684 



ROUMANIA. 



RUSSIA. 



ly, to enter it again as Minister of Finances. 

 As Sturdza was in favor of a demobilization 

 of the reserves, and a strict neutrality toward 

 the Porte, his reentrance into the cabinet clear- 

 ly showed the policy to be pursued. He made 

 it, however, dependent upon the adoption of 

 three radical measures the reduction of the 

 armaments, the sale of state domains, and an 

 increase of taxes. Consequently, not only no 

 reserves were called out, but 4,000 men of the 

 standing army were sent home, and all ex- 

 penses for armaments were stopped. He re- 

 signed his position, however, in March, and 

 on April 4th the Chamber adjourned. In the 

 beginning of March an encounter occurred 

 between Turkish and Roumanian troops on 

 an island in the Danube. The Roumanians 

 claimed that the Turks had violated- their ter- 

 ritory, and had first fired upon them. In 

 the affray which followed, the Turkish lead- 

 er was wounded, and afterward died. The 

 authorities on both sides agreed to have the 

 case investigated by a mixed commission, 

 which, however, separated without having ac- 

 complished anything. The large concentration 

 of Turkish troops in Widin in April caused 

 considerable commotion in Roumania. It re- 

 vived the apprehension held for some time pre- 

 viously, lest the Turks, in case of war, should 

 cross the Danube and establish themselves on 

 the bluff on which Kalafat is situated, and thus 

 operate in Roumania against the Russians. At 

 a cabinet council held on April 15th it was 

 therefore determined to increase considerably 

 the forces already stationed at Kalafat, so as to 

 be able to resist, in case of need, any descent of 

 the Turks. At the same time the Roumanian 

 Government laid its apprehensions before the 

 Powers. The nomination of M. Cogalniceano 

 as Minister of Foreign Affairs was looked upon 

 as a decided step toward an alliance with Rus- 

 sia. With the approach of war, the army 

 was mobilized, and concentrated in Wallachia. 

 Colonel Slaniceano, the Minister of War. also 

 resigned, and was appointed chief of staff. The 

 beginning of hostilities between Russia and 

 Turkey was the signal for renewed activity, 

 and Prince Charles placed himself at the head 

 of the troops. The extraordinary session of 

 the Roumanian Chambers was opened on April 

 26th. Prince Charles, in the speech from the 

 throne, said: "As the Powers declined to guar- 

 antee the neutrality of Roumania, or to assist 

 her, they could only rely upon themselves and 

 upon their own exertions to prevent their ter- 

 ritory being made the theatre of war. For 

 this purpose the nation would make every sac- 

 rifice." The Minister of Foreign Affairs then 

 laid before the House a convention with Rus- 

 sia, dated April 16th, in accordance with which 

 Roumania assured to the Russian troops free 

 passage and the treatment due to a friendly 

 army, while the Czar bound himself to respect 

 the rights of the principality. This conven- 

 tion was adopted by the Chamber by a large 

 majority. (See TURKEY.) Although Roumania 



was not at war with Turkey, considerable can- 

 nonading was kept up between Widin and Kal- 

 afat. The session of the Chambers was closed 

 on June 27th. 



The most important act of this session was 

 the declaration of the independence of Rouma- 

 nia from Turkey, which was passed on May 

 21st. On that day, M. Cogalniceano, the Min- 

 ister of Foreign Affairs, replying to a question, 

 said : " We are a free and independent nation, 

 but, in order to obtain the recognition of our 

 independence, we must vindicate our cause 

 before Europe." The Chamber then unani- 

 mously adopted the following order of the day : 

 " The Chamber takes note that war is pro- 

 claimed between Roumania and Turkey, and 

 declares the connection between the two coun- 

 tries dissolved. The unanimously desired in- 

 dependence of Roumania thus receives official 

 sanction, and the Chamber counts upon the 

 sense of justice of the guaranteeing Powers." 

 The Senate also unanimously-adopted a similar 

 order of the day, affirming the independence 

 of Roumania, and subsequently voted the bill 

 creating a military decoration. 



The Chambers met again on November 27th. 

 The speech from the throne contained the fol- 

 lowing reference to the hopes of Roumania as 

 respects the results of the war : 



We hope, on the fall of Plevna into our hands, to 

 reap on its ruins the peace BO dear to us. We are 

 also convinced that out of its ruins we shall see the 

 independence of Boumania recognized by all Europe, 

 thanks to our patriotism, the bravery of our soldiers, 

 and their blood shed in a noble cause. The Prince 

 has the firm belief, and the Senate and Chamber will 

 certainlj share it with him, that the guaranteeing 

 Powers have by this time become convinced that 

 Roumania is a country possessing real vitality ; that 

 she is a nation able to fulfill the mission reserved for 

 her on the Lower Danube, having the perseverance 

 to accomplish it, and the energy to defend it when 

 necessary. The time of foreign tutelage and vassal- 

 age has passed away for us; Koumania is nowj and 

 will remain forever, a free and independent nation. 



RUSSIA (EMPIEE OF ALL THE RUSSIAS), an 

 empire in Europe and Asia. Emperor, Alexan- 

 der II., born April 17 (new style, April 29), 

 1818; succeeded his father, Nicholas I., Feb- 

 ruary 18 (March 2), 1855 ; crowned at Moscow, 

 August 26 (September 7), 1856. He was mar- 

 ried on April 16 (28), 1841, to Maria Alexan- 

 drovna, formerly Maximiliane Wilhelmine Au- 

 guste Sophie Maria, daughter of the Grand-duke 

 Louis II. of Hesse. Children of the Emperor : 

 1. Heir-apparent, Grand-duke Alexander, born 

 February 26 (March 10), 1845; married No- 

 vember 4, 1866, to Maria Dagmar (born No- 

 vember 26, 1847), daughter of King Christian 

 IX. of Denmark. (Offspring of the union are 

 two sons and one daughter : Nicholas, born 

 May 18, 1868; George, born May 9, 1871 ; and 

 Xenia, born April 6, 1875.) 2. Grand-duke 

 Vladimir, born April 10 (22), 1847; married 

 August 27, 1874, to Marie, daughter of the 

 Grand-duke Frederick Francis of Mecklenburg- 

 Schwerin. (Offspring of the union is one son, 

 Cyril, born September 30 [October 12], 1876.) 



