The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-15
ALExANDER'S BOLD ACT.
Servia's Boy King Asserts His
; Royal Power.
REGENTS AND MINISTRY ARRESTED

The Young Monareh's Course Evidently
Dictated by His Recently Reconciied
Parents. Whose Separation Led to seri-
Gus Disorders in the Kingdom.
BELGRADE, April liking Alexander
has arrested the ,rgents and ministers of
Servia. He has declared that he has at
tanned his majority, and has assumed the
government of the country. The coup
d'etat was effected without bloodshed.
grand banquet was given at the palace
to celebrate King Alexanders success in
passing the examination prescribed for
Servian students At midnight, while the
festivities were still In progress, King
Alexander proclaimed that he had attained
his majority and that he had assumed,
with the sknpshtina, the government of
the country. Asa matter OF fact, the king
had not attained his majority. According
to the Seryian law he does not become of
age until he is Is years old, and he will
not be Is for considerably more than
year.
When the deposed regents and ministers
heard the proclamation they were dunn
founded. The king and his advisers acted
with ereat promptitude, 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 palacn, where they remain un-
der guard The Servian army is loyal to
the king.
The details Of the coup d'etat were car
ried out with remarkable swiftness and
simplicity. The regents and cabinet min
i,tcrs were seated at dinner, the king pre-
siding. After the third course the king
rose and said: ''Gentlemen, for four years
you, in my name, have administered the
kingly power. l thank you heartily for
the trouble you have taken. i now feel
able to administer the power myself, and
will exercise it from this moment. beg
you, therefore, Immediately to hand me
your designations"
As the officials dennrred the arrests fol-
lowed. Subsequently they were taken to
their residences under guard.
Last night the kings assumption of
power was celebrated with torchiight
pr cession and general illuminations.
The course taken by the young king will
generally be attributed to the influence of
his father and mother, ex-king Milan and
Queen Natalie, who have recently been
reconciled after many years of discord.
Queen Natalie has never forgiven the re
gents for her expulsion from the country
in May, 1891, an event which was accom-
panied with considerable violence, and
which evoked chivalrous resistance on
the part of her supporters, two Of whom
were killed by the troops. .Ex-King Milan
has felt that the regency was menace in
some degree to his dynasty, as well as to
the influence which he desired to exercise
In Seryia.
The reconciliation, as well as the ap-
proach of young Alexander to the period
at which he would be entitled to assume
the reins without regency, has made the
house of Obrenovitch virtually irresist-
ible, and left its antagonists without any
standing sufficient to oppose the powers of
the reconciled family. The coup d'etat,
therefore, is simply the revival of the
royal supremacy which had been first
weakened by the separation of Milan and
Natalie and seriously impaired by the
abdication of Milan, and the subsequent
troubles in which the country was plunged,
largely as u result of the weakness of the
crown.
During the past year these difficulties
have increased, and radicalism has reared
Its head in such menancing manner as to
make the conservative 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 political and financial,
rapidly grew worse, and serious disorders
in Belgrade increased the public anxiety
for more stable administr ration. 1t APP
parent therefore, that Servia was ripe for
the bold act by which young Alexander
has asserted his royal authority, and vim
dicated in some degree the damaged pres
tige of the house of 0brenovtch.