The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-05
THRONE OF THE NETHERLANDS

1t is feared that the young queen of
the Netherlands is dying. 1t seems but
yesterday that the queen, in the fullness
and exuberance of her youth and beauty,
was crowned with due pomp and ceremony
and smiled upon a devoted people, and
then soon went with popular acclaim to
the marriage alter and took for better or
for worse the German prince, who seemed
in heart and disposition utterly unworthy
of her, and upon whom rumor, at least,
has affixed reputation for GOODNESS and
even cruelty which has as yet not been
removed.
We all, hope for Wilhelmina's recovery,
for the civilized world admires and honors
the little queen, who promised to give
her people an illustrious reign. No
queen, indeed, ever had more of the af-
lection of her subjects than she. 1t is
very sad to think of this young life going
out so soon, right on the threshold of it's
promising career. Yet she may be saved
the experience of Maria Teresa, who felt
the predatory hand of a Hohenzollern
wrestling from her her patrimony. For 1t
was one of Bismarcks favorite schemes
to annex the Netherlands to the German
empire, by fair means or foul, in behalf
of that bluff old Hohenzollern, Kaiser
Wilhelm. -
It is already claimed in Germany that
Prince Albrecht- Hohenzollern, acting re-
gent Of Brunswick, is the nearest in the
Dutch succession. There is no direct
heir, and therefore, there are many claim
ants to the throne, trying to make good
their claims before the queen is dead.
The Emperor William of Germany has
among his titles that Of Prince of Orange
with right to the Dutch crown, accord
ing to some authorities:r s@fSs - c2s.
The succession to; the crown was fixed
in 1916 by the congress Of Vienna in the
descendants Of the Prince of Orange, who
was proclaimed the first king in 1915.
Emperor William comes into the success
sion when there is neither male or female
descendants Of the first king proclaimed
by the congress of Vienna, because he is
descended from Frederick William, cleo
tor of Brandenburg, who married Louise
of Orange, daughter Of Henry Frederick
of Orange, who died in g1647. The late
king of the. Netherlands, William III,
died leaving no direct heir but Wilhelm
ina, his daughter; his sons and three
brothers having died without legitimate
children, but his sister, Princess Sophie
who was married to the late grand duke
of Sake Weimar, left a son who inherlts
her rights to the throne, the heir appar-
ent being the young reigning grand duke
an unmarried man of rs. If he accepts
the throne he will have to give up his
grand duchy, as the constitution of the
Netherlands prohibits the occupations Of
any foreign throne jointly with that Of
the Netherlands: Otherwise the throne
will pass to the elder sister of his late
father, the grand duke of Saxe-W eimar
| She stands second in line of succession
and. she has several children, so thai
there is no lack of indirect heirs to the
throne if Queen WilheImina dies.
The treaty of Utrecht gave the king Of
| Prussia the title, Of. Prince of Orange
which the. Emperor William holds to-day
1t is not likely that he will carry out Bis.
marck's plan, Of annexing Holland in face
Of the facts that the independence of the
Netherlands is guaranteed by him AM
other European powers and that there il