The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-14
A BOYS COUP D. ETAT
Servia'S Seventeen : Year
Old King Assumes Ac-
tive Leadership.
ALL HIS REGENTS JAILED.
Trapped by an Invitation 10 Dine
at the Palace-The
Army Loyal.
ALL HIS REGENTS JAILED.
READS JUST LIKE A NOVEL.
Bu cable to the unfted Press

By Gable to the United Press
BELGRADE, April IA. 1S95.-A bloodless
coup d'etdt was effected here last night,
and King Alexandria. the youthful ruler
of Servia, who has heretofore governed
the country through regents, today rules
in his own name. 4 grand banquet was
given at the palace last night to celebrate
King Alexander's success in passing
the examination prescribed for Ser
vian students. NJ. Pristies and
General Belimarkovic, the regents.
and all the Ministers OF State
were present, as were also large number
of the friends and supporters OF the re-
gents. For many months past, the situa-
tion in Servia has been critical, owing to
the abuse of their spower by the regents
and State officials. Affairs had become
so bad that the King determined to take
the reins in his own hands.
SECRET PLANS.
In accordance with this determination
plans were secretly laid by means of
! which the regents and the ministry would
be ousted without opportunity for oppo-
sition. Unsuspectingiy the regents and
ministers attended the banquet, aud while
they were enjoying themselves at the
palace detachments Of soldiers and bodies
of police took possession OF the ministers
houses and occupied the government
At midnight, while the festi vities were
yet in progress, King Alexander pro-
claimed that he had attained his majority
and that he had assumed, with the
Skupshtina, the government of the coun-
Try.
AS matter of fact the King had not
attained his majority. According to the
Servian law he does not become of age
until he is eighteen years old. and as he
was born August IA. 1875. he will not be
eighteen for considerably over a
year. When the deposed regents
and ministers heard of the
proclamation, they were duEfounded.
The King and his advisers acted with
great rromptitude, and soldiers who were
in waiting. at once placed the regents
and ministers under arrest and they were
sent to rooms which had been prepared
for them in the palace. where they are
under guard.
The Servian army is loyal to the King.
Had it not been, the coatD d'etdt would
not have been possible. After the Issuing
of the proclamation and long before day.
where the troops were under arms and was
received with joyous acclaHa5tons and
many expressions OF loyalty.
The proclamation which will be issued
everywhere in the country today, bears
the Kings signature. In it Alexander
lately in sore jeopardy, the rights of the
citizens lmperilled, and the
Constitutional position of Parli-
inent SO ahased that the King
must end the unhappy condition of
affairs. He therefore declares that he has
come of age and has assumed kingly
power. Hencefoftb. The proclamation
adds. the Servian Constitution requires
its full significance. The regents have
been deposed. the Cabinet dismissed and
a new Ministry appointed. NJ. Dokitch
is the new Prime Minister.
QUEEN NATALIE,s HAND In IT.
The course taken by the young King
Alexander will generally be attributed to
the influence of his father and mother,
ex-Kng Milan and Queen Natalie. who
have recently been reconciled after many
years of discord. Queen Natalie has
never forgiven the regents for
her expulsion from the country
in May. 1891, an event which was accom-
panied with considerable violence. and
which evoked a chivalrous resistance on
the part of her supporters, two of whom
were killed by the troops. Ex-king Milan
has felt that tho regency was menace
III some degree 20 his dynasty. as well as
TO the influence which he desired to exer-
else in Servia. The reconciliation, as
we'll as the approach OF young Alexander
TO the period at which he would be en-
titled to assume the reins without a re-
Rency, has made the House OF Qereno
witch virtually irresistible, and left It's
antagonists without any standing su fl
cient to oppose the power OF the recon-
clled family.
sERvIA WAS RIPE,
The coup d'etat, therefore. is simply
the revival of the royal supre macy which
had been FIRST weakened by the separa-
tion of Milan and Natalie, and seriously
impaired by the abdIcation of Milan and
the subsequent troubles, in which the
country was plunged. largely as a result
of the weakness OF the crown.
During the past year these
difficulties have increased, and
radicalisna has reared its head in such a
lnenacing manner as TO make the conser-
vative classes long for greater strength
and unity at the source OF government.
The decree of expulsion against Queen
Natalie was revoked. but the
situation, both POLITICALLY and
and serious disorders in Belgrade in
creased the public anxiety for more
stable administration. Il is apparent,
therefore, that Servia WAS ripe for the
bold act, by which young Alexander has
asserted his royal authority, and vindi-
Gated In some degree the damaged pres
tige of the House of ObreBoyitch.
ACTIVE RULEEsHIP.
This morning the King Issued a decree
dissolving the Skupshttns. and wrfts for
new ELECTIONS have been sent TO the
various constituencies. This latter fact
SHOWS that the preparations for the coup
d,etat must have been completed some
time ago. The new elections will be held
on April 30.
At eleven O'Clock this morning the
King, accompanied by many military aud
State officials. went Go the Cathedral,
where s.Ie Depm" was sung in celebra-
tion of his Majesty's accession TO the
throne. As the royal party were proceed
ing to the Cathedral salute of 101 guns
was fired from the ramparts.
So far the act of Alexander appears
to meet with the approval of the popu-
lace The shops are closed in honor
OF the event, and the streets are thronged
with people discussing the situation
Upon conclusion of the religious services
at the Cathedral, King Alexander re-
turned to the palace. The neople Oh
the streets gave him an ovation. and
many of them followed to the palace.
Here They cheered until His Majesty APP
peRred upon the balcony and thanked the
people for their loyalty. He promised TO
guard the Constitution, and to secure 60
iile people the full enjoyment Of their
rights.
CLERK B0UTQN HONE AGAIN.
Clerk Bouton Of the Street and Water Board.
has returned from his Bermuda trip. George