Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-16
ly to do So 1t therefore becomes

ntttSbdIy " bcleCt successor
King Alexander In order to avoid {
probable row and perhaps revolution
, and war If he should suddenly die ol
be driven from the palace. BY Sc
j 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 a degenerate
and his brief career is disgusting He
looks as II he had escaped from an
asylum for the depraved. but is by
no means feeble of mind or body On
the contrary, he has a vigorous consti-
tuition. and on two or three occas.
sions has shown a nerve and power
of command which would do credit
to 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
l eANss &'Aih@h hSNCi uAoPiay
To understand the situation In Ser
via 1t is necessary to know little
of the history of this interesting
country. which is always furnishing
a sensation for Europe. and the story
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 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 pollcy
or his efforts to protect the inhabi-
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
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 towu and village
in Servia flowed with blood. Among
those who escaped to the mountains
was a swineherd named George
Petrovitch George the son OF Peter)
better known to history by his nick
name, Kara (Black) George. because
of his dark complexion and raven
hair He is the greatest hero OF
Servinn history. and to him his coun-
try owes its independence from the
Turks.
| He was a reticent man and gener.
ally respected but was absolutely H.
literate. being unable 70 read or
write. and could not even sign his
name. When he became king he
used peculiar cipher nr rubic 10
show his approval of state papers
But he had natural ability and sagac.
itv. His integrity was never nnes-
TONED and his sence NJ 'ustics WAS
Spartan. He allowed hts own brother
IN sufYer the doath por,itv ne nm ev-
annie IN othors for defrtnr tho auth
or''v Of the government While
KIM NJ Snrv'o he woro the oriInnrv
peasants garb. because ne said II
was more appropriate TO his ignor-
ance and simnle character than .
crown and robe of state. and he lived
with the same frrenlitv as when hn
was TENDING his nirs In the mountains
often cooking his own meals In the
=, palace kitchen.
| Karageorge drove out the Turks and
organized liberal monarchy In Ser
via. Keenly appreciating his own de-
ficiencies, the first thing he did was
to establish a free public school sys-
TEN in every province, with a univer-
sity at Belgrade. He introduced
courts of justice. reduced taxation,
punished corruption, suppressed vice
and organized the different branches
of the government with the skill Of
an experienced statesman; but the
people were not able to advance at
his rapid pace and he suffered the
fate of many men who have heen
ahead of their generation. His ons.
mics encompassed him about, and his
critics interferred with his plans for
the improvement Of the country. In
"a NJ VI hhbCi anu DCIhuot
the public would not sustain his re-
forms. he abdicated the crown after
a reign Of nine years. He was the
founder Of the Karageorgovitch fam
lily. which is one Of the parties to a
perpetual feud for the control OF Ser
via.
His rival. the founder Of the other
faction, was also q peasant, the son
of house servant. a man who did
menial work about the castle OF a
prominent family name Obren. His
own name was Tescho. but. as is rom
mon among the Balkan peasants. he
had no family name. and when he
became conspicuous enough to heed
one he adopted that OF his master
and the first Of the present reignine
house OF Servia became known as
Milos Obren.
When Karageorge abdicated, Nilo'
was the most influential man left ir