St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-24
ASCENDS THE THRONE.
DUKE or EDiNE URGH NOW RULER or
THE DUcHY
OF sAxE-CoBURG AND GOTTA.

Bismarck Once Decided That a
Foreigner Could Not Occupy a
German Throne The Duke
Takes the Place of His Son
Prince Alfred Death of Duke
Ernst.
CoBERG, Aug. 23.-Emperor William
arrived at ReinhardSbrupn this MORN
ing. having travelled FROM Berlin on a
special train. The Duke of Edinburgh
was today formally recognized as the
ruler of the duchy. He has been spend
ing some time i'll Germany, and when
the condition of Ernst became
critical he was notified, and at
once came to this city. He
was at the castle of Reinhardsbrunn
when his uncle died, and Thur sday he
took the oath of allegiance to the con-
stltution in the presence of Emperor
William and all the ministers. Prime
Minister Strenge formally thanked EN-
peror William for attending the
ceremony. The emperor went to
Reinhardsbrunn at the request of the
Duke of Edinburgh. The diet will
meet on Saturday for the purpose of
swearing allegiance to the ruler of the
duchy. The body of Duke Ernst has
been embalmed. 1t will lie in state in
the castle on Friday. On Monday it
Will be removed to this city, where II
Will be inferred in the Moritzkirche al
noon.
Comment in berlin.
BERLIN, Aug. 23.-The succession of
the Duke of Edinburgh to the throne of
SaXe-Coburg and GOtha, instead of II is
son Prince Alfred, is much commented
upon IN this city. When the question
OF the brunswick succession was agi-
tated in 1885. Prince Bismarck,
who was then imperial chancel,
lor, pronounced it all impOs-
sibiity that foreigner should occupy
a German throne. This declaration,
supported as it was afterward by
statement that the Duke of Edinburgh
had given up his claim in favor of his
son, was generally accepted i'll Ger
many as proof that no foreigner
would be permitted to reign in d
German state. Prince Alfred being
to all intents and purposes a German.
subsequently 1t was seml-ofricially
denied that the Duke of Edinburgh re-
nounced his claim. This, however, had
little effect, the fact that Prince Alfred
was educated at Coburg in accordance
with GerInaA ideas confirming the popu-
lar belief that he was to succeed to tho
duchy. The views entertained here
were that all English prince with Rus
sian consort was an impOsSibiiity as
A German Ruler.
Moreover, the declaration that Prince
Alfred had become of age in October,
l692-he was born Oct. 10, 1S74-was
understood to imply contradiction of a
rum0r that had found wide circulation
that the Duke of Edinburg would, should
the death OF Duke Ernst occur in the
meantime, act as regent of SaXe-COburg
and GOtha during Prince Alfred's
minority.
Prior to the Duke of Edinburgh tax.
ing the oath of allegiance TO the cOnsti-
thtion today he and Emperor William
had long and secret conversation al
the castle of Reinhardsbrunn. Many
Geographic dispatches have passed 10.
day between Reinhardsbrunn and
Osborne house, Queen Victoria'S resi-
dence on the Isle of Wight.
On his arrival at Reinhardsbrunn En-
perOr William was received by the
widow of Duke Ernst. The emperor
expressed his deep sympathy with her.
Prince William of Baden, the widows
brother, arrived at the castle this even
ing. The Duchess of Edinburgh and
her son, Prince Alfred, are expected
TO arrive tomorrow. 1t is understood
that the Duke of Edinburgh will abdi-
cate in favor of Prince Alfred on the
latter'S reaching the age of twenty.
one-probably before, but this Is con-
sidered matter of future arrangement.
Queen Victoria will be represented at
the funeral by Sir Edward B. Malet,
the British ambassador to Germany.
Wreaths are arriving at the castle in
abundance. The court has been Or
dered to 20 into mourning for three
weeks.