The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-04-21
KING ALEXANDER 4.


ters Arrested and Alexander Proclaim.
Hims~iF oG Age and Assumes tine Itsins
OF Gosersment-
BELGRADE. April ia blooiless
coup d'etat was effected here Thurs
day night and King Alexander l.. the
youthful ruler Of Servia. who has here
toforc governed the country through
regents. to-day rules in his own proper
person
grand banquet was given AZ the
palace Thursday night 20 celebrate
King Al-xander's success in passing
the examination prescribed for Servian
students NJ. Ristics and Gen. Belimar
Belimarkovic. the regents, and all the
ministers of the state were present. as
were also a large number Of friends
and supporters of the regents
For many months past the situation
in Servia has been critical. owing 10
the abuse of their power by the re-
gents and state officials. Affairs had
become 50 had that the king deter
mined To take the reins in his own
hands In accordance with this de-
termination plans were secretly laid by
means of which the regents
ind ministry would be oustei
without opportunity for oppoSi-
ton Unsuspcctingly the regents and
ministers attended the banquet. and
while they were enjoying Themselves
at the palace detachments Of soldier,
and bodies of police took possession II
the ministers houses and occupied the
government buildings At midnight.
while theafestivitics were still in
progress. Kng Alexander proclaimed
that he had attained his majority and
that he had assumed. with the skupt-
selma. the government of the conn-
try.
The king had not. i'm fact. attained
his majority. According to the Serrian
law. he does not become II re until
he i IS years old. and rs he was born
/ August "a. 1876 he will not hr : for
considerably over year When tina
| dcpo~ei regents and ministers heard
the Proclamation thcy were Iun.-
founded. The king and his ad-
visers acted with great prompts
tude and soldiers. who were IN Walt
ing. At once placed lie regents
and ministers under arrest. and ,hcy
were sent 10 rooms which had been
prepared for them IN the pa.ac-, whore
they are under guard
The >crvian army j. loyal u the
king. Had il not been the comp
I d'etat would not have been possible
After the issuing Of the proclamation.
and long before daylight. the king pro-
ceeded 70 the barracks. where the
troops were under arms, and vas re-
ceivei with joyous acclamatiuns and
many expressions Of loyalty
The proclamation will be issued ev-
cry where IN the country. and bears the
kings signature. In il Alexander de-
ella res that the constitution has been in
sore Jeopardy, the rights Of citizens inn
perilcd and the constitutional position
81 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
kingly power. Henceforth. the procla-
nation adds. the Servian constitution
acquires its full significance The re-
gents have been deposed. the cabinet
dismissed and new ministry APP
pointed NJ Dokitch is the new prime
minister.
The comp detst Is simply the revival
of the roval supremacy. which had beer
first weakened BIZ the separation OF
Milan and Natalie. and seriously i'm
paired BIZ the abiication Of Milan and
The subsequent troubles in which the
country was plunged largely as re-
suit Of the weakness OF the crown.
During the past year these difficulties
have increased. and radicalism has
reared its head in such n rnenacin-
manner as to make the conservative
classes long for greatcr strength aud
unity at the source OF government
The decree of expulsion against
Queen Natalie was revoked. nut the
situation. both political and financial.
RAPIDLY grew worse. and serious dis
orders in Belgrade increased the pub
lie anxiety for more stable admins
fration. IL is apparent. Therefore
that Servia was ripe for the bold act
iv which Young Alexander has a.
serted his royal authority. and vindi-
cate in some degree the damaged pres
,ir.. Of thu. house Of Obrenovitch.
The details of the coup a ctat were
carried out with remarkable swiftneSs
and simplicity The regents and their
ministers responded To an invitation 70
dine in the old palace Thursday even
ing. Eight were seated Mt dinner, the
king presiding After the third courss
, the king rose and said tn the regents
Gentlemen. for four years You. IN MY
name. have administered the ktnEly
power. thank YOU heartily for the
! trouble you have taken now feel
/. able to administer the power myself
! and will exercise il from this moment
, I beg ycu. therefore. Immediately %
hand me your designations
NJ Ristics replied that he could not
; and would not. comply with the king
request. which was contrary 70 the
constitution.
, The king thereupon left the room
and sent an aiie-de-camp to demand
{ the designations Of the ministers -
they all remained obiurate he ordered
them to leave the old palace and 20 y
the new palace TO remain over nlgiI
In the morning they were convcycd -