The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-07


css %, ,ss1 square miles with populatiou
OF semething over Aeoo, 900. The soil is
here productive of grain, tobacce, rice
oil and wine; but their agriculture' Is
greatly neglected on account of tho ex-
cessive taxation and arbitrary abuse of
Turkish law. Less than one-third Of the
population are Turks.
HERZEGOVINA itself, which is now set
ting itself forward as defiant OF the Sui
tan, comprises only g, 420 square miles,
with o population of 100000; OF whom
only 10000 are Mahommedans, and
not more than half Of these are Turks.
The others are OF Slavic families who
have professed Islamism to save their
lives and estates.
Thrace, Albania, Salonica and Gambia
are the remaining dependent provinces,
besides the fortress OF Belgrade, that
constitute European Turkey. These
comprise over 10000 square miles, and a
population Of nearly six millions.
RoUMANIA, which now includes Mol
davia, Wallachia, and part OF Bessara-
bia, is an independent vassal State," SO
called. The only tie thar binds Rouma-
mia to the Sultan's throne is an annual
tribute, assessed upon the yield of the
country's products, averaging about
$20o, 900 yearly. In all else Roumania is
an independent State, with territory of
4e, 7oS square miles and population Of
100000. The government OF Roumania
is . limited monarchy, having Senate
and House Of Deputies (Skuptchina) D
elected by the people, and every tax
payer is voter. There are very few
Turks among them, and nine-tenths of
the whole population are members of
the Greek Church. The present reign
ing Prince is Charles I, Of the House Of
Observation-Disclosures, and there
fore collaterally related to the reigning
House OF Germany. He came to the
throne of Roumania by election in 1865.
SERvIA is another ''vassal State,"
independent in her own political
autonomy, but recognizing the sov-
ereignty Of the Sultan by payment Of an
annual tribute. It has territory
of 1857 square miles and a population
Of 100000, her area and population
being but little more than one-third OF
those of Ohio. In all its population
there are less than 1900 Turks. All
besides are Of Slavic families. Servia
had always been insurrectionary and
has had many struggles with her Turk
ish masters; but 1t was not till 1888 that
the Sultan conceded to 1t an independ-
ent autonomy, and then only at the
pressing instance of Russia. The pres
ent reigning Prince is Milan Obreno-
witch, who was chosen in 1868, but not
recognized by the Sultan till 1879.
MONTENEGRO is another yassal Stat o,
Of only 1,7oO square miles and a popula-
ZION of 10000. Its population is alto
gether Slavic. Its independence was
secured, after repeated struggles, by the
Intervention Of Austria. Its submission
did not occur till In 1874, and quietude
has even yet not been restored, and an
outbreak 10 continually apprehended,
making common cause with Herze-
goyina.
Here then, in all European Turkey, is
q population Of Ii. SOC, 900, more than one
third of the whole population Of the OF
toman Empire, and not one-fitth of then
Turks. Nearly twelve millions of then
are descendants OF that wonderful and
powerful race Of the Slayi, Of which
| Russia Ia the central shoot, exponent
and defender. The Slavic millions arr
all followers Of the Greek Church, which
is the established church Of Russia, AMI
of which the Russian Gear is the recog
nized head. Such being the facts, wheI
pride of race and religious faith com
bine to make these nominal subjects o
the sultan turn 70 Russia Al
their natural ally and protector, th,
rising Of the Herzegovinians, though
their power Of itself may be most un
equally matched against Turkey, never
theless indicates a widely spread com
motion ana coalition among the whole
Slavic brotherhood Of Turkey In Europ,
that BODIES no good to the Turk; ant
| which may result in driving the de
scendants Of the Scythians from Euro
pean soil; upon which, as said by La
MARITIME, they have never been more
than s'encamped."
50 -----ssS-.-
..Sl.n a r..