New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-07

That Would Demise of Euro
Monarchs.

known by that name. There are a number a
people In Holland who are convinced that th,,
Is the only way OF protecting their colonies +,
the Orient. and also this side Of the Atlantic
from seizure by foreign poweIs. This absorn.
ton OF the Netherlands and az the Dutch colo.
NAL empire by Germany would be fastened
indeed. would become an accomplished fact
were anything untoward to happen to the young
Queen Of Holland. who has never recovered ba-
health since her serious illness two years aro
and who is still childless. The next heir 70 TIA
throne is the Grand Duke Of Saxe-Wetrnar =
German sovereign prince. brought up as a Prus-
sian officer. and. failing him, the throne os TIA
Netherlands would go TO his fathers sister
Princess Henry Of Reuss formerly German am
bassadress at Vienna. and to her eldest son
Prince Henry XXI Of Reuss a Lieutenant 4,
the German NJ y, stationed at KieL Whstb.-
Great Britain and France would be willing -
consent TO the Incorporation OF Holland into fba
German Empire is matter which has already
given rise to much discussion. For there Is no
doubt that. were Germany to secure possessso-
of the principal seapoTts OF Holland. she would
be placed within easy striking distance II Tia
coasts OF England and France and therefore a
standing menace to these two countries To
America the inclusion Of the Netherlands In thu
customs union Of Germany, which is hostile 70
the trade and industry OF this country. would
prove a serious economic injury.
King Victor EmmanueFs death tust now
would bring TO the throne his ten-month-od
boy. with the Duke OF Acsta as regent. Italy
is honeycombed with socialism. The republican
element is very strong throughout the peninsula
and the Duke OF Aosta is nothing Ike as popu-
lar as the present King or either OF his
two predecessors. 4 regency long enough to
admit of the infant Prince OF Piedmont attain
ing his majority would be- all things consid-
cred, very risky 10 the Crown. and the life,
therefore. OF the present King is Of suprems In
portance not only to his dynasty. bus
also to Italy. and. indeed. to the peace OF
Europe.
Just what would happen at Constantinopla
were the Sultan to share the fate OF so many OF
his predecessors and succumb to violence no one
can tell for his brother and heir, Prince
Rechad, is a man Of sixty, who owing
TO the PadishaL's Jealousy and suspicious. has
been kept throughout his reign in such prison.
like secIusion that no foreign diplomat and only
few Turkish statesmen have ever been permit
ted to have access to him. He is reported to b
both fanatic and reactionary. But no depend
ence can be placed upon these rumOrs. which
probably originate in the Sultan's encourage. In
one word. Rechads advent TO the throne mighE
a
and the revival of the so-caIled Eastern ques-
ton in all its intensity, or it might spell the in
auguration of a new, mora enlightened and hap
pier era for the Ottoman Empire.
In Russia it is Grand Duke Michael the
brother OF the Gar who is entitled TO the re-
gency OF the empire in the event OF The death OF
Nicholas and the accession TO the crown Of his
eleven-months-oId boy Grand Duke Michael has
been SO frequently described in these letters that
Il IS unnecessary to say any more about the sub
tect save that he Is credited with a stronger and
more determined character and less inclination
toward liberalism than Emperor Nicholas. while
a. for England the conciliatory role played By
King Edward since his accession TO the throne,
both In domestic and foreign politics. would rem
der his disappearance from the scene at tho
presence juncture something AKIN 70 an lhter-
national calamity.
From this it will be seen how important Is the
place which all these foreign monarchs occupy
on the chessboard Of international politics; how
seriously the situation Is liable TO be affected by
their disappearance. especially il the latter oa
OF a sudden character. and how little America az
a great power can afford to remain Indifferent
to eventuaIties Of this kind. 1t IS well to bear
in mind that they may be sprung upon the pub
lie IN any moment. The anointed OF the Lord,
though some Of them claim to be fashioned OF
superior clay to our own, are. after al. but NOR
tai and a prey to all the ills to which their fell
low creatures are subject. IN fact. owing 10
their superior rank, and consequently more con-
spicuous position. they are exposed TO dangers
that do not fall to the lot OF those Of lesser de-
gree, and are consequently regarded by lnsur-
ance companies as TO such an extent in the class
Of bad risks that in examining the political
horizon il is always we'll TO take into account
the possibility OF their sudden death.
FX-ATTA CHE