New-York tribune., 1907-07-28

current as to the causes OF his abdication IN
March. 1889. Fear OF assassination. execrauoh
by his people. Irrespective OF political party inc
disgust excited at home and abroad oy ths
scandals OF his public life and the discovery
bv the late Car OF gross frauds practised on
him by Milan in connection with bogus mort
cages and spurious collateral furnished as Sc
curity for a large loan from the Emperor
privy purse all played a part IN inducing LI'''
10 abdicate in the hope Of preserving the throne
for his only son and OF being In that way able
eventually TO recover possession thereon. Milan ;
diareputable life after HIS abdtcation is too we'll
known TO need more than passing reference
here PerpetuaIIy in financial straits at Paris
ov,fng 70 his losses at cards. he was always on
tho lookout for loans great and small. many OF
which were furnished TO him by chance amer
can aCquaintances. and when these 1aned he
would betake himself 70 Servia and decnne 20
leave the dominions Of his son uh1L MS ue
parture from Belgrade had been purchased by
means Of cold cash. Ultimately he was eNlIet
from Servia by that very son 10 whom ne haa
served as guide IN the half world al Farl7' d
role which excited the disgust OF even the most
bor5a,ad and cvnlc bouevardier. and died,
oIoro and abandoned. at Vienna. where he was
burned AZ the expense and through the bounty
~ E,r,neror Francis Joseph his demise being
,ouovced not long afterward by the shocking
murder at Belgrade of his son
ONE POPE ABDICATED.
There is but one case IN history Of the aodioa-
tlon Of a Pope namely Felix v and the EN-
neror Of Corea is the only living ex-monarch
Who can he said 70 have abdicated. For the eN-
Grand Duke Ferdinand ~ Of Tuscany ana
Prince Robert Of Bourbon. ex-sovereign Duke OF
Parma. had no opportunity 10 abdicate IN 1859.
but were driven from their respective dominions
nv their subjects who thereupon transferred
rberr allegiance 10 the house OF Savoy, contrib
,,ttnp, in this way 10 the formation OF the pres
ont kingdom Of United italy. Il IS because they
did not abdcate that both 0f these former rulers
continue TO regard themselves as fun hedged
sovereigns and their former lieges as rebels
Whenever II is possible il IS we'll 10 secure
formal act OF abdlcatiou from the sovereign who
IS abandoning the throne. either voluntarily or
by compuIson. For. having once renounced over
his signature his rights 10 the sCeptTe. he IS pre-
cluded from putting forth pretensions for its
recovery. and a possible source Of mischief is
thus eliminated Moreover. rulers Of Constitu-
tlouul mouarchics occupy their thrones by virtue
~ contracts with the people and when both
parties TO the contract agree 20 lts abrogatlon,
tho sovereign by abdicatioH and the parliament
ty The legislative acceptance thereof the agree
lnrut is AT an end and cannot be made the basis
OF any further claim. The consent OF parliament
IS Indispensable To- the validity of the act OF
abdication OF the sovereign In the case OF con-
stitutional rnonarchies. and King Edward. for
instance no matter how much he might desire
u divest himself OF tho heavy burdens OF ruler
ship Of the vast British Empire could not do 50
without the consent Of bOJh houses OF ParIia-
ment.
1t is possibly this consideration that has led
number of mCnarchs to abstain from putting
into execution the projects of abdicatiou with
which they We're credited. Then, too there is q.
sense of duty To ones country. ones people and
ones dynasty, which acts deterrent 10 alb
dlcation. Otherwise IT is probable that we
should find not bur several names on tha
list OF those who are Tired OF the weight Of the
crown and wearied OF the throne. and that il
would include oscar of Sweden. Nicholas OF
Russia Charles of Rumania Francis Joseph OF
Austria. the Grand Duke OF Baden and partic-
ularly King George, who is repUted on good au-
thority to be heartily sick OF Greece and of tho
Greeks and anxious to retire to the beautiful
home which he has built for himself AT Copen-
hagen. for the avOwed purpose OF occupying II
after his abdiCation. EX-ATTACHF