The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-15
Alexander I of Servia Now Rules
in His Own Name.
PROCLAIMS HIMSELF KING.
His Action Meets the Approval Of the
POpulace.
The Former Regents Have Been Depoeed,
the Cabinet Dismissed and a New Min
istry Appointed-The Kings
Proclamation.

BELGRADE, April IA bloodIess coup
d'etat was effected here last night and
King Alexander L, the youthful ruler of
Servia who hereto fore has governed the
country through regents, today rules in
his own name. A grand banquet was
given at the palace last night to cele-
orate King Alexander's success in pass
ing the examination prescribed Tor Ser
Wan students. Ristics and General Bell
markovic, regents, and all the ministers
OF state were present, as were also q
large number of friends and supporters OF
the regents. For many months past the
situation IN SerVia has been critical oW-
ing to the abuse of power by the regents
and state officials. Affairs had become so
bad that the king had determined to take
the re1nS IN his own hands. In accord
ance with this determination plans were
secretly laid by means of which the re-
gents and ministers would be ousted with
out opportunity of opposition.
Unsuspectingly the regents and minis
tiers attended the banquet, and while en-
Joylng themselves at the palace a detach-
ment of soldiers and bodies of police took
possession of the minister's houses and
occupied the government buildings. At
midnight, while the festiviJy was still in
progress, King Alexander proclaimed
that he had attained his majority and had
assumed, with Skupshtina, the govern
ment of the country. As a matter of fact
the king had not attained his majority,
as according to Servian law he does not
become OF age until he is IS years old, and
as he was born Aug. II, 1876, ne will not
be IS for considerably over year.
When the deposed regents and ministers
heard the proclamation they were dumb
founded. The king and his advisers acted
Wi tr1Hn he.
who were In waiting, at once placed the
regents and ministers under arrest, and
they were sent to rooms which had been
prepared Tor them in the palace, where
they are under guard. The Servian army
Is loyal to the king. Had it not been the
coup d'etat would not have been possible.
After issuing his proclamation, and long
before daybreak, the king proceeded to
the barracks, where the troops we're IN
der arms, and was received with Joyous
acclamations and many expressions of
loyalty.
The proclamation which will be issued
everywhere in the country today bears
the kings signature. In it Alexander
declares that the constitution has been
lately IN sore jeopardy, the rights of citi-
zens imperiled and the constitutional po-
sitiOn of parliament so abased that the
king must end the unhappy condition of
affairs. he therefore declares that he has
come Of age and has assumed his kingly
power. Henceforce, the proclamation
adds, the Servian constitution acquires
it's full significance. The regents have
been deposed, the cabinet dismissed and
a new ministry appointed. Doketch is
the new prime minister.
The ministry which the king has driven
from power, are Liberals. This morning
the king issued a decree dissolving
the Skupshtina. Writs for a new cleo
tion have been sent the various constit-
uencies and this latter fact shows that
preparations for the coup d. etat must
have been completed some time ago. The
new elections will be held A pril so. At
IL this morning the king, accompanied
by many military and stake officials went
to the cathedral where the ste Deum''
was sung in celebration of his majesty's
accession to the throne. As the royal
party was proceeding to the cathe-
dral salute of 101 guns was fred from
the tamparts.
So far the act of Alexander appears to
meet the approval of the pOpulace. Shops
are closed in honor of the event, and the
streets are thronged with people discuss
ing the situation. Upon the conclusion
of the religious services at the cathedral
the king returned to the palace. People
on the streets gave him an ovation, and
many followed him to the palace and
cheered until his majesty appeared upon
the balcony and thanked the people for
their demonstrations of loyalty. He prom
ised to guard the constitution and secure
to the people the full enjoyment of their
rights.