The morning call., 1893-09-02
A DYNASTIC IMBROGLIO.

A DYNASTIC IMBROGLfO.
1t appears to be possible that the Duke
of Edinburgh will not be allowed 10 sue
cesd to the dukedom Of COburg without a
wrangle. How he comes to be the heir to
the throne is quite story. The four
Georges and William the Fourth were
Electors or Kings of Hanover, as well as
Kings of England. and considerable frc-
tlon arose in consequence. Their English
subjects called them Germans. their Ger
man subjects called them Englishmen.
Both countries were we'll pleased when on
the death of William the Fourth his niece
Victoria, who succeeded him in England,
was excluded from the throne OF Sake
Coburg- Gotha by the Salic law. But three
years later the Queen married Prince AL
bert OF SaXe-C0burg, and the old danger of
two crowns falling upon one head was re-
vived. To avert it a bargain was made
between Prince Albert and his brother
Ernest that in the event of the latter
dying without issue he should be sue
ceeded, not by Albert or his eldest son,
but by Albert's SECOND son, then called
Prince Alfred and now known as the
Duke OF Edinburgh. To this arrangement
the Prince of Wales assented when he
came of age.
1t turned out, first. that Ernest left no
legitimate heirs, and, secondly, that he
lived to the advanced age of 75. his death
having only just occurred. Under the
bargain made half century ago the Duke
CT Edinburgh takes the succession. But
the Germans have raised the old cry Of
Germany for the Germans; the Emperor
William especially objects 10 the control
of German State passing into the hands
OF foreigner. William asked the Duke
TO resign his claims to the British throne
as the condition of his investiture in Sake
C0burg. The claims we're not formidable ;
they could only arise after the extinction
of every member of the Prince of Wales
family; but such as they were the Duke
declined to relinquish them, and the
Queen is understood 10 sustain him In the
refusal. Thus, as matters stand, if the
Duke OF Edin burgh is installed at CoburE,
and a war should break out between Great
Britain and Germany, the Duke would be
bound as an admiral in the British navy
to command fleet against Germany, and
at the same time as a member of the Ger
man confederation to lead an army against
England if the Emperor ordered him to
do so.
Still Saxe-Coburg Is so fat dominion
that the canny English Prince does not
take kindly to the thought of letting it go.
The dukedom is small-its population is
about 10000 and its area 76O square
miles; but 1t yields 100000 a year
net to its sovereign. The late Duke
Ernest was saving man and he
reigned just half century He is sup
posed to have left very large fortune in
deed. which is invested in entailed lands.
II the Duke OF Edinburgh gets possession
without dispute ae will become one OF the
rich Princes of Europe. and will have no
more reason 10 complain Of poverty.
II Is q standing joke in Europe that
whenever a Princess is in need Of a hus-
band the house of COburg stands ready TO
supply the deficiency. 1t has already sup
piled husbands 10 the female heirs of
the monarchies of England, Belgium, Por-
tlgal and Bulgaria; for that matter the
Empress of Germany is Coburg on her
fathers side. Such a house occupies no
mean position in dynastic circles. The
Coburgs have never allowed religion to
interfere with their dynastic ambition
The Cohurgs at home are Protes ts
Prince Albert was an uBcompromising
Protestant; but the CobuTgs of Portugal,
Belgium and Bulgaria are strict Catholics
The latter probably thought with Henry
the Fourth that a throne was we'll worth
a mass.
The late Duke Ernest was bright man,
who excelled in many pursuits. He wrote
books and composed music; he had de-
cded ideas in politics. He was the friend
of the late Empero Frederick. and yet a
steady follower of Bismarck. But between
him and the present Emperor no love h as
ever been lost. He has never been to
court since Williams accession, and he
had no hesitation in expressing TO any one
who would listen his mean opinion of
the young man who now occupies the Ger
man throne. William is said to be anxious
to know whether the new Duke will side
with him or his mother, the Dowager En-
/ Drosa