The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-04-22

Servian Wonarch-A Banquet with a
Startling Menu-The Regents and Minis
tiers Arrested and Alexander Proclaims
Himself of Age and Assumes the Reins
of Government.
BELGRADE, April IA bloodless
coup detat was effected here Thurs
day night and King Alexander l., the
youthful ruler of Servia, who has here.
/ tofore governed the country through
regents, to-day rules in his own proper
person.
grand banquet was given at the
palace Thursday night to celebrate
King AleXander'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 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 their power by the re-
gents and state officials. Affairs had
become so bad 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
and ministry would be ousted
without opportunity for opposi-
tion. Unsuspectingly the regents and
ministers attended the banquet, and
while thew were enjoying themselves
at the palace detachments of soldiers
and bodies of police took possession of
the ministers houses and occupied the
government buildings. 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 skupt-
selma, the government of the coun-
| try.
! The king had not, in fact, attained
his majority. According to the 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 1s for
considerably over a year. When the
deposed regents and ministers heard
the proclamation they were dunn
| founded. The king and his ad-
visers acted with great prompti-
| tude and soldiers, who were in wait
ing, 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 coup
detat would not have been possible
After the issuing of the proclamation,
and long before daylight, the king pro.
ceeded to the barracks, where the
troops We're under arms, and was re-
ceived with joyous acclamations and
many expressions of loyalty.
| The proclamation will be issued ev-
erywhere in the country, and bears the
kings signature. In it Alexander de-
cla res that the constitution has been in
sore Jeopardy, the rights of citizens i'm.
periled and the constitutional position
OF 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 it's full significance. The re-
gents have been deposed, the cabinet
dismissed and a new ministry ap-
pointed M. Dokitch is the new prime
minister.
The coup d'etat is simply the revival
OF the royal supremacy, which had been
hrst weakened by the separation of
Milan and Natalie, and seriously i'm
paired by the abdication 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 menacinp
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 dis
orders in Belgrade increased the pub
lie anxiety for more stable admins.
tratlon. 1t is apparent, therefore,
that Servia was ripe for the bold act
by which young Alexander has as
serted his royal authority, and vindi-
cate in some degree the damaged pres
tige OF the house of Obrenovitch.
The details of the coup d. etat were
carried out with remarkable swiftness
and simplicity. The regents and their
ministers responded to an invitation to
dine in the old palace Thursday even.
ing. Eight were seated at dinner, the
king presiding. After the third course
the king rose and said to the regents:
Gentlemen, for four years you, in my
name, have administered the kingly
power. l thank you heartily for the
trouble you have taken. l now feel
able to administer the power myself,
and will exercise it from this moment.
| beg you, therefore, Immediately to
hand me your designations.
M. Ristics replied that he could not.
and would not, comply with the kings
request, which was contrary to the
constitution.
The king thereupon left the room
and sent an aide-de-camp to demand