The Portland daily press., 1895-07-20

Thereupon he forced his way through
the ring of desperadoes and struck the
editor three times in the face with his
open hand, then spat in his face, turned on
his heel and walked away. But the edi-
tor did not challenge him, nor did any of
the others venture to take up the quar-
rel Soon after III. Stambuloff challenged
In succession three of the most notorious
IRE eaters in the anti-Bulgarian party,
but not one Of them yentured to accept
indeed, he never fought duel, though
ne publicly chastised at least half
dozen fighting men,
Stambuloff lived very simply His
mouse is in the outskirts of the city and
would best, perhaps, be called a cottage;
IL Is small, built Of stone, plastered and
whitewashed, with green Venetian blinds
at the windows A petty tradesman or a
prosperous mechanic in America would
thlnk the place scarcely good enough Tor
MIN. Nor is 1t sumptuously furnished
within The Minister'S office or study,
the room where Bulgaria has been gov
erned, is plain, almost to baroness The
noot Is bare save for huge fur rug I'M
Ger NJ. Stambuloff's table. The taEle IT.
self is nothing but wide pine board, I'M
painted and uncovered, resting upon
couple Of sawhorses. Behind this the
statesman used to sit in rocking chair, :
and hold the Eastern Question in the hol-
low OF his hand. Behind him was cup
poard full of state papers, against which
leaned loaded repeating rifle. Another
cnalr or two, number OF maps, ana
piles of letters and papers, and big
stuffed owl-that was all there was to Sc Q
IN the room, excepting the man himself
And as for Stephan Stambuloff him
SELL he was worth more than a passing
glance. Years ago he was small, slight
man. AT the time of his death he was
still short in stature, but stout and power,
fuL Robustness is the dominant note OF
his whole being His hair was growing
thin and gray, and his close-cut mustache
and imperial were also gray. But his
black eyes were full of youthful fire and
energy, and he presented the appearance
OF singularly strong, brave man, simple
and unaffected, honest, usually kind and
genial, but capable of turning himself
into stone and iron when OCCASION re-
Russia would do with him ii she could.
He was educated there and exiled because
he was dangerously Intelligent. 1t was
he who once told Russian Prince that
Bulgaria's natural frontiers extended
from Bessarabia to Salonika, and received
the grim reply: "They include one other
region which you have not named :"
And that is-?
"Siberia p
And that is frontier of civilization to
which Russia would dearly have loved
to conduct Stephan Stambulof.
Stambuloff was born at TirnOva in 1858
and was at first destined for career in
the Church. He was studying theology
In Odessa when the Bosnian and Herze-
govinian insurrection broke out in 1875,
and tried Intellectually to raise a like one
in Bulgaria. His attempt failed, and he
sought refuge In Bucharest, where he was
associated in new revolutionary schemes.
During the Russo Turkish war he was a
volunteer in the Russian service After
the election of Alexander L., he became,
with NJ. Karaveloff, one of the chiefs of
the Liberal party, and when the latter
in 1884, resigned the presidency of the
Sobranje, M. Stambuloff was elected pres
ident Of the Assembly. He held this office
two years, but when, on August 81, 1885,
the conspiracy against Alexander was dis
covered he formed, with Col. Moutko-
rolf and M. Karaveloff, a counter govern
ment which overthrow the revolutionary
party in few days, enabling Alexan der
to return to Bulgaria He believed it nee
quence of the hostile attitude of Russia,
and on September Z, Stambuloff, Karave-
loft and Moutkoroff were named as re-
gents.
From this time M. Stambuloff took a
great share in the direction of Bulgarian
affairs. His policy was distinguished by
a consistent opposition to all Russian in
reference with Bulgarian internal poll
cies, and an attempt to increase the indie
pendence of the principality in its rela-
tions with the Porte. Through his in
fiuence the Sobranje, conyoked at Tirno-
va on July 1887, unanimously chose
Ferdinand of SAKE Coburg and Gotha
Prince of Bulgaria. The new ruler, who
was not recognized by Turkey and the
Great Powers, leaned upon Stambuloff,
who became his principal Minister, being,
in fact, "a sort of dictator. He put down
with firm hand several conspiracies,
notably that of Major Panitza.
Ferdinand. however, drew away from
his former favorite, and in May, 1894,
the Princes Russoghile policy became SO
his colleagues resigned Since that time
the pro- Russian tendency has increased,
and in the general elections of Septem
Der, 1894, the old Conservative party Sc
cured the return ofssan overwhelming ma
jority of members of the$SObranje.
nEERTNG