the biggest statesman that the Balkans has yet
produced, unless time shall decide that Venizelos is another such as
he.

In the hands of Stambuloff Prince Ferdinand was nothing but a
puppet, and so he continued for some years, until he became
acquainted with the language, customs, and mental qualities of his
people. Then the two fell out. But to the end Stambuloff was the
real ruler, and under his guidance Bulgaria made that progress, both
in military organization and in education, which was the surprise of
the world when the First Balkan War broke out. It now dawned on
Russia that it was Bulgaria herself that was opposed to her
intrigues and not the princes who happened to occupy her throne. And
the leader of the Bulgarians was undoubtedly Stambuloff, a peasant
himself and the son of a peasant. His downfall must be brought
about.

From the very beginning of his reign Ferdinand had not been
recognized by the Russian Government. As he began to feel himself
more secure in his throne he began to work for this recognition, as
well as for the favor of all the reigning monarchs of Europe. With
this end in view he began intriguing, and as an intriguer, Ferdinand
is the cleverest of all the Balkan monarchs. Thus it was that he
finally dismissed Stambuloff from office on May 31, 1894, an act
which he found all the easier because Stambuloff had made many
enemies among his own people by his brusque, almost brutal, ways.
But in spite of the wave of unpopularity that happened to be
sweeping over him at the time, there could be no doubt that a man of
Stambuloff's abilities would again rise to power. Only one thing
could prevent that. And that one thing was brought to pass by his
enemies. In the evening of July 15, 1895, as he was driving home
from his club, three men sprang up on his carriage and literally
hacked him to pieces. Thus ended the comparatively short career of
the man who had most to do with defeating Russian intrigues in
Bulgaria. His murderers, though identified, were never arrested or
punished, and found safe refuge in Russia.

But for all that his enemies gained by his death, Stambuloff might
as well have continued to live. One of the strongest political
parties in Bulgaria is still named after him, and bases its appeal
on his policies. And ever after every Bulgarian who knows the short
history of his country has hated the Russian Government, though this
sentiment does not include the Russian people. In fact, no