The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-17
ROCMaNIA'S REWLRD.

The success OF Russia in the late war was
due in no small measure 10 the vigorous action
Of Roumania. That inconsiderabe state Joined
forces with her Muscovite ally at the darkest
hour Of the campaign. Her military resources
were taxed TO the utmost in order TO furnish
prompt and substantial aid. and the gailantry
Of her soldiers was attested in those bloody and
decisive engagements which insured the fall OF
Peyna and the swift collapse Of Ottoman resist
ance What is to be- the com pensation for such
services Ii Koumana. like her powerful
neghbor to be unidentified with territory and
money. or has the war shut of her hope of uti
mately controlling the Lower Danube and con-
signed her to financial ruin?
Ia the preliminary conditions Of peace there
isa vague allusion To territorial concessions for
Eoumania. But in what quarter could such be
made Not ON the south. since there the Dan
ube forms the natural and traditional boundary.
aud If bulgaria is to have Il shadow OF indie
pendence. neither Widdn nor any other OF the
for,resses on the southern bank Of the river can
be- wrcsted from the new State. Recent debates
in the Roumsnan Parliament indicate that IN
accession OF land was expected toward the
northeast What is yehcmcntly desired is that
strip Of Bessarabia which skirts the north bank
of the Danube between the river Pruth and the
Black Sesi. and which was transferred from
Russia To Turkey by the Treaty OF Paris. But
Russia has already announced that she will re-
annex h,ssarabia. will substantially control ia
other words. the N outh of the Danube by the
occupation OF its left bnnk. Nothing reinnins.
therefore. for RoumHnia except that fragment
Of 'he Dobrudscha lying north ~ TRAINS wall.
This undoubtedly means the command o, the
right bank OF the great water way from Rassova
to the Black Sea. but the position would be Of
small avail 10 n weak Stnte. provided the Bcssa-
rahian shore were occupied 10y Russian bat
isries. As to any other profit derivabl. from
h- Dobrud-cha. ii Ii certain that the mainte-
nance Of order would he heavy charge upon
Christian Gsrernmcnt. Since the Treaty Of
Paris. this district has h"en accounted one %
the bulwarks O: Turkey and the Porte has
taken care 90 settle II with n worlke and retrac
tory but Intensely Moslem population.
Roumania could only hold the Dobrudja by
lnaintalningt considerable standing army.
hndthat she could not AFFORD. Tho deplorable
state OF her finances was disclosed in the report
Of the Finance Minister. NJ. Bratiano. submitted
10 the Parliament some weeks ago. Ii appears
from the official figures that the budget tor 1875
showed deficit OF eight million dollars that
subsequently the Government borrowed four
millions 10 complete the PoIesti railway 70 The
Austrian frontier; that the budget for the year
which has Just closed presented deficiency 81
marry tnrte nllulOhS. ID WHlcu must u added
"a much more for extraordinary oxpenses in
cured in anticipation Of war. Here was float
ing debt OF some eighteen millions OF dollars
before a blow WAS struck. TO this musl row be
loined the sums due for acquisitions com
p,tsd AT som" six millions. the pensions voted
by Parliament 10 the families Of the killed. the
renewal Of the material Of war. and the repair II
fortresses. II is not possible 10 fix the exact
outlay on these accounts. hut II Is net placed
lower than twenty millions. Thus one Of the
poorest stntes in Europe which has never hesn
able 10 meet her ordinary expenditure. finds
herself salded with new Indebtedness agere-
eating nearly forty million dollars
II is true that Russin agreed 70 furnish the
Roumanian Government. by way Of subsidy.
four hundred thousand dollars a month pend
INK tho continuance II the war. Eat these
moaere sums were payable in bonds. which
moreover were t. remain shut w in the trea-
bury at bucharest until the conclusion Of peace
so far the total amount OF these bonds has not
reached three million dollars. Neither is il pos
sible To- learn Whether this subsidy Ia gTatuity
or mere loan. In thoformer event II will not
70 Tar toward recruiting the Roumanian re-
sources. nor viii thes. he greatly fortified by the
extra receipts u railways. estimated ut about
Two millions. and derived from the trans port Of
Troops. After AL such deductions. there would
remain debt Of thirty live million dollars. in
CURED Tor the most part by tho war. aud Tor
which strip OF the Dobrudja ~ certainly a
POOR equivalent In "a word. Roumania has
e''ne out Of the war II bankrupt. This is not 4
pheasant prcdicament nj time when the
opinion seems to be gaining ground in Europe
'hat Il weak state which commits an act Of bank
Iup'cy lorielts the rlght OF national existence
FOR their own good. and in the interest Of hui
hlanlIy such countries have been told
should be wlped out. This rule. framed to
meet the ease Of Turkey may be found. at no
distant day. applicable TO tho Danubian princi-
pa.lles.