Northern banks of the Danube

Bulgarians indeed were deprived of the compelled to sign his abdication, and carried off as a prisoner into Russian territory on the northern banks of the Danube. The abduction gave rise to as strong a manifestation of popular sentiment in Bulgaria as could be expected in a country which had been trained for centuries in the doctrine of passive submission to the powers that be. Public opinion throughout Europe insisted upon” the Prince’s release, and he returned to Bulgaria amidst/ general demonstrations of good-will and affection.

He had no sooner, however, been replaced upon his throne, than he came to the conclusion that he was fighting a too unequal contest in his struggle with Russia, and he then and there announced his abdication of the throne he had occupied so gallantly and, on the whole, with such success.

The second abdication was made of his own free will, and, in the face of his apparent vacillation of purpose, it is difficult to believe that Prince Alexander was of the stuff out of which the men who make history are built. It is fair to say, on the other hand, that he him a good killer and brave soldier, and that under circular Stances of exceptional difficulty, he won the affection, and confidence of a people, not .prone to bestow confidence or affection lightly.

Bystanders who were present when the Prince’s dead body was brought to Sofia for interment assured me that, amidst the dense crowd collected along the route through which the funeral procession passed, there was scarcely a person present who was not in tears.

Prince Alexander

Upon, the resignation of Prince Alexander, the Pro-Russian Kaulbars adventure balkan tours was sent from St. Petersburg as a sort of official liquidator of the Bulgarian difficulty; his first step was to insist on an amnesty being granted to all persons who had been concerned in Prince Alexander’s abduction. The Regents, who had been appointed when the Prince resigned, hesitated about complying with these instructions.

Thereupon Russian men-of-war were sent to Varna, and the amnesty was granted. Subsequently General Kaulbars made a progress through the country and delivered a number of speeches, calling on the Bulgarians to return members to the Sobranje pledged to support Russia and to oppose the policy of the Regency. The country, however, returned an overwhelming majority in favour of the Regency.

Upon this, General Kaulbars was recalled, and all diplomatic relations between Russia and Bulgaria were brought to a close. This state of things remains unchanged to the present day. An attempt was made to induce the Sobranje to elect as ruler the Prince of Mingrelia, a hanger-on of the Russian Court. The proposal, however, was rejected.

The crown was then offered to Prince Waldemar of Denmark, and declined by him. Finally, after various abortive negotiations, Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg was elected as the successor of Prince Alexander. With his accession Bulgaria may be said to have commenced her existence as a State, independent alike of Turkey on the one hand and Russia on the other.

The present position of the Principality is no doubt anomalous. The Prince has been duly elected by the National Assembly as provided by the Constitution. He has now reigned for some six years as the de facto sovereign of the country. His Government is in close and friendly relations with the Porte; and it is notorious that the Sultan, as Suzerain of Bulgaria, would be willing at any moment, and has been willing ever since the Prince’s accession, to recognize him formally as the legal successor of Prince Alexander of Battenberg.