New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-06

cession to the throne. expressly stipulate that
only those members thereof shall be considered
qualified to reigr who are descended from
"ebenburtig' mar.ages-that is to say, from
matrimonial alliances between scions OF the
house and womer having at least the rank of
baroness by birth Now. according to this pro-
vision of the constitution Count Leopold Lippe,
the de facto though not de jure. regent IS dis
tinctly excluded from the succession. For not
alone was one q his ancestresses in the eigh-
teenth century Mile. Modesto Won Unruhe. OF
bourgeois parerage. but his grandmother, an
American girl native of Philadelphia, likewise
failed to fulfil he requisite qualifications as 10
birth These acts were definitely established
a year or two igo by the Supreme Court OF the
German Empire at Leipsic. in suit brought
against the lac Count Ernest Lippe and his
son. the present regent. TO debar them from
drawing any money from the family property OF
the House of Lippe. to which only those men,
hers are entitled who by virtue Of the 'eoen-
burtig' (eaua: BIRTH marriages of their fore
bears are in the line OF succession TO the crown
Not only did the Supreme Court of the empire
in this instance decide against the present re-
gent and his ather. but it even pronounced as
fraudulent and as impudent forgeries those pat
ents of nobility of Modesto Won Unruhe. on the
strength of which the late King Of Saxony had
as arbitrator awarded the regency Of Lippe TO
the present regents father.
This judgment Of the federal Supreme Court
of Appeal of the empire. rendered in the suit
concerning the family property of the House OF
Lippe. proves that. according TO the terms Of the
Lippe constitu.ion-that is to say. according 20
the provisions OF the agreement between the
people of Lippa and their reignins family, reg
ulating the succession TO the crown-Count Leo
pold is doubly excluded therefrom by reason OF
his American grandmother and Of his Won In
ruhe ancestress. 1t likewise shows that he is
disqualified by the terms of the constitution from
holding the regency since the latter belongs by
right to the nearest agnate IN the line OF sue
cession; and that IL his late father was made
regent by the late King Of Saxonys award 1t
was because the decision was based on forged
evidence. Notwithstanding this decree OF the
Supreme Court. the Diet of Lippe. ignoring the
terms of the constitution and the rights OK the
princes OF Schaumburg-Lippe who are nearest
in the line of legitimate succession 10 the throne
of Lppe, now occupied by an incurably de-
rnented and childless octogenarian. have vested
by means of recent vote the regency In the
hands Of Count Leopold though rejecting his
demand TO award TO him at the same time the
right Of succession to the crown. This vote to
him of the regency is. however a violation OF the
Lippe constitution and OF the dynastic laws Of
the House OF Lippe. and the question Is at
present being discussed throughout Germany as
to whether it is the Supreme Court OF the en-
pire or the Federal Council composed OF pleni-
potentiaries from every sovereign State OF the
empire. that is competent TO deal with this
action Of the Diet of Lippe and to establish the
rights of the princes of Schaumburg-Lippe. not
only 10 the throne or Lippe on the death OF poor
old crazy Prince Alexander. but also TO tina I'M
mediate possession OF the regency.