Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-09-13

lice force to be native militia.
This newly-orsanized province. to be call
ed East Roumelia, comprises only about
half the original province of Roumelia, the
remainder and the whole province of Mac
edonia, including in the Bulgaria of the
treaty OF San Stelano, having been uncondi-
tionally restored to Turkey. 1t is boast of
Beaconsfeld that he has succeeded in return
ing so much territory to Turkish mIssrule )
The Turks are allowed to garrison, with
regular troops only (that = s,"Bishi-Blzouks"
are forever to be exclude,D, a line of fortif-
cations along the balkans, which constitute
the Northern boundary of Roumelia.
Here, again, the English delegates at the
congress fltter them 'elye1 that they have
gained a triumph for Turkey, for now she
has an almost impresnable boundary on the
Northern frontier, more ecure than the Dan
ube old frontier, which the Russians succeed
ed in crossing last wear. Bat the fatal
weakness of this line Of defence i the semi
independent state cf Roumelm, which
has been organized between 1t and the Turk
ish capital. 10 ease Of war. both ROumelia
and Bulgaria would seiz, the opportunity to
entirely throw eff the the Turkish yoke and
the BIlkan furtiic1tions woull be surround
cd and cut off in the heart of the enemy's
country. The advantage will, therefore,
prove hollow one.
Bulgara, lying between the Danube and
the Balkans and extending from the Black
Sea to Servia, Is, by the congress, carried
step further than ROumelia towards inde-
pendence. lt is to have prince chosen
from some small royal house. by the Balga-
rian not4bles, and the province Is u be trib-
utnry to the Porte as Servia and Roumanis
We're before their complete independence. By
the treaty of San Steiauo the Russian troops
were to occupy European Turkey two years
and the organization WI, II be entirely in
cides that the territory is To be evacuated in
six months, and other governments are to
share in its organization, and it is to be
hoped they will keep the work in hand un
til the bitter enmities Of the war shall have
died away between the MOhammedan and
Christian populations.
The congress gives Be-sIrahia back to
Russia, taken from her after the Crimean
war, and gives the D,brudiI to Rou-
mania. The independence of Mlntcnegro,
Seryia and R1umania is aeknowledg ged with
considerable accesSions of territory. So these
countries have, at last, reached the goal to-
wards which they have been so long strug-
Cling and TO which the newly-orsanized
provinces must sooner or later attain. Greece
is to have a small slice. though far from the
amount to which she aspired and al these
fragments of Turkey that have been alien
ated from her are to hear their due proper.
ton Of the Turkish debt, and the enormous
war indemnity of the Treaty of Sal. Stefano
to be paid by Turkey To Russia, is to re-
main indefinitely postponed
Seryia and Roumlnia had many disabil-
ties for those of certain religious ereeds.
especially Jews. One of tie best deeds of
the congress was To remryc all such disabil
tiles, and to establish perfect religious free
dom and equality in all the territory over
which its legislation cxtenl~ If Russia
herself could he made subject to the opera
fion Of his sule, little more would be left to
be desired
There is much speculation TrsIeeting the
oeeuraton of Bosnia and Herzegovina by
Austria. A. this occupation Is without
limit Of time, nor Is it called temporary, the
impression has gone abroad that it Is not ex-
pectcd the territory will ever he restored to
the Turkish power Obviously the Porte
is fearful of this issue as She has been trying
to get limit Of time before permitting the
bat Austria has moved forward
Ind taken possession, and it it proves per
nanent occupation, ,Lc will have obtained
peaceabiya larger accession OF territory than
Russia alter all her sacrifices.
In Asiatic Turkey the congress restores
'nOush to Turkey to preserve intact the
highway from Trebiz,nl to the Persian
,Order. Besides thIt, the territory taken
reaty of San Stefano Russia takes BItoum
hough the L,z.s threaten To fight, and are
aid to have an army Of 70 Goa a.en. Russian
,old and decorations will, however. no doubt
ring them t1 terms.
Briefly, tLeSe are the principal arrange
nentS Of the Berlin c1tgrrs-. But there is
he convention clncla.icl hs;ween Eag-
and and Turkey which Shculi i,c considered
n this connection. 1t was plain ,Tst
;usSia would ultimately pd~h back the
lecaylng Turkish power in Aria until She
ai reached the Persian Grlf. EnslanI could
ot look oa cUmplacent!y withodt making
nme efior. to check the Russian progress
he does not see how this can he accom-
liShcd in the direct line Of the congress
To have done that. tn have
ound Russia to 70 ro further. and Ia have
Ound all the European powers 10 prevent
or further progress IN A~atIc Turkey,
would have beer m,~t signal triumph for
ne BeaclGSiield cabinet. This, however,
ley did not dare, OF did not wish To attempt.
hey rather agreed directly with the Turk-
h government To helm II IA keen bick
ussla siprle-banJed. rr,yiI,d Turkey
ould .ive her occupation the island Of
ypru.. and wouli arr,c Ia ret,rm her al
Illustration in A-mtl. Turkey.
This i ali very Elir. and seems +, snn,lv
le missing link in the work of the rrn
,e ulan with much Interest Will E1ylnd
ave the carving oar ,t rrf,rf,s entirrIv tn
nrkev ,r will shc t,ke an ,,t;,c ,,,r, !,
,cir cxec,,i,no ,rI a. =, - - ,L,
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