Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-02
KINGDOM FOR A BABY.
Lack Of an Heir Proves a Disturbing
Factor in the Politics of
Servia.

BELGRADE. Servia, Nov. 22--
(William e. Curtis in Chicago Record
Herald. 1.-The political crisis in Ser
via just now is due to the lack of
baby. The country is excited by in
trigues attending the selection of an
heir to the throne. Our guide sa-
gaciously observed that some people
complain of having too many children
but this is the first time l ever heard
of national politics being disturbed
by the lack of one."
Servia is small country, but 1t is
an important factor in European poll
tics, being one of the buffer states"
between Russia and the lands that
the czar covets. Austrian and Ger
man influence is stronger in Servia
today than Russian. yet there Is a
Russian party which also represents
the interests of family whose ances-
tors once occupied the throne. and are
all the time suspected of being en-
gagged in a conspiracy to recover their
power. These conspiracies are
more frequent than ever just now. and
the field for intrigue is the more fer
tile. because Queen Draga has not
furnished an heir to the crown. and
the doctors say that she is not like
ly to do so. 1t therefore becomes
necessary to select successor
King Alexander in order to avoid q
probable row and perhaps revolution
and war II he should suddenly die or
be driven from the palace. BY Sc
lecting the heir apparent In advance
future conspiracies may be avoided,
but the political interests Of a great
part Of the European continent are
directly involved in the selection, and
the question is. shall Russia name the
man!
King Alexander is degenerate.
and his brief career is disgusting. He
looks as II he Rad escaped from an
asylum for the depraved but is by
no means feeble Of mind or body. On
the contrary. he has vigorous consti-
tuition. and on two or three occas-
sions has shown a nerve and power
of command which would do credit
to a great general. Unfortunately
he has inherited some of the deprav-
ity Of his father, the late King Milan
who was probably the worst ruler
Europe has seen for generation.
but at the same time the son pos
sesses a physical and moral courage
that Milan never displayed.
To understand the situation in Ser
via 1t il necessary to know a little
of the history of this interesting
country, which is always furnishing
uopuotipv, for Eurnna and tho efnrx.
OF the feud between two peasant eam.
lilies. which has been the cause Of
most OF the trouble.
At the beginning of the present
century Servia was Turkish pro-
vince and was governed by a just and
humane pasha named Hadji Musta-
pha. He was not only popular, but
was beloved by his Christian subjects
and the land WAS peaceful and pros
porous. The Janissaries, however,
did not approve OF his liberal policy
or his efforts to protect the inhaoi-
tants against their extortions and
cruelties. so they shut him up IN the
citadel and put him to death. They
explained to the sultan that he had
been untrue to the Turks and was a
friend Of the Christians. The Janis
saries had their own way for four OF
five years, and, fearing an uprising Of
the people. decided to murder every
man who could possibly be looked
upon as a leader. Thousands were
massacred: every town and village
In Servia flowed with blood. Among
those who escaped to the mountains
was swineherd named George
Petrovitch George the son of Peter)
better known to history by his nick
! name. Kara (Black) George, because