SERVIA, AUSTRIA, TURKEY, AND RUSSIA. 165 



Thus, after eighteen years in Opposition, the Radicals, whose 

 pohcy is anti-dynastic, and probably revolutionary, came into power. 



SERVIAN POLITICS IN 1888.. 



The year 1888 began with preparations for another General 

 Election, and the result of the Elections, which was declared in 

 March, showed an overwhelming majority for the Government, as 

 it obtained 133 seats, and the Liberals only 15. 



The- King thus gained his object, but in the following month he 

 came into conflict with the Radical Ministry and the Radical 

 majority, on a question of military organization, for he refused to 

 sanction the New Army Bill, which led to the resignation of M. Gruitch, 

 .and the King summoned M. Christitch to become Premier. 



The first act of M. Christitch was to dissolve the Skuptchina, and 

 soon afterwards a Conspiracy was discovered at Belgrade, having 

 for its aim, to dethrone King Milan, and proclaim Kara-Georgevitch 

 the protege of Russia, as his successor to the Throne. Arrests 

 followed its discovery, and for the moment the revolution was 

 averted. 



At this period the Queen Nathalie and her son Alexander were at 

 Wiesbaden, where she had been sent after her expulsion from Servia 

 by the Royal edict, and the King now determined on a divorce which 

 the Government of M. Gruitch had opposed. 



M. Christitch consented to apply for a divorce to the synod of 

 Belgrade, and eventually October 24th, 1888, it was obtained on the 

 ground of unconquerable mutual aversion and danger to the -ServiaH 

 State. 



King Milan determined to divert the public attention from the 

 sentence of divorce pronounced by the Metropolitan Archbishop 

 Theodosius, and in this he cleverly succeeded. Two days after the 

 sentence of divorce was published, the King issued a proclamation 

 declaring the necessity for a new Constitution. The announce- 

 ment that the Constitution of Servia was to be revised, naturally took 

 friends and foes by surprise, but when the Commission was appointed, 

 consisting of all the political parties. Progressists, Liberals, and 

 Radicals, represented by their respective leaders, Garashanine 

 Ristitch, and Gruitch, thus guaranteeing that every section of 

 ■opinion would be represented, the excitement was allayed. 



