King Alexander of Servia has done an original thing. He
has failed to conciliate the Radicals, and dislikes some recent laws which they have passed liberating the Press and estab- lishing the ballot. On April 7th, accordingly, he issued pro- clamations suspending the Constitution of 1901, and then, as absolute Sovereign, dismissed the Senate, abolished the Coun- cil of State, and repealed the obnoxious laws. He then appointed new Senators and Councillors of State, and three days afterwards restored the Constitution. The coup d'état seems to have created little excitement, and, in fact, only proves that while the Army is obedient the King is absolute ; but the method selected is novel in history, and suggests that the King is more resourceful than he has had the. credit of being. His object, he says, is to maintain "order, unity, and peace" in Servia; but it looks very much as if King Alexander foresaw an opportunity in the coming troubles of striking some blow which will demand secrecy and rapidity in execu- tion. That is a little ominous, as indeed are most incidents in the Balkans just now.
