The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-01

Ex-Attache in the N. Y. Tribune.
Little by little the sovereign houses of
the old world are being Invested of those
medieval prerogatives that were all very
well when the people were willing to ad-
NIT the extravagant claims of mundane
ROYALTY to cousinship with the Almighty,
hut which are thoroughly out of keeping
with the enlightened and progressive spirit
of the present age. One of the most pre-
posterous of all these extraordinary privi-
leges has been that of morganatic mar
rage. a form of matrimonial alliance
hut little understood in the United States.
Based upon the principle that an ordinary
union was impossible between members of
a regning family and a person of minor
rank belonging either to the nobility or to
the people. it has been considered binding
only on the inferior of the two parties,
but not on the superior, who, ecclesiastic-
ally and legally, has been held free to
contract another union without first get
ting rid of the morganatic partner. The
latter has been debarred from sharing the
social status, title or privileges of the
higher born of the two, and the issue of
similar disadvantages. OF course, the ex-
istence of an institution of this character
implied a sort of obligation upon members
of sovereign or mediatized houses not to
contract any but morganatic marriages
with people of a lower grade of society,
and this has no doubt suficed to
prevent many a union between an Amer
lean heiress and an impecunious German
prince.
Morganatic marriages may be consid-
cred to have had their day. Their death
knell has been sounded by the judgment
just rendered in the Lippe-Detmold sue
cesson controversy by a specially organ
lied tribunal, presided over by the vener-
able King of Saxony, dean of all the SOW
ereigns comprised in the federation known
as the German empire. According to the
decision of this court-the highest in the
land, the DEGREES of which, by previous ar
rangement are binding upon all the states
of the empire-morganatic unions on the
part of parents or of more remote ancest-
ors are no longer to constitute any bar to
the succession to the throne. This being
the case it naturally follows that they
cease to entail any disqualfying conse-
quences in all other particulars, which
are naturally of minor Importance, and
marriages.
The controversy, which has been excit-
ing an immense amount of interest
throughout Europe, may be said to have
originated with Emperor William and in
the following manner: Two years ago
Waldemar, then the reigning Prince of
Lippe-Detmold, being in failing health,
bodily as well as mentally, and having no
heir but his lunatic brother Alexander,
was induced by the emperor to draw up
Will, according to which the regency of the
throne during its occupancy by the in
sane Prince Alexander was to be vested,
not in the hands of Count Ernest of
Lppe, the nearest agnate and closet rela-
tive, but in those of a much more remote
kinsman, namely, Prince Adolphus of
Lippe-Schaumburg, who, however, enjoys
the advantage of being the most subser-
Went and, therefore, most highly favored
Of the brothers-in-law of the kaiser.
Prince Waldemar, moreover, expressed the
hope in his precious will, which he had not
the Vistage of right to make. that the
regency would only be preparatory to the
succession of Prince Adolphus to the
throne on the death of the present insane
prince.
On the strength of this will, as soon as
Prince Waldemar breathed his last Adolf
phus took up his residence at the palace,
seized the reins of the government and
caused the principality to be occupied by
his brother-in-law. Emperor William, the
presence of the soldiers effectually quelling
all projects Of resistance on the part of
the indignant population. Indeed, he act
ually closed the doors of the palace in the
face Of Count Ernest OF Lippe and his two
sons, the nearest surviving kinsmen of
the dead ruler, when they arrived to at
tend the funeral and would not accord
them any place among the royal and
prlncely procession of mourners-conduct
which excited so much public resentment
mat the legislature of the principallty,
through its president, requested the uni
Nersally respected and popular count and
ms two sons to walk at the head OF the
parliamentary representatives and TO sit
among them in the church where the SER
vices were celebrated.
count Ernest of Lippe, as any one who
examines the pages of the "Almanach de
Gotha," will perceive, stands in point of
relationship nearest to the present dement,
20 prince, and as such is entitled to the
SvD.VOO year regency as well as to the
eventual succession to the throne This
lls4I warmly Endorsed by the parliament
vi Llppe, by the municipality of Detmold,
uy the entire population of the prnci-
panty as well as by all the non-Prussian
e1a,es OF the German empire, was ontest-
tu oy Emperor William and by Prince
Auoipnus on the ground that Count Err
nIsl was debarred from the prerogatives
""lh ne would otherwise have enjoyed
py reason Of his being descended from
'eal-sreat-grandfather who, instead OF
"'IlrFlng a woman of his own rank had
''udcted what Is known as morgan
"y alliance. II would be only i'm the
I'M OF Count Lippe, his sons, his broth
~ ana his nephews, all alike descended
.5to" this non-princely ancestress, being
tFia.el out OF running. that the far more
Ifi,,,1nly related family Of schaumburg-
.tIe would have any right TO the success
~ Frlnee Adophus. it may be added.
re,""i iey the youngest Of FIVE sons of the
',sUlhs Prince Of Schaumburg-I.ippe
49, W. lunately for Count Ernest OF Lippe.
,,, u'kn-handed and arbitrary proceed
d.s. aJ Detmold, and particularly the in
on ...ss to which he had been subject
cI,.3 Frnce Adolphus at the funeral, ex-
t5o 20 much Indignation throughout the
no. n 1,. non-Prussian states that EN-
AM p" hham became seriously alarmed.
s, W. more as he himself was held re-.
cr.,r-iio.e TOT the whole AFFAIR, his broth
irstro,a.W being looked upon merely as an
AMI tuleni IN his hands. The Bayarian
,..I 'H' urtemburg nawepapera ,yare