The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-06-01
Affairs in Eastern Europe.

Affairs in Eastern Europe.
To comprehend the kilograms which
reach us daily from Londsn and Paris in
regard to the war in Eastern Europe, our
readers must bear in mind the great his
tOrical facts which lie behind them. I'm
portant events are doubtless near at hand
which may change the whole current of
history for that portion of Europe. 1t is
plain that things cannot continue lOngas
they are, and there is an anxious under
tone of expectation through the business
world as to what this spring may bring
forth in the settlement of the long mOOted
Eastern question" A recent dispatch
has reported much excitement on the Paris
Bourse at the rumor that seven thousand
Montenegrins had joined the insurgents,
and that Seryia was mObilizing hers army.
To appreciate the significance of such ru-
mOrs our readers must remember that
historical Eastern Europe is like plain
covered with drift deposit, from which
here and there an old granite peak arises
in indication of the earliest strata.
In the middle ages a considerable Scla-
vOniC and christian kingdom occupied
the eastern provinces of Europe. The
great Turkish invasiOnsOf the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries covered these dis
tricts, and would have flowed disastrous
Iy over all Europe but for the obstacles
there offered. There remains new above
the level of the detritus and refuse left
by this great inundatian only OneOr two
of the old landmarks of the region. Mon
tenegrO, the little country of the Black
Mountains, near the Adriatic, was never
fairly conquered by the Turks, and has
retained its independence. 1t formed
IL ] l., . l.
ish flood, and still Obstructs it. The head
of this principality is, 10 doubt, in near
relation with the Russian government,
and throughout this rebellion the refU-
gees of Bosnia and Herzegovina have
taken refuge in its mountain Businesses.
Many a MOntenegrin soldier has, no
doubt, served among the iHsuTgent chris
tians. 1t has probably required inces-
SAINT exertions by the prince to keep lis
subjects from marching in lOrce to drive
out their lOng-hated enemies and Oppress-
ors from the territory of their kinsmen.
Another Survival " of ancient times is
the province of Free Servia.'' This re
gion has been overwhelmed and occupied
! by the Turks, but seventy years ago 1t was
| substantially freed, and has only paid a
nominal tribute to the Porte since. I'm
! der freedom it has made q continual prog
ress, and its independence and advancing
! prosperity are an unceasing model to all
! the SclavOnic provinces Of Turkey OF
what they could be and ought to be.
| Servia, moreover, possesses n remarkably
bold and warlike population, and can
| turn out q considerable body Of hardy
| troops. She will naturally be The leader
of the provinces, if once they are made
free. Her government, poor as 1t Is, Is
| borrowing money freely to purchase arms
and to mobilize the army. SeTvia, Mon
tenegro, and all these provinces, it should
| be remembered, are animated with the
/ traditions and passions which have been
1 transmitted by 6ve centuries of bloody
and bitter struggle with the Turks. The
/ passions of to day are no new feelings
| They are the same fires which have been
| kindled generation after generation in the
| hearts of a simple and freedOm-lOvlng
people. Diplomacy can not possibly
| quench them. The old fire bursts forth
when Turkey is singularly weak. The
/ government seems at its last ebb IT
| finance. The sultan is using his forced
loans for his own pleasures, and borrow
| ing at thirty per cent. interest, while
the army are without pay and the adj
ministratiOn without income. No doubt
I
dan fanaticism. But that is a dangerous
| implement. The Russian press already
report massacres of christians, and 1t
| would need but few occurrences of that
| nature to kindle fire in the SclavoniC
race which would destroy every vestige
/ of Turkish rule in Europe. All these
| SclavOnic provinces, though closely
connected in sympathy and blood and
creed with the Russian people, yet rep
resent the south Sclavonians, and are
therefore not in entire harmony with the
Russian government.
Two powers are now silently playing
their game beneath the confusion which
/ covers the field. Russia supplies assur-
ance, sympathy, perhaps promises, and
| will, no doubt, check all outside inter
ference. unless of the combined powers
! Austria is forced to consider the Scla-
vonians at home, as well as those in this
province, and has sent a SclavOnian
! Baron Rodich, to induce the insurgents
! to accept terms from the Porte, while she
| is threatening Servia with armed inter
! vention if the peace is broken. To Aus
| iria, the eastern question IS an intensely
vital one. She would gladly possess the
outlet OF the Danube, but she can not
afford war, or any great discomfort among
her Sclavonic population. In the mean
| time, passions are fermeDting which mel
ther Austrian nor Russian power can con
| fine.-N J. Times.