act as Regent. Willem III, as the
Dutch call him, was born February 49, 1917
he was the eldest son of King William II
and of the Princess Anna Paulowna, daugh-
ter of the Emperor Paul of Russia. After
preparation by private tutors. he was STU
dent in the University of Leyden. He has
been King of the Netherlands since March
II, 1S49, when his father died
a STIRRING EVENT.
King Williams reign has been peaceful
and uneventful, and only once has the
world had reason 10 occupy itself with him
and his little kingdom, when in 1868 he pro-
posed to transfer the Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg to Napoleon III for pecuniary
consideration. Until 1866 Luxemburg be-
longed to the old German Confederacy and
to the German Customs Union, and its capi-
tai was one Of the most important fOrtresses
in Europe being, according to treaty rights
garriSOned BY Prussian troops. The State
of Luxembourg forms a buffer between Ger
many and France; when, therefore. France
in 1865 proposed to buy out the right OF King
William, Germany protested, declaring her
inten ton of going 10 war ifFrance persisted
in her proposal. In the end 4 compromise
was effected, France gave up the idea OF ae-
quiring Luxembourg, and Germany gave up
.har rtph pf q r a N |
burg City; the Grand Duchy, however, still
belongs to the German Customs Union; in
this way the iFTalcO-German War was post
poned for two years, until 1870.
QUEEN SOPHIA.
King William married in 1919 the beauti-
full and accomplished Queen phia,
daughter of the late and sister of the pres
ent King of Wurtemberg. He lived very
unhappily with her, as the King. who is
very commonplace man, did not value her
mental and intellectual gifts as he ought to
have done. Queen Sophia was frequent
visitor in the capitals of Paris and London,
she corresponded with all the Leading men
in Europe and the greatest statesmen
sought her advice. After the fall of Napo-
leon Ill her correspondence with him was
found in one of his palaces, in which she
repeatedly warned him against the danger
of war with Germany; she died in 1877.
Queen Sophia had born the King two sons,
both of whom are now dead. The older,
William, Prince Of Orange. died in 1879 in
Paris, after a career Of the widest
under the sobriquet Of Prince Citron.
The second son, Alexander, who
then became Prince of Orange, and
heir to the throne of Holland, although
very clever young man, lived the life Of
recluse at Hague, the capital OF Holland,
seldom or never leaving his palace. He too
died without being married. The aged
King, who until then had also been noted
for his gallantry TO the fair sex, the favorite
of whom kept the best appointed carriages
in Paris, and to whom he had given some of
the finest residences in that city, where he
also spent great deal of his time, now
turned over new leaf. He married at the
age Of 62, Princess Emma of Waldeck, who
IS his junior by more than forty years, aad
became one OF the most devoted of hus-
bands.
GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBURG.
The perplexing question of the succession
to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Luxeu-
burg, which in 1868 nearly preciptated a
FIanco-German war and in the near future
may again disturb the Cabinets of Europe,
assumes again the greatest Importance. The
Grand Duchy, which is wedged between
France, Germany and Belgium, through the
treaty Of Vienna became military part of
the German Confederation, though it was in
its administrative affairs connected with
; Holland through so-eailed personal union.
That is 10 say while the King of Holland
was made Grand Duke of Luxembourg it
preserved its autonomy. The Dutch royal
family, belonging to the House of Nassau,
= had Inherited rights to the throne of Luxenl-
burg, which formerly was q possession
. Of this family. The law OF succession in the
House of Nassau excludes females from the
throne. The heir OF the King of Holland is
ayoung girl, and therefore excluded from
the succession in Luxemburg The heir-in-
law in the first line is the Duke Of Nassau,
q very rich old man without issue. De-
tiironed in 1868 by Prussia, he became
IecODciled with German unity, met William
ii and dined with him, and recently took
the oath of Regent of the Grand Duchy.
The heir in the second line through mar
riage is the King of the Belgians. In 1868,
at time when the death Of the King OF
Holland was thought to be. imminent,
Prussia advanced very strong claim TO the
succession in Luxemburg. Its claim was
based on the right of conquest. Bismarck
reasoned that the Duke OF Nassau having
Incorporated into this kingdom under the
expressed or silent sanction of the great
powers OF Europe, Prussia also acquired by
conquest all the rights of Inheritance of the
conquered Prince and of the house of
Nassau.
NAPoLEoN's OBJECTIONS.
AS In case of a war between France and
Germany, Lnxemburg, then strong fortress
and garrisonef by troops of the German
:. Federation, would have been OF the greatest
straget!cal Importance, Napoleon Ill gave
f0rciDe expression to his determination to
settle this new point in International law at
swords ends. Bismarck net being quite
ready for war and Napoleon fearing the