BALKAN STATES. In the Balkan States—Bul garia, Rumania, and Servia—pro-Bussian and anti-Russian sentiment has had a principal share in the alignment of parties, especially in Bulgaria. In Bulgaria. before the union with Eastern Rumelia (1885), there were Radicals, who demanded union, and Conservatives, who were satisfied with the existing After the union. in the face of Russia's bitter opposi tion thereto, the Radicals became anti-Russian. The Bulgarian Nationalists seek to unite all Macedonia under Bulgaria, and therein Bul garia's interests clash with those of Greece. Ru mania, of all this group of States, is the most settled in its political life. The parties are Con servatives and Liberals, the government of the parliamentary form, and the two p:o•ties have alternated in the Ministry. In Servia the par ties are Liberals, who are pro-Russians: Radicals, who are pro-Austrians; and Progressists, who also lean to the side of Austria, BELutum. The chief parties are two—Clerieals or Catholics, and Liberals or anti-Catholies and there are in addition the groups of Prot estants and Socialists. The Protestants have
slight influence in Parliament, and both these groups act with the Liberals against the Cler icals. Until 1847 there was a struggle against Crown to establish party government through a responsible Ministry. Since that year the :Ministry bas been taken from the majority in the Chamber of Deputies. The parties have alternated in control, but since 1884 the Catholics have held the Government and have gathered to themselves the conservative elements of society repelled by the growing political importance of the Soeialists. In 1893 an active agitation resulted in the adoption of practically universal suffrage. Since that time the Liberal Party has virtually fallen under the control of the Socialists. The elections of 1902 resulted in a decided Catholic victory.