New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08

Frederick warne Co.
After reading this volume, It is easy TO think
that Voltaire did not choose names merely AT
random when he wrote Of the adventures 81
Candide as n soldier among the Bulgariahs'
The story Of Stambulofrs life is romance OF
adventure darlsened by episodes Of torture ana
assassination which would have made Noitaife
satire needless. Mr. Beaman's narrative re-
fleets the life OF a man. who under the most
adverse conditions. became one OF the proh'-
non, figures Of Europe only to be murdered by
hired ruifians. Ii Is practically history oi
bulgaria from the time when It's successful
struggle for territorial liberty began, for from
FIRST to last Stambuloff was a leader among MS
countrvuen 1t would have been hard to fore
cast such a career at the beginning. Stambu-
loft was the son Of an innkeeper who managed
10 make enough money over and above MS oru'-
narv cxpenses TO give his three children some
education The future Premier was INTENDED ior
tailor But he gradually thought out ano'her
plan OF lfe for himself. First. he aodeo 10 MS
education with the AID OF private teacher' anu
then he had the good fortune TO be accep'eu ps
the Russian Government as a student In the
University at Odessa. There. whatever else nc
learned. he certainly acquired knowledge Oh
rolit,cal nlots. He became a Nhst with the
result IN due course of icing driven from the
university and from the Empire.
Bulgaria was the proper theatre for such
youth Under the guise Of book-pedier' ne
busted himself in organizing revolutionary COM
rit,ees lie led several hopeless efforts TO over
turn the Turkish power vas hunted OUT OF his
country and came near starving. pennies
outcast at Bucharest After all. the country
really owed its liberty. not to its own PATRIOTS
but to the results Of the war between Russia
and Turkey. They had fought in vain But
they could not be ignored when the Powers at
temnted TO make peace, and the reason for this
Law largely in Stambuloffs vigor as an agita-
tor With new system of government. bull
raria became a new country. Its people were
no less rough than before, but at least their
natural energy found means of exercise. VII
lagos rose rapidly to be important towns. Inc
official class was ilad with men VINO had ris'n
by their natural fitness to the conditions 'hat
surrounded them. The legal profession Gttrac'ea
hosts Of men who had no training in the law.
bu. who had sharp wits and a thorough knowi-
edge Among these stambulof was foremost.
Meanwhile. he was an agitator in Mace1onit.
whose population he learned to dislike for its
lack of patriotism. Mr.. Beaman says OF the
Macedonians that they never remcmter KIND
ress nor forget an injury. After reauihg MS
book one feels like saying the same thing OF the
Bugarians. II was not the gratitude OF Stan-
bulor.s countrymen that kept him In high place.
but simply his own imperious disposition when
enabled him TO keep them in order. In Mace
dcnia he expected every night to be murdered;
and in Bulgaria his life was safe only because
b,s system OF espionage after he came into
power was perfect. lie emphasized this himself
by declaring that bee co I'D not ny out OF
yarna without his knowing 1t.
He was imperative not only with the people. but
with the princes Alexander OF Battenberg hated
him for years and was only won over to him by
finding that rough as stambuloff was and indif-
ferent 10 the ordinary phrases OF loyalty ne s'ili
embodied as no other man did the nationai spint
OF the country. lie restored Alexander TO MS
throne after the almost farcica rebellion Of 1886,
when the Prince was forced by band Of half
drunken cadets to sign mis- abdcaton ana was
hustled out OF the country. Stambulons action
in tire matter plainly not due to any anection
for the Prince but TO the conviction that II was
for the good OF the country. II he had been CON
suited. the Princes AFFECT dispatch to the Car
after his restoration would never have been sent.
and he did his best to prevent the final departure
of a ruler whom he must In his heart have de-
spised.
His dictatoral manner IT. the presence OF his
sovereign was illustrated in the midst OF the re-
volt Of 1856 In Eastern Roumelia. which resulted
In the union OF the NO Bulgarias. The Prince
hesitated to take adva itage Of the movement
He fancIed he would have not only the Porte. but
all Europe against him. Stambulons blunt adj
Vice in the version OF Mr. Beaman was: The
union Is made the revolt is an accomplished fact.
past recall and the time for hesitation Is gone by
Two roads lie before your Iiighness-the one 10
Philippopolis and as far further as God may lead
the other to Sistofr. the Danube and Darmstadt.
counsel you to take the crown the nation offers
vol" Alexander took this advice and almost in
a day the principally OF Bulgaria, hardly consid-
cred before except as an amusing or annoying
patch of country. became factor in European
diplomacy The following year she astonished
everybody by destroying the military power of
Servia What she might have done II Alexander
had retained his place on the throne. with SIAM
buloff behind him, can only be imagined.
AS he grew older Stambuoffs impeIious man-
ner became worse. In fact. he owed his death to
It, That he treated treacherously by Prince
Ferdinand and by the Princes advisers is plain.
II he had been the self poised man he in
Alexander's time. he could have dealt with the
opposition successfully. But he already
sick man whose death was only anticipated
short time by the assassin. In his earlier days he
knew when 10 make his resignation final. AT the
last he was too easily persuaded to keep his hold
or the Government when his own prudence taught
him the wisdom OF retiring. lie had won the at
tention Of all Europe and the particular respect OF
the Sultan Of Turkey and the Emperor OF Austria.
as well as the hatred Of Russia and the Car. lie
had the favor such as IT H. Of the Bult .rian peo
pie lie had claim on the gratitude Of Prince
Ferdinand because on the eve OF the Princes mar
rage he had secured a change in the Constitution
which allowed the possible heir TO the throne TO be
reared in the Latin instead Of the Greek faith
This was the moment which he chose for Offering
his resignation. The Prince begged him not to
press the matter hnd Stambulof yielded. 1T
was" odds Mr.. Beaman. "a decided mistake. Had
he remained firm. the Prince would have been
compelled TO choose a successor from the Opposi-
ton and the contrast would have been so marked