The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-18


The war between Turkey and its dis
ontenied provinces will add much TO
mr. knowledge of Southeastern Europe
MANY well-infOrmed men would have
,een puzzled q few months ago 10 give
m Ineligible account Of Montenegro
,r Herzegovina, or possibly of Bosnia
pr SerYia. Now there is busy search
no Of maps and Biographies and en-
,yclopa,dias. for one is ashamed to be
cnorant Of countries whose revolt
against Turkey may change the history
Of Europe.
Scryia is the most important province
among the disturbed districts, for il is
peopled only by a Slavonic race, proud
| II their purity of blood and Of their he
role history. Their ancestors migrated
| from Asia in the sixth century, and
found a home on the banks of the
Danube, in region laid waste by war.
They built up subsequently, strong
empire, and their most warlike En-
peror was leading an army to make
Constantinople his capital, when his
ambitions 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
TO the Porte. IL comprises 1900
square miles, about as large as the State
Of Maryland. and has population Of
over 1000, 600 souls.
Herzegovina Is a narrower and more
mountainous district, near the Adriaiic
Sea, having an area Of 1000 square
miles, triile smaller than Massachu-
sets, and a 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 LOO 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
is a serious hindrance 10 the commercial
growth and prosperity of the little prov
ince. 1t is a mountainous region, and
its brave inhabitants, exulting in their
fastness, have never been con-
quered by the Turks. The population
is small. numbering only 10000, but
every man among them Is warrior,
trained 10 the use Of arms, and inspired
with deadly enisity TO 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 IN
the east and Herzegovina on the west,
is larger than both united, comprising
an area of 23,C square miles and a
of 100000. But the races
are greatly mixed, 1870 of the peo-
pie being Turks, and only 10000 Bos-
mans, of true slavonic descent. This
makes united movement inn
possible, and subjects the province 10
bloody domestic strife in all attempts
TO throw Oft the yoke Of Turkey.
The same is true 10 a larger extent Of
Bulgaria, where such horrible atrocities
have been committed in the present
war. 1t is a large district, Of SO, 900
square miles, wing 10 the east Of Servia.
and stretching 10 the Black Sea. OF its
population of 100000 only 100000
are nominally Christian, and these are
at the mercy Of their more numerous
and powerful Turkish neighbors. They
can render, therefore, little help Of val
ne in the present struggle.
Wallaehiaand Moldayia, lying north Of
Bulgaria, and also bordering on the
Black Sea, form an important princi-
pality called Roumania, with an area
of 5000 square miles and popula-
ton Of 100000. They are virtually
Independent, like Servia, paying only
an annual tribute To the Porte But,
unlike Scrvia, their people are not of IA
single race or of pure blood. The
chief stock is Dacian, anciently sub
dued by Rome; but mixed with this are
Roman and Gothic and Hungarian and
Slavic and Tartar elements. defying the
most skilful ethnologists TO discriminate
in the strange mixture. II Roumania
should take part in the war, rs some
complications seem to indicate, il would
bring valuable help to Seryia and
Montenegro, which are vastly over
matched by the Turkish power.
The sympathies of American Chris
tians must run strongly with the prov
inces in their doubtful struggle. They
are nominally Christian, and Servis is
pervaded by an earnest religious spirit,
which leads to general Bible study.
They are all oppressed by the Turk,