The record-union., 1893-04-15

Take the Step-No Trouble Antici
pated.
Special to the REooRD-UNIoN.
BELGRADE, April IA bloodless coup
Petat was effected here last night and
King Alexander l., the youthful ruler of
Servia, who heretofore governed the
country through Regents, to-day rules in
his own name.
grand banquet was given at the pal
ace last night to celebrate King Alexan-
der's success in passing the examination
prescribed for Servian students. Ristics
and General Bellimarkovic, Regents, and
all the Ministers of State, were present,
as were also large number of friends
and supporters of the Regents.
For many months past the situation in
Servia has been critical owing to the
abuse Of power by the Regents and the
State officials, and affairs had become so
bad the King determined to take the
relns in his own hands. In accordance
with this determination plans were Sc
cretly laid by means of which the Re-
gents and Ministers could be ousted with
out the opportunity of opposition.
Unsuspectingly the Regents and Min
listers attended the banquet, and while
enjoying themselves at the palace de-
tachments of soldiers and bodies of DO
lice took possession of the Ministers
| houses and occupied the Government
buildings.
At midnight, while the festivities were
still in progress, King Alexander pro-
claimed that he had attained his major
ity and had assumed, with the Skup-
shtina, the government of the country.
AS matter of fact the King had not
attained his majority. According to
Servian law he does not become of age
until he is is years old, and as he was
born August IA. 1876, he will not be Is for
considerably over year.
When the deposed Regents and Minis
ters heard the proclamation they were
dumbfounded.
The King and his advisers acted with
great promptitude, and the soldiers. who
were in waiting, at once placed the Re-
gents 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 coup d'etat would
have not been possible.
After issuing his proclamation, and
long before daybreak, the King pro-
ceeded to the barracks, where the troops
were under arms, and was received with
joyous acclamations and many express
ions of loyalty.
The proclamation, which will be issued
everywhere in the country to-day. 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
| position of Parliament so abased that the
King must end the unhappy condition of
affairs. He therefore declares he has
come of age and has assumed kingly
| power. Henceforth, the proclamation
adds, the Servian Constitution acquires
its full significance. The Regents have
been deposed, the Cabinet dismissed and
new Ministry appointed. Dokitch 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, and writs for
new election have been sent to the various
constituencies. The latter fact shows
that the preparations for coup detat
must have been completed some time
ago. The new elections will be held
April Both.
At IL this morning the King, accom-
panied by many military and State Off
Gals, went to the Cathedral where the
''Te Deum" was sung in celebration of
| his majesty's accession to the throne. AS
the royal party were proceeding to the
Cathedral a salute of 101 guns was fired
from the ramparts.
So far the act of Alexander appears to
meet with the approval of the populace.
The shops are closed in honor of the
event. and the streets are thronged with
people discussing the situation.
Upon the conclusion of the religious
services at the Cathedral, the King re-
turned to the palace. The people on the
streets gave him an ovation. Many fol-
lowed him to the palace and cheered until
his majesty appeared upon the balcony
and thanked the people for their demon
STATIONS of loyalty. He promised to
guard the Constitution and secure the
people in the full enjoyment of their
rights.
THE NEWS AT VIENNA.
VIENNA, April 1.-THE receipt of the
intelligence that King Alexander of Ser
via had taken upon himself full powers
of King caused sharp fall in Servian
and other European securities on the
Bourse here.
Tonight the Kings assumption of
power was celebrated with a torchlight
procession and general Examinations.
The course taken by young King AL
exander will generally be attributed to
the influence of his father and mother.
ex-King Milan and Queen Natalie. The
coup d'etat is simply revival of royai
supremacy, which was first weakened by
the separation of Milan and Natalie. and
seriously impaired by the abdication OF
Milan and subsequently by the troubles
into which the country was plunged
largely as the result of the weakness
of the crown.
| The Neue Frete Presse expresses conf
dence that the Servian coup d'etat will
have no serious consequences. Austria,
it says, has no cause to disapprove the
action of the young King, who was prob
ably influenced by his parents, and not
by Russia.
A dispatch from Belgrade says that
after the third course in the banquet last
night the King rose and said to the Re-
gents: Gentlemen. for four years you,