The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-18
The Eastern Question Rcyiyed-Iusurrectiou

in Bulgaria.
According to our latest news the disease
which ahlicts the European body polite has re-
vealed itself in another sore. The Eastern
question, which so long was the dominant
question in European affairs, had for time
fallen into the background. Interest centred
in the West, then in the South, then again in
the West. The Cretan discomfort commanded
attention in certain quarters, but the insurrec-
ton had been so completely put down that
| Cretan affairs had ceased to be of any general
interest. Now, however, that all eyes are
directed to the banks of the Rhine and that
many eyes are directed to the banks of the
| Tiber, the apparently defunct Eastern question
looms up, particularly on the shores Of the
Euxine, and commands the attention of the
civilized world. If facts are to guide us we
might feel justified in concluding that the
disease Of the European body polite is not
only chronic, but, to all human appearance,
incurable.
This fresh outburss of anti-Turkish feeling in
the East has twofold significance. 1t raises
an old question as to the chances of the con-
tinued integrity of the Ottoman empire in
Europe. 1t compels another question-how
far all this disaffection is compatible with the
prolongation of peace among The European
nations.
The first question is of less immediate i'm
portance than the second, but it is still of
sufficient Importance to entitle it to consdera-
ton. Bulgaria is one of the very finest pro-
vinces of Northern Turkey. Lying between
the Balkan range on the south and the Danube
on the north, and bounded on the west by Servia
and on the east by the Black Sea, it covers an
extensive tract of the most valuable land in
Europe. The estimated area is some thirty
three thousand square miles and the popula-
ton close upon three millions. 1t is manifest
at glance that such people are powerless
to contend with the immense forces which the
Sultan can bring to bear against them. We're
it possible for the Hospodar of the United
Princpalities of Moldavia and Wallachia to
lend the Bulgarians helping hand it might
be more serious for the interests of Turkey.
The peculiar position of Prince Charles renders
il impossible for him to lend the Bulgarians
any such help. Besides, there is but small
natural affinity between the inhabitants of
Bulgaria and the inhabitants of the prin-
cipalities. Speaking as they do the same
language with the Servans, the danger is
much greater that Servia and Bulgaria would
unite, and. including Bosnia, seek to form
another and more powerful principally than
that which is known by the name of Rou-
mania. There IL one injustice which
Bulgaria is compelled to endure, and it IL
well that all civilized governments should look
to it. While Moldavia and Wallachia enjoy,
under the name of Roumania, practical
autonomy. and while similar autonomy has
been granted by the Porte separately to Servia
and TO Montenegro, Bulgaria still suffers from
the blighting rule Of four separate pachalics.
In maintaining this inequality the government
of the Sultan is manifcstIy in the wrong. As
II is not our opinion that the Bulgarans will
link their destiny either with Roumania or with
Servia, and az it is undesirable that this dis
affection be allowed to continue, the presump-
ton is that the Bulgarian difficulty will be got
over by the government of the Sultan granting
to the ancient kingdom similar autonomy to
that now enjoyed by its immediate neighbors.
In this way, unless insurrection becomes gen
j. eral all over the Turkish provinces, both north
I, and south of the Balkan, the present disturb
/ ance is likely to be healed. Europe is moi
d yet fully prepared TO drive the last Mussulmar
across the Helespont
0 AT the same time, while we do not see il
J, this Bulgarian disturbance any proof of tn,
immediate disruption Of the Turkish empire
IS it is not to be denied that II il is not speedil,