The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-17
Milan and tho Assassin.

Although martial law has been pro-
claimed In Belgrade there Is no reason to
| suppose that affairs in Servia are much
disturbed. Belgrade is to Servia what
Paris is to France; there are perpetual
revolutions and changes OF Ministry going
on there, and in the natural order of things
each Government on assuming Office places
its predecessors and possible successors
under police supervision, itself In turn
being under the strict surveillance of its
various rivals.
The natural result Is that every Servian
politician is either conspirator or con-
spired against. The Servan Parliament,
supposedly a responsible representative
body, has the reputation of being the
noisiest and most excitable legislative as
sembly in the world so much so that a
diplomat well acquainted with both Scrvia
and France once said that the most dis
orderly session OF the French Chamber
would be looked on as a very quiet sitting
in the Skoupstchina at Belgrade.
The reported attempts upon the life OF
King or ex-King MILAN, for it appears to
be uncertain which he is, have certainly a
grave look, but only to those outside Bel
grade and unacquainted with the personal
character of his Majesty. In Belgrade such
incidents are not taken seriously, and there
have been so many OF them that they are
no longer considered as genuine. The pub
lished accounts OF the King or ex-King's
display OF personal courage in running
after his would-be murderer on the last oc-
casion his life Is said to have been attcmpt
ed must have caused the most uproarious
hlarity in the gardens and cafes where
Servians meet to absorb beer and sibOrits,
Not that King MILAN is incapable OF run
ming far from it, for 1t had become a habit
for which he was noted in the presence OF
danger. That he ran after the intending
assassin would convince every Servian that
he ran no danger.
1t used to be said OF the Emperor NAPo-
LEON III. that some Of the later attempts
on his life were affairs gotten up for political
effect whenever his popularity appeared to
be on the wane. 1t Is within the range of
probability that the incident on the Madam
at Belgrade the other day was of that
nature. The names of tho mon said to be
mixed up in the conspiracy to upset the
dynasty and Government are in themselves
a guarantee that the affair lacks reality.
The same set Of hungry politicians belong
ing to all classes OF society, have been con-
spring in and out of Office in Sorvia for n
long time past, but never to the extent OF
putting their nccks in danger Every hon
est and patriotic Srrvian knows that II a
really serious revolution broke ont in the
country, followed by civil war, the Austrian
troops that are watching events across the
northern and western frontiers would cross
the Save and Drina, and Scrvia would be
added to the piece Of mosaic known as the
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Revolution in Serva is part Of the pres
ent political system, and confined to hun
CRY seekers after office without following
in the country, or to the tools Of some for
eign intrigue; but the rcvolutionsts are
careful TO keep within the limits of law. IL
they have unwttingly gone beyond it, they
have only to leave the country for a few
months until tho next conspiracy has
caused the last one to be forgotten, and
then they may come back to take their
chance at the next turn Of the wheel of for
tune, perhaps as fellow conspiratOrs with
those against whom they conspired on the
last occasion. And while the politicians who
rule him are passing their time in this way.
the Servian peasant tends his herd of woolly
pigs in the oak and beech forests and his
cattle on the communal pastures, or cult