The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-14
UNLovED AND UNMOURNED.


Servia were carried to their graves in
the middle of the night. the only per-
sons who accompanied the remains.
| besides the attendants, being two
| priests. That fact alone shows how
! little the respect was which the Ser
Wan people felt for those who so re-
Gently had been their rulers.
AS a matter Of fact there was gen.
eral rejoicing in Belgrade when it be-
came known that the King and Queen
were dead. The assassins were excused
and their deed was approved. And,
strange as it may seem, the news of
the great crime caused no stir In the
stance, 1t is reported that there wasn't
a ripple of excitement. On the con-
| trary, there was tranquility amounting
practically to apathy. And that was
| about the condition OF public feeling
! in other European capitals. There was
no sympathy expressed anywhere for
| the slaughtered King and Queen. Poll
ticians calmly discussed the effect the
assassination would likely have upon
the political situation and financiers
! canvassed the stability of Servian
finances. Even the diplomatists did
not seem to feel that they were called
upon to pretend that condition of ar-
fairs had arisen that called for their
services.
If reports from Washington are to
be credited there was more concern
shown there in official and diplomatic
circles than in any. European capital.
That probably was because there was
not as clear an understanding there of
the situation in Servia as there was in
European centers. It is reported that
the President was In doubt as to the
course he ought to pursue in noticing
the tragedy. He could hardly address
dispatch to the new King of Servia
expressing his profound sorrow at the
occurrence, because his best informa-
ton was that there was a feeling of
relief, If not of Joy, that the King and
Queen had been removed. Neither
could he congratulate the new King on
his accession to the throne-a throne
wet with blood. Therefore it seems he
decided to wait for developments.
1t is thought to be a great thing to
occupy a throne. American girls make
great sacrifices to win a title that is
quite long way from a throne. Yet
there are no more unhappy people than
unloved and unhonored Kings and
| Queens. The knowledge that they have
the contempt of their subjects more
than offsets any satisfaction they may
get out of their exalted positions. The
lot of the humblest peasant is prefera-
BILE to theirs.
The fate of King Alexander and
Queen DrGga is a lesson to royal rulers
the world over. It teaches them that
people and live in accordance with
| standards which the people approve
their lot will be an unhappy one. Not
only are their lives likely to be short
ened, but 1t is practically certain that
no tears will be shed at their graves.
1t looks now as if the Servian trag-
edy would not be productive of dis
turbance of any sort in Europe. Rus
STA and Austria are the most inter-
ested nations, and it is the understand
ing that they will not interfere. The
national assembly of Servia will meet
tomorrow, and it is expected that the
choice of Prince Karageorgevitch as
King will be confirmed. If that ex-
pectation is realized the late King and
Queen will pass out of the public mind
inside of a week.