Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-17
WAS NOT UNEXPECTED
SAmbulOff Was Aware OF q Plot TO
Assassinatc Him.
Ex-Premier the Victim Of
Russian Intrigue.
Prince Ferdinand Now Placed In a Most Un-
comfortable Position.

which the city was thrown by the at-
tempted murder Of ex-Promicr Stambu-
loh has not subsidized, but, on the contrary,
has become intensified Several arrests
have been made In connection with the
outrage. The condition OF M. Stambuiof
Is such ms To givo slight hopes that he may
yet recover from his wounds.
M. Stambuloff, late yesterday, made a
statement to the public prosecutor, who
has ordered the arrest OF Tufcktchioff, who
was formally charged with tho murder OF
M. Beltcheff the Bulgarian minister Of
finance, who was assassinated In March,
1891, while in company with NJ. Stambu-
loft Nine. Beltcheff, 10 will be recalled,
was recently induced to believe that M.
Stambuloff was the murderer Of her hus-
band, and warrant was Issued, but mover
executed, for his arrest.
A man who witnessed M. Stambu-
lofts coachman pursue the assassin, says
he saw policeman strike the coachman
because of tho latter's refusal to give up
the revolver with which he was chasing
the criminals, and TO whom the policemen
were not paying any attention.
The Kolnische Zeitung (Berlin) calls at
tentiOn TO an interview which IL had with
N. Stambulof some months ago. M.
Stambuloff then had forebodings Of his
fate. and said that band had bean formed
at Uetschbunar, a suburb OF Sofia, which
practiced tho use OF firearms. The gov
ernment said M. Stambuloff was aware Of
their existence, but winked mt 1t. Among
the band were the murderers Of NJ. Belt
chef, former minister OF finance Of Bull
garia, who was assasslnated In 1891.
"They have taken an oath to assasslnate
me-" said NJ. Stambuloff in the interview,
''and to avenge Major Panitza (executod
for treason in 1890 at the instance of M.
Stambuloff). Prince Ferdinand is in
cluded In the list of impending victims"
A PerIlous Situation.
Stambuloff represented the most ardent
patriotism and national ambition of his
people. He was the heart Of the opposi-
ton to Russian influence, and when he
retired from the premiership short Mme
ago, that act was felt to be the signal of
great change. Other evidences of that
change have not been wanting. Prince
Ferdinand seems to have decided that the
best course for Bulgaria was to accept the
Russian alliance, and 10 Is for that that he
has left his kingdom.
Stambuloff was strong statesman In
position which circumstances rendered
untenable Bulgaria needed such man,
but that man should have been Its prince.
Ferdinand would have been abOlished
long ago but for Stambulof, and bis dis-
missal meant the subservienco and final
subjeotion Of the little country which
made so brave a fight under Alexander
of Battenberg for It's autonomy, and
gained it, Tho foremost man in Bulgaria
for tho last 10 or 10 years, Stambulof was
the latest victim Of Russian intrigue.
Prince Ferdinand Is apparently between
two fires. What he especially desires Is
the formal recognition of his princely
status by Russia. He has received a dep
utation of Macedoniaps and though he
lectured the members of 1t, the fact that
they were received at all has beon freely
commented on. Further, Prince Ferdi-
nand's unexplained journeys and tho am
biguous language of the Bulgarian gov
ernment papers have given rise to the be-
lief that the movement in Macedonia rs
being encouraged by the prince and his
ministers.
Courting the Cars Friendship.
On the other hand, as is made evident,
Prince Ferdinand Is earnestly bent upon
standing well with the car, in the hope,
Of course, of obtaining from that august
monarch the official recognition OF his
rulership, which Russia, and in cOnse-
quencc the rest of Europe, has so long
denied.
The Inauguration Of this distinctly Rus
sophie policy dates from the fall of Stam-
bulof, last year. Stambuloff fell because
he put his faith in the triple alliance, but
was unable to obtain from 1t recogni-
tion of Prince Ferdinand's international
status. Hence, since Stambuloff and the
triple alliance, whose steadfast supporter
he had always bcen could not obtain for
the prince what he desired, Stambuloff
was crushed, and reapproachement was
attempted with Russia.
The difficulty of Prince Ferdinand's po-
sition lies in the fact that the sentiment of
the bulk Of his subjects is decidedly anti
Russian. Since Stambuloff's overthrow
there has been an increase of the influence
Of the Russophile party in the principality,
but the distrust with which Russia has
come TO be regarded in Bulgaria Is wide
spread, as we'll rs deep.
These two crcumstanccs-Prince Ferdi-
nand's desire to please Russia In order to
obtain "A recognition of his rulership from
the car, and the thorough unpopularity
OF Russia in the principality--combin to
render Che situation i'm Bulgaria both COM
plicated and dangerous
Tho Oefonder's Rival