New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-21
NO LONGER A DESPOT.
Prince Nicholas Will Grant a Consti-
tuition to Montenegro.

Montenegro IS dininutfve country. with it's
population Of two hundred thousand. that is
likely to forget 1t when enumerating the European
states that have no constitution and that
subject to an absolute form OF monarchy Nicholas
has. however. Just drawn attention to the fact
by solemnIy announcing that he intends to bring
his country into line with other modern powers.
and to endow his people with a parliamentary
form Of government. to be modelled on that Of
Italy, namely, upper house, or Senate COM
posed partly OF elected peers and partly Of nom
inees OF the crown. and lower chamber OF which
all the members viii be elected by the people.
Lnu now he has been, to al intents and pur-
poses the absolute ruler OF his country, and save
Tor MS drinking habits and his gambling propensj-
ties. which have the effect OF keepirR him Der.
petually in financial straits he has, on the whole
proved pretty fair sovereign as potentates in
inc southeast Of Europe go. In his sober moments
10 oeVotes himself to literature, particularly to the
orerna' and poetry. with so much success as TO
nAVe won the most enthusiastic praise from
the late William z. Gladstone He likewise plays
clever game Of billiards, and is genial when
not IN his cups that It Is easy forget the several
tragedies By which his reign has been stained
When Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed King
Of Italy. IN March 1851. the Senate legislature
Of the nation gave expression TO the wish that the
heir apparent should always bear the title of Prince
OF Piedmont. in recognition Of the role which Pied
mont and the Piedmontese had played in bringing
"a
italy. These wishes on the part Of Parliament
and likewise the preferences Of the reigning house
were ignored by the government OF the day when
az the birth OF the present King II insisted his
being proclaimed Prince OF Naples title which.
&c believed, would serve to Increase the loyalty
Of the people OF Central Southern italy to the
House % Savoy, whereas it had precisely the con-
trary effect and merely contributed to keep green
The memory og the dethroned Bourbon dynasty OF
Naples
IL tvrygr
Piedmont, has therefore not only manifested the
most polite consideration for the feelings o. the
Papacy and OF all devout Catholics both IN Italy
and abroad. who would have resented the title OF
Prince Of Rome. but has likewise complied with
the wishes Of the Italian legislature, recorded By
its Parliament az the time OF the creation OF the
kingdom OF United italy.
There were some who believed that the infant
prince would be named Duke Of Savoy, a title
which borne By the late King Victor En-
II until his accession the throne. and by
many previous heirs apparent OF his house. But
Savoy has for nearly half a century not belonged
70 italy. and the title would have served merely
20 keep alive in Italy disasreeable memories OF
the piece o; exceedingly sharp practice by means
OF which Napoleon III forced upon italy humili-
ating surrender Of the Duchy Of Savoy to France
Piedmont every history will show. IS the oldes;
possession OF the now -egning house OF italy. hav-
ing been subject 10 its sway tor five or six cen
turtles.
It is not the Grand Cross OF the order OF St.
George but the third class which has been conferred
upon General StoesseI by the Car FOR his defence
OF Port Arthur. Those responsible for the circula
ton OF the story that the hrs. class OF this dis
t!nction had been granted 70 the general are man
ifestly unaware OF the extraordinary restrictions
that involved in its hestowaI Perhaps the best
illustration thereof that can be given Is the fact
that at tho present moment there IS only one !iv-
ing knight Grand Cross OF the order Of St George.
who. having received the inferior grade thereof for
HIS services IN the Crimean War. and for his VIC
torious campaign n tho Caucasus ten years later.
obtained the Grand Cross for his achievements a
commander n chief Of tho Russian army in Asia
Minor during the Russo-Turkish conflict OF 1916
1871.
Since the creation OF the order By Empress Cath
crime II in 1863 there nave been only four members
OF the reigning house OF Russia 70 wear the Grand
Cross Of the order. namely. the Grand Duke
Michael his elder brother. the late Grand Duke
Nicholas. for his victorious conduct OF the Russian
forces in Europe 70 San stefano. within sight Of
tho very walls OF ConSt8ntinople. IN the var %
1877; Empress Catherine herself the founder OF the
order. and Emperor Alexander II. who allowed
himself TO be persuaded 70 don the insignia OF
knight Grand Cross OF the order by the knights
thereof on the occasion Of the centennial OF itS
foundation.
Neither Emperor Paul nor yet his son. Alexander
I consented 70 accept the Grand Cross Of the
order. and when, at the close OF the Napoleon!o
wars, IN which Alexander I had taken active
TO invest himself with the first class OF the order
ne declined on the ground that he had not
manded the army that had vanquished Napoleon
at the battle OF Leipsic. and that had made a
victorious entry into Paris. but that since he had
taken part IN the military operations he would
consent don the fourth and lowest class Of the
order He however bestowed the second class OF
the order upon his brother. the CEarevitch Con-
stantine Paulovitch. who had commanded the Rus
sian forces that had taken part In the victory OF
Leipsic-
The late Emperor OF Russia Alexander III, Is
the only other member OF the imperial family 10
have died as a member OF the second class OF tho
order. which bestowed upon him while still
Czarevitch for his command OF the Rustchuk force
Of the Russian army In the Turkish war Of 1877.
Grand Duke Vladimir the uncle Of tho present
Emperor. received the third class OF the order for
his victories at Trostenilz and Metchk IN this
war OF 1877 with Turkey, and is the only prince OF
his house have received this class OF the order.
Emperor Nicholas I declined 70 wear anything
but the insignia OF the fourth and lowest class OF
the order which is likewise worn to-day by the
present Emperors sailor uncle Grand Duke Alexis.
who received it for services in connection with the
passage OF the Danube in the war OF 1877. and by
the Grand Dukes Nicholas Nicolaivitch. Sergius
Alexandrovitch Constantine Constantinovitch and
Nicholas MichaeIivitch. all for services rendered
IN the Turko-Russian war OF quarter OK
century ago.
The only woman knight Of the Order OF 81.
George since its founder. the great Empress Cath
crime Is the ex-Queen Of Naples. OF the sur
viving sisters OF Empress Elizabeth of Austria
The fourth class Of the order awarded TO her
by Emperor Alexander II and by tho Chapter OF
tho order. for her magnificent defence Of the for
tress Of Gaeta in 1s61-'s2 against the forces Of
King Victor Emmanuel and OF Garibaldi.
Thu General Nicholas Nicolaivitoh. who is men
TONED in the cable dispatches as possible sue