The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-11-30
y lfEla9 0s81W
THE EAsTRN QUESTION
A Comprehensive View Of the he
Situation in Southern Europe.
Something about the Animus
of the Threatened War.
WHY RUSSIA IS ANXIOUS
FOR AN OUTBREAK AND =.
ENGLAND OPPOSES TT.
The Russian Bear GrOwls for
an Outlet through the
Dardanelles. m
General Explanations and Re-
| fiectiOns, sai hHr =

General Explanations and Re-
fiectiOns, aai hHH -
5r ----- Earl t4lsa
From time to time, the resders of
the Tribune have noticed dispatches
from Europe concerning the Eastern
conflict between the Empire of Tur-
key and the insurgent provinces of
Herzegovia, Montenegro, Bosnia and
Serbia, wondering, perhaps, why 80
much import should be placed on a
war 80 far removed from the republic
in which they live, and to whose do
mestic and foreign interests they are
so devotedly attached. Although the
principles of our government, firmly
laid down at an early stage of our cx-
istencc, forbid US to interfere directly
with the political complications Of
European powers, aud although their
results may appear immaterial to the
general mass of our citizens, still it
can not but be of interest to us to
watch these movements from our
harbor of safety aud note how much
their results will affect us as q nation
financially, commercially and politi-
cally. Although removed from these
scenes OF conflict by broad wastes OF
water. and from the disputing parties
by differences of government, and re-
ligious and civil liberty, still we are
bound to them by the close ties Of
commerce and friendly relations, those
great civilizers OF humanity. For thls
reason l thought that few words on
the causes and results Of this war
might prove of interest to the general
mass of your readers, and open their
eyes to different view Of this stage
of the eastern question than that usu-
ally given in the different periodicals
of this country.
PAST CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY. :
Tho inhabitants of the provinces Of
Montenegro and Serbia have long en-
joycd a nominal Independence. 80 far
as the election of her own officials and
members of the Kuptchina, the pass
ing of their laws and the practice of
their religion is concerned; still they
were compelled to acknowledge the
government of Turkey as their super
ier, to pay trivial annual tribute to
that country and to allow their forti-
fed places to be garrisoned by the
troops of the Ottoman empire. Their
main religion is that of the Greek
Catholic church, but so very crude are
their ideas, SO ignorant and so super
stitious-are these worthy Christians Of
the Greek church IN Turkey that an
enlightened Christian of the present
day would find it rather difficult to
determine where heathenism ended
and the divine faith of Christ began.
Nor is it the Greek church alone that
wields the spiritual scepter in these
outlandish and mountainous provinces
Adherents to the Roman Catholic, the
Armenian, the HISTORIAN, the Luther
an and the Ishmalite faith dispute it's
superiority. .'......- ,...f...,.--, {.
Thus we see, .
A CoNGLOMERATE MASS OF PEOPLE.
nearly all of the Pan.Sclavanic race,
and allied by ties of blood to Russia,
Hungaria, Croatia, Dalmatia, Bohemia
and Poland, protesting to carry on a
war, very guerrilla-like in its manage
mcnt, for the alleged protection OF its
religious % liberty. There has al
ways been seed Of discontent among
these provinces which has given rise
to innumerablc contentious among =
people unable to govern themselves or
brook the idea that they have to be
ruled by q power more intelligent or
more capable of self-government than
themselves. Turkey, only few years
age, removed her troops from the Ser
biau fortresses aud allowed them 10
be replaced by the citizens OF the
country only under the promise that
they should be commanded by Turk
ish officers. This, surely, ought to
baye removed one cause of complaint
I. also reduced the annual
tribute to the small sum of 5000. 900, a
sum which ought not to be oppressive
to such populous and fertile country
as Serbia. There being many Mahom.
medans in the provinces, the Turks
also appointed Mahommedan civil of
Acers who, according to the good e.
old established Ottoman rule, extorted
as much money as they could from
the people and formed rings Of which
even Boss Tweed aud other refOrmer:
might be proud. On the representa-
tion of the great powers of Europ,
even these were broken up and re
moved, the Christians were admitted
to all the rights and privileges o
Turkish citizens, were allowed to en-
ter the army in lieu of paying tn
heavy military exemption tax, to liz
aud do business where they choose
and 10 have full representation. Sue
at least was the import OF the last fiji
!. man issued by the Sublime Porte.
CAUSE OF THE PREsENT TROUBLE.
Why, then, have these provinces dt
, clared war. and what do they wish t
} obtain when crowned with victory
. A recent dispatch from Bclgrad
!, throws some light on this subiec
I. Prince Milan was proclaimed "Kin
8 Of Sebia" amidst the enthusiast
Q shouts of his army, at the head
: which he was marching to the reli
t of Alixnatz. then threatened
Mouchtar Pacha. And what is t