Prince Ferdinand's Dilemma

Our readers do not need to be told that we have never entertained any exalted regard for "the Coburger." We confesa, however, to have thought he had more worldly wisdom, if not good feeling, than he has seemed to show himself possessed of during the last few days. Prince Ferdinand is still at Carlsbad drinking the waters which he refused to the ailing and persecuted "Maker of Bulgaria." It is dlfficult enough to imagine what his highness means by such conduct. Is It callous insensibility to the tragedy whlch has been enacted before hls eyes, and for which he is morally responsible, or simply that incompetence to understand what the situation demands which seems to dog the path of Bourbon prlnces? Surely it is not cowardlce? One can hardly imagine a crown accepting the throne of Bulgaria. But why is the prince not at least golng to Stambuloft's funeral? If his absence does not point to a lack of moral if not physical courage, it is not easy to say what does. Perhaps hls head is turned by the re1 ceptlon of the "Bulgarlan deputation" at Peterhoff. A pretty scène that is, as the semi-offlcial Vienna Press says, "Sta nbuloff murdered, and the Metropolitan Clement poslng as the 'represcntative' of Bulgaria!" Does Prince Ferdinand really think that recent events have given him a stronger hold on the czar and Prince Lobanoff, and that they mean to "recognize" hlm? All the signs go to show that he Is likely to lose his throne flrst. A few years since Lord Salisbury declared that "in the character of the Bulgarians we look for one of the greatest guarantees and securities that the eastern question will ultimately be solved in the manner which best suits the hopes of all who valué human happiness, civilization and progress," and the principallty had around her a friendly Great Britaln and AustriaHungary, a well-disposed Germany, a by no means inimical Porte, and a Russia powerless for mlschief. At the present moment Austria-Hungary is disgusted, Germany indifferent, the Porte, Greece and Servia irritated, Great Britain indignant and Russia dangerous, and to cope with this threatening situation there is now no Stambuloff. If Prince Ferdinand is at ease in contemplating the change that has taken place, "how singularly deep this deep young man must be!"