The Russian Government has announced, through all its organs, that,
with all personal respect for Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, it will not accept his candidature. It adheres to its nomination of Prince Nicholas of Mingrelia, and unless he is accepted, will veto every candidate proposed. These declara- tions have produced so much effect in Berlin, that Prince Bis- marck refused to see the Bulgarian Envoys, and his son told them to reconcile themselves with Russia. The Bulgarian delegates were going to Paris ; but according to the latest accounts, they have turned aside to visit Darmstadt, and to take counsel with Prince Alexander, who left England on Wednesday for his own home. The Regents, it is said, declare that if Russia sets her- self against all Europe, they will act independently, will again summon the Sobranje, and will allow it to take its own coarse unrestrained. The result will, they say, be an unanimous affirmation that Prince Alexander is still the legitimate and popular ruler of the country, and the appoint- ment of a single Regent to administer affairs in his name until events admit of his return. This course, which has been often recommended in Sofia, would have the advantage that it would compel Russia either to occupy Bulgaria, or to ignore Sofia altogether ; and the disadvantage that the Sultan might appoint a new Governor-General of East Roumelia. Prince Alexander certainly resigned that post. We all forget, perhaps too easily, that the Bulgarians are exasperated to the last degree, and that they can precipitate the crisis if they choose.
Previous page
