The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-06-18
SERVIA AND IT'S TRAGEDY.

Queen OF SerV1a were murdered ana
a pretender placed upon the throne,
reads so like romance from the pen
of Richard Harding Davis or Anthony
Hope that the mind is attracted to the
picturesqueness rather than the hor-
ror of the event. The gravity of the
affair, however, becomes more real
when it is considered that so many
lives were lost, whereas in the imagin.
airy stories just enough blood is shed to
give the tale zest. But on the whole
it is remarkably like fiction. The
King; forced by an unpopular Queen
to promulgate laws and regulations
that are distasteful to his subjects,
convenient pretender to the throne,
the trea 3herous plotting of the mill
tary, the royal palace wrapped in the
gloom of morning, palace guard to
overcome-what a story, the brain of
man has never conceived a more fas-
cinating one.
The revolution was not unlike those
so constantly occurring among the
Central and South American republics.
but never has revolution in the new
world been so brief and decisive. The
Servian outbreak, however, was not
conceived hurriedly. For several
years there has been an undercurrent
of dissatisfaction. King Alexander
undertook to pacify his people by
means of a new constitution which
attempted more complete balance of
power between the executive and leg
islative branches than that existing
under the old. 1t seems that in
theory this was an improvement, but
in practice, King Alexander, urged on
by Queen Draga, sought to exercise
greater power than the constitution
afforded him.
This little country to which the
eyes of the world have so suddenly
been turned is one of the smallest
free States of southern Europe. On
the east and north is Austria Hun
gary, while on the south and east are
such delightful neighbors as Turkey,
Bulgaria and Roumania. Bosnia and
Montenegro shut Servia off from the
Adriatic sea but nevertheless its
boundary is nearly one-half water.
The Drina river marks the entire
eastern border and along the northern
until it reaches the Danube. This
majestic stream follows the boundary
to the east and south until it again
turns eastward and divides Roumania
and Bulgaria Belgrade, the theatre
of Thursdays revolution, is at the
junction of the Drina and Danube.
The Obrenovitch dynasty, which
was doubtless overthrown by the as
sasination of King Alexander, was
founded by Milos Obrenovitch, the
leader of the Servians in their war of
instruction against Turkey. When
the treaty of peace was signed in 1929,
Obrenovitch assumed the title of
Prince of Servia, and in 1880 firman
of the Sultan made this title heredi-
tary in his family. Prince Milan, the
fourth of his line, was the first to
adopt the title of King, which was
done by proclamation in 1878. The
murdered ruler, Alexander l, was the
son of King Milan and succeeded to the
throne when his father abdicated it in
1889. AS Alexander was in his minor
ity regency was established and con-
tinued until the young King was sew
enteen when he overthrow it and as
sumed the royal prerogative upon his
own authority. In 1900 he married
Draga Maschin, who was nearly ten
years his senior. The press dispatches
indicate that this woman was the
cause of the Kings downfall, and
without doubt this is true, for the
quarrels between this royal pair have
disturbed Servia and amused Europe
almost since the wedding day, and 1t
is certain that she was extremely I'M
popular with Alexander's subjects.
The present constitution of Servia
bears date of 1901, superseding those
of 1869 and 1883. Under it the execu.
tive vests in the King and a council
of eight ministers. The Legislative
authority is shared by the King OIL
one hand and the Senate and National
Assembly on the other The Senate
is composed of fifty-one members, the
majority of whom are appointed by
the King, and the Assembly of 13(
deputies elected by the people. The
State religion is the Greek Orthodox.
but liberty Of conscience is unresurict
ed. Primary education is compulsory
and free, under minister of educa
ton The King appoints the judges
who serve in twenty-three courts o.
first instance, court of appeals, {
court of cessation and tribunal o
commerce. There are no poorhouse
in Servia and no need for them, ever
the poorest people owning property.
The State has an estimated annua
revenue Of nearly SO, 900, 600 and
yearly expense almost as great Will
tho ttuIlio Hahf 10 oh ono