The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-18
The Insurgent States in the East.

The war between Turkey and its dis
oontented provinces will add much 10
,ur knolwedge of Southeastern Europe.
Many well-infOrmed men would have
heen puZzled a few months ago 10 give
an Ineligible account of Montenegro
or Herzegovina, or possibly of Bosnia
ar Seryia. Now there is a busy search
inc Of maps and Biographies and en-
cyclopmdias, for one Is ashamed 10 be
IGNORANT of countries whose revolt
against Turkey may change the history
Of Europe.
Seryia is the most important province
among the disturbed districts, for IL is
peopled only by SlavOnic race, proud
Of their purity of blood and Of their he
role history. Their ancestors migrated
from Asia in the sixth century, and
found home on the banks of the
Danube, in a region laid waste by war.
They built up subsequently, a strong
empire, and their most warlike En-
peror was leading an army TO make
Constantinople his capital, when his
ambitious plans were fOiled by sud
den death. In the next century the
empire was conquered by the Turks,
and only since this century came in, and
more particularly within few years,
has this small section of the old empire
recovered independence. II is self
governed, but pays an annual tribute
10 the Porte. IL comprises 1900
square miles, about as large As the State
OF Maryland. and has population Of
over 100000 souls.
Herzegovina Is narrower and more
mountainous district, near the Adriatic
Sea, having an area Of 200 square
miles, "A triAe smaller than Massachu-
sets, and population of over POO, 900,
nearly one-half of whom are Mussul-
mans, and the other half nearly equally
divided between Greek and Roman
Catholic Churches. This division puts
the province AT great disadvantage in
the struggle with the Turks, for Ca'hO-
lie and Greek are not united in council
and action, and their strength j, neutral
lied by the large Turkish element sur
rounding them.
Montenegro, having 100 square
miles-abOut the size of Rhode Island
joins Herzegovina Oh the southeast,
but has no seaport, the adjoining sea-
coast belonging 10 the Austrian prov
ince Of Cattaro. This lack Of a seaport
j. a serious hindrance 10 the commercial
growth and prosperity Of the little prov
ince. Ii is mountainous region, and
it, brave inhabitants, eXulting in their
mountain fastness, have never been con-
quered By the Turks. The population
is small. numbering only 100000, but
every man among them i warrior,
trained 20 the Use Of arms. and inspired
with a deadly enmity 10 the Mussulman.
In their difficult passes and inaccessible
heights they have won signal victories
over the invader, often defeating arm
les tenfold larger than their own. The
chief successes Of their present cam
paign have been won by their heroic
army, and IL is certain to make a good
report of itself in every encounter with
the Turks.
Bosnia, which borders on Servia n
the east and Herzegovina on the west
is larger than both united, comprising
an area Of $500 square miles and {
population of 100000. But the race.
are greatly mixed, $4,000 Of the peO
pie being Turks, and only $4,000 BOs
mans, Of true slavonic descent Thu
mixture makes united movement i'm
possible, and subjects the province q
bloody domestic strife in All attempts
to throw OH the yoke Of Turkey.
The same is true 10 a larger extent o
Bulgaria, where such horrible atr0citie
have been committed in the presen
war. II is a large district, of $500
square miles, wing To the east Of Servia
and stretching 10 the Black Sea. OF il
population of $500, 900 only 100000
are nominally Christian, and these Al
at the mercy of their more numerOu
and powerful Turkish neighbors. The
can render, therefore, little help Of va
ne in the present struggle.
Wallachiaand MOldavia, lying north O
Bulgaria, and also bordering on IN
Black Sea, form an important princi
pality called ROumania, with an are
of 5000 square miles and a popula
ton IL 4,OOO,OOO They are virtual
independent, like Servia, paving onl
an annual tribute 10 the Porte But
unlike Scrvia, their people are not of
single race or of pure blood. III
chief stock is Dacian, anciently sui
dued by Rome but mixed with this ar
Roman and Gothic and Hungarian an
Slavic and Tartar elements, defying N
most skilful ethnologists To discriminai
in the strange mixture. II ROumanl
should take part in the war, rs som
complications seem to indicate, it woul
bring valuable help TO Seryia an
Montenegro, which are vastly over
matched by the Turkish power.
The sympathies of American Chri
tians must run strongly with the prov
inces in their doubtful struggle. The
are Dominally Christian, and Servia