Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-06-26
The Late National Tragedy.

The Late National Tragedy.
The Servlans seems to be in extrem-
est trouble over the summary way they
adopted OF deposing the reigning dy-
nasty. Foreign powers demand as
prerequisite for recognition as an indie
pendent government, punishment OF
the regicides, which involves a moral
responsibility shared by the people as
well as those who committed the
bloody deeds. and the matter is further
complicated by precipitate pardon of
the assassins by the national assem-
bly, before the selection OF successor,
Peter, as king. Grenschick, Minister
OF Commerce, who is the main repre-.
sentative OF dissatisfaction against the
late king, in published interview,
fully justliies the course taken by the
assasains. Great Britain and Euro
pean nations, he says, are ignorant of
the true facts leading up to the fatal
night. While the world has scoffed
at the Servians for tolerating a dy.
nasty which. for its crimes and follies,
has scandalized civilization, the people
have borne it all, until the removal of
king and queen became an absolute
necessity. The minister added that it
was not intended to kill their males.
ties, until it was known that the late
king had planned the killing of $50
prominent mon on the day that the
heir to the throne was announced, in
order to spread terror among the mall
contents.
The government OF Servia has been,
the past twenty years, constitutional
monarchy. The legislative body is
called the skupshtina, and in 1884 con.
sisted of IT'S members, three-fourths of
whom were elected by the people and
the remainder named by the king. A
new skupshtina 10 elected every three
years, but, for settlement of extraordi-
nary questions, that body may be in
increased to four times as many men,
bers, selected in like manner and pro.
portion. There is also q permanent
Council of State, OF fifteen members,
who formulate legislation and hear
complaints regarding the decision of
ministers and perform various other
functions. For administrative pur.
poses, the kingdom is divided into
twenty-five circles, besides the city of
Belgrade.
The Servian army is apportioned
into three classes: First, of men be.
tween rs and 30 years of age, consti-
tuting the standing army, umbering
$4,000 on q peace footing and about
100000 in time of war. The second
class embraces men between 80 and
81 years of age; who have served in the
standing army. The third class, called
out only in emergencies, is estimated
1t 10000 men, over the laet prescribed
age.
II will be seen from this, that the
government was quite we'll provided
with the means for preservation of its
dynasty, both in civil and military
equipments of strong government.
The capital of Servia is Belgrade,
city Of about 81. 900 inhabitants.
By conquest Prince Eugene of Aus.
tria acquired the greater part of Ser.
via by treaty in IT'S, but the Turks
regained it in 1879. In 1904, they
were driven out of the country by a
leader called Black George"-Georgs
Petrevich. In 1913, the Turks recap
tured the country, and George was
compelled to fly to Austria. In 1917,
he returned, and was treacherously
murdered. The Turks had driven out
al the Servian aristocracy, leaving
only peasants to till the ground. Mi.
Josh Obrenovich, plebeian himself,
was leader of these, and finally secured
their triumph. He was declared
Prince by the national assembly, and
in 1880, secured the consent of the
Porte for enjoyment Of the title, with
succession to his family. Turkey al.
lowed neutrality-suspicious., but held
and garrisoned several fortresses in the
country. Milosh Was, however, . man
OF such coarse habits that he was, in
1889, compelled TO abdicate in favor
of his son, Milan, who was, however, of
too feeble . constitution to direct the
government, and be also abdicated
in 1912. Thereupon the Servians
elected Alexander, son Of Ksrageorge.
vich to be their ruler. His rule lasted
seventeen years. In 1860, it passed
to Michael, son of Milosb, . man OF
learning and refinement. The Gov.
ernment improved under bis reign and
in 1862 he succeeded in getting the
Turkish garrisons removed from Bel
grade. Michael was assassinated BY
the emissaries of Alexander Kara.
georgevich, June 10. 1868. He was
succeeded by his second cousin, Milan,
grandson of brother of Milosh. He
became Prince of Servia in 1872. In
1875, he married Russian lady, Ma.
talie de Keckzke. In 1878, the Ser
VANS declared war against Turkey,
and would have been beaten bad it
not been for the Intervention of Rus.
STA. By treaty of that year, the coun-
try received large accession of terri
tory and the prince became king.
Queen Natalie finally received q di.
vorce from Milan. In 1885, Servia