New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26

THE HEIR TO THE BELGIAN THRONE.
house situated In one Of the most fashionable
thoroughfares Of the Belgian capital. which has
remained untenanted ever since. and Is pointed
out to strangers as the scene OF a tragedy which.
according To popular rumor bore many striking
analogies - that at Meyerng which cost the
Crown Prince OF Austria his life.
Like his uncle. King Leopold. Prince Albert Is
pa ssionately fond Of the bicycle. SO much so
that the colonel OF the cavalry regiment in which
he served FOR couple OF years at one time
began 20 entertain serious fears for the horse
manshp 81 his royal charge Prince Albert Is
an extensive traveller and has visited not only
every court In Europe. bu, also most OF the
great centres OF industry In the Old World. H.
bids fair to make "A far better king than King
Leopold. since ia the first place he Is devoid OF
his rncle's craze for speculation and foolhardy
adventures. such the disastrous Congo enter
prise while on the other hand he has as yet
shown no trace OF having inherited any OF those
moral shortcomings which nave cast so heavy
shadow upon the relgns Of his uncle and of his
grandfather.
Should Prince Albert die before King Leopold.
or without leaving any male issue all sorts or
complications would arise with regard 10 the
succession To the throne For although. accord
ing 10 the terms OF the Belgian Constitution
King Leopold possesses the right, In the defauit
OF male issue OF his own or OF his younger
brother. to select an heir from among the Vari-
Gus Catholic princes Of Europe. the choice, or
course to be ratified by the Chambers OF the
LEGISLATURE yet IL IL doubtful whether any oil
those foreign Powers who guaranteed the neu-
traiifv and independence OF Belgium at the time
OF It's conversion into a kingdom would ever be
able to agree together upon any one candldate.
Indeed IL would be the same thing as IN the
caae Of Prince Ferdinand OF Bulgaria. ana OF
Prince Leopold OF Hohenzollern. whose election
10 the throne Of Spain brought ABOUT the
. rhA
chiefly interested In the choice OF an heir to the
Belgian throac are Germany and France, since
Belgium lies. so to speak. between the TWO iet
IL is preposterous To imagine for a moment that
these two hereditary foes. so terribly embittered
AGAINST each other. could ever agree upon the
choice OF the ruler Of a country which occupies
:, en- a coigne of vantage. right between the TWO
In RelcIan court circles IL Ii asserted that In the
event Of Prince Albcrts falling to survive King
Leopold the latter would nominate the young
French Prince Of the House OF Orleans. known as
Tho Duke of Vend0me az his heir. on the ground
that the Duke is married 10 Princess Henriette'
The eldest daughter of the Count OF Flanders
But there seems no reason for TINS, ana King
Leopold being himself a German prince and
member Of the German ducal house OF Saxe-Co-
burg -Gotha, would be just as likely to nominate
Prince Charlce Of Hohenzollern Prusslan ON
cor who Is married to Princess Herrettes SIS
Ter Josephine Ii s still more likely that KING
Leopold would select his own son-n-law. Irince
phiiip OF SAKE oburg. elder brother or Prince
Ferdinand OF bulgaria who is general In the
Austrian service Both Prince Philip and Prince
Charles OF Hohcnzollern would. however be Cd.
jected to by France as officers OF the Armies u
,ho TrIne Alliance while the other hand,
Germany would certainly veto the nomination or
n French Prince such az the Duke of Vendome
From this II will he seen how exceenihsH
n,acious arc the life and health OF young Prince
Albert of Belgium. not alone to the Belgian
neooIe whose independence and future welfare
are at stake, but also to the whole OF EUROPE,
,vhich may vet one OF these days. be involved
In a terrible war in connection with the question
of the Belgian succession.