The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-13
THE CRISIS IN RUMANIA.
The Dead King, His Successor and the
Crown Prince Carol.

! the Kings opposition to he. VIII OF the
I people with regard to going to war has
/ armed a murderer's hand is unfounded
1 We easily confound the Balkan peoples.
| In Rumanla there has never occurred the
| assassination OF a ruler or of a member of
! the Government.
Tho last prince OF Rumania (Moldavia
| and Wallachia) Alexander l., Cuza, who
| was Of Rumanlan blood, had u strong
opposition against him, stronger than a
! King OF Servia has to face. Instead OF
, using bombs and reviewers. however. the
Rumanan opposition seized control OF the
army surrounded Cuza's palace at dawn
/ and forced him to sign articles providing
| for his own abdication.
Cuza was the last ruler OF native
stock The political parties decided 20
put an end to the continual internal
struggles for the throne. As each
! Wallachian and Moldavian prince desired
| to hold the sceptre of the combined prin-
cipalites 1t was decided TO ask the Euro
pean Powers to give Rumania foreign
| prince az ruler. And tho offering OF Eu-
rope, that is, of tho Bismarckian Europe.
| was Prince Karl Won Hohenzollcrn-Sig-
maringen. He was 81 years Of age when
| he assembled the throne OF these two prin-
| clpalities. taking the name OF Prince
| Carol |.
At that time tho situation which con-
| fronted the young ruler was the same as
! that which faced the Prince OF Wied, re-
Gently appointed TO the throne of Albania.
/ Tho two principaliues were uncivilzed
and centuries behind the times. Polti-
cally they were dependencies of Turkey.
TO which they had to pay an annual
! tribute. After the Russo-RumanoT Turk
/ ish war OF lS77-1S, In which Prince Carol
was in general Command Of the army
which attacked Plevna, RuMdnla gained
/ It's independence and Prince Carol won
] al. N.H..
| must render the Rumanian people grateful
to the late King Carol. But this was not
all that he accomplished. HIS long rule
/ of almost half "a century marks a great
| progress In the realm. From the b1rba-
! rouS provinces. slumbering in a medieval
atmosphere, he made new civilized
country, the Belgium of the Orient" as
! they call Il there. The climax OF his
| political activities was the diplomatic sue
cess OF the last Balkan war, when Ru-
| mania gained the first place among the
| Balkan States
The gravest charge OF his opponents
| against the late King was that when Bull
| garia offered him the throne of their
| country for the purpose OF establishing
| a Rumano-Bulgarlan Dual State for the
sake OF the peace 81 the Balkans he re-
fused it, hearkening to the counsels OF his
/ friends Ia Berlin and Vienna. This act
| lei to n state Of eternal enmty between
| the two countries. instead of sealing the
| union Of these :wo States which should
| have stood az the two guardians OF civili-
| cation In the Balkans.
His critics had n bone 10 pick with
the late King also because OF his strong
| sympHt Inv for Germany. They accused
him ~ too businesslike a manner OF deal
ing with international events. He was
| one OF the Richest kings in Europe, and In
! all Rumanidn CONNER cial and Industrial
Ig.vRN .aUa ..F4
| But his capital and his profits were al
ways sent to Germany. His personal in
| terests influenced him In favor OF Ger
| many and he always COMPOUNDED his per
sonal affairs. with the affairs OF his State.
! His hesitating policy in the most recent
I events is the fruit OF this attitude. That
| is why ne was considered as a traitor TO
| the country. Ills death must he regarded
as great relief for the aspirations of
| his opponents.
The Crown Prince, who naturally sue
/ ceeds TO the throne OF Rumania. is Prince
| Ferdinand OF HohenzOllern, a nephew
OF Carol |. and son of Prince Anton OF
Hohenzolern. the late Kings brother.
| King Carol and Queen Elizabeth had only
| one daughter, Maria, who died when she
! was eight years Old. being without an
heir the King adopted Prince Ferdinand
1 as his son and declared him the success
sor 20 his throne.
From tho beginning Prince Ferdinand
! had strong sentiment against him.
| Upon his arrival the papers represented
| him as "A donkey, coming to the ready
| feast OF golden straw. lie had already his
| German education, his German feelings,
ind was absolutely ignorant of the Ian
guage and aspirations Of tine nation Time
did not improve him. \ great domestic
scandal Is attached to him. Among the
Queens maids OF honor he noticed the
] Princess Helene NacGresco. Of Rumanian
blood, a beautiful young woman who
1 wrote poetry. n maid Of honor u
| Carmen sylvia. The Rumaulan Cons,itu-
ton with tho granting OF royal preroga.
| t!ves abolished all native titles Of Ru-
| mauion nobility. Prince Ferdinand
waiied 20 marry this young Rumanian
nohlcwoman, European diplomacy and
| King Caro-! were against this But Queen
| Elizabeth, Carmen sylvia assisted them
In their love. Prince Ferdinand re-
nounccd has love for the sake OF the
| throne. He followed tho Kings practical
| counsels, but Carmen sylvia deserted her
| husbands palace and wandered with
| Helene Nacaresco to foreign countries.
Helene Nacaresco Is now one of the best
| French writer's. The French Academy has
| recently given her a prize for volume
! entitled "Leurs ct Flammes" Prince
Ferdinand married Maria OF SaNe-Coburg.
GOtha and has had six children by her.
The oldest son Is Prince Carol
Popular feeling In Rumania is almost
unanimously against Ferdinand. not only
because during tho whole OF his life he
| has shown an absence OF personality and
| strength OF character. but also because he
s supposed In be too thoroughly imbued
| with his uncles ideas
Nevertheless. he Is the new King OF
| Rumania 1t is not likely that IN 2
change will alter tie attitude already
established by the late King Carol. How.
| ever. this opposition may be stronger than
| the will of the new ruler and may DC
able to force him TO do what they want
| He Is a weak character the degenerate
| nephew OF his uncle and lacks the
strength OF will to impose his policy upon
! the country, The Premier, loan G.
| Bratianu, will have an easier task to per-
suade him to heed tho demands Of the
! country than he had with the late King
Il is altogether likely. therefore that in n
| very short time Rumania will take ac-
| ton in the European war. At all events
tho hope OF the country is centred on the
new Crown Prince, Carol r.
Slender, delicate, 1.-the as a maiden
with blue eyes and blond hair. with supple
! movements ana gentle manners, Carol II
Is very young man, almost child
| Two and twenty years old with an un-
finished education. inexperienced and
naive, this delicate prince may be called
upon to follow his father, tho present