The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-27
BULGARIA'S SAD CONDITION.
THE VACANT THEoNE-FAILUgE TO ESTABLISH
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TURKS AND VIC
LATINO THEIR WIVES.

Observation-Disclosures TURKS AND vIo-
LATINO THEIR WIVES.
London Times Correspondence
No one, IL may be said. thinks of restoring the old
order Of things and the aim Of the International Com
mission at Philippopos is to establish system
by which there will be perfect equality of all
and creeds and large measure of local selfgovern-
ent This is quite true, but things do not appear in
this light TO the Bulgarians. The most erroneous
ideas aioat regarding the aims and intentions Of
the Commission and the few who know the truth
are not satisfied. More than have been told that
the Commissioners. though animated with the best in
tentions, cannot do much. They may produce tho
most perfect organic statute. but IL it has TO be
worked by the Turks 1t will share the fate of the
HAITI Huinayoun and other admirable pieces OF
legislation already promulgated by the Sultans
Whom I sugg. sted that the Governor General must
always be . Christian was told that an Ottoman
Christian would be worse than genuine Turk, for
he would have special reasons for endeavoring to
gain the imperial favor.
nationality you pcase-English, French or German
and we shall be content; but we have nothing TO
A foreign prince would be, believe acceptable
enough to tine mass OF the people; but he would not
receive q very hearty welcome from the educated
men, who have well defined political aspirations.
The hope oil these men ~ to see "A united Bulgaria,
including the new Bulgarian principally, Eastern
Koumeii ana great PAT o. Maeedonia or in other
thing short OF that would fail to satisfy them, and
declare they are ready TO lay down their lives
In some towns at least, there are educated Bull
garian officials who anxious to show Europe that
their cuuntrymen worthy OF self-government and
such strive to protect the Mussulnans from i'll
treatment. La the villages the position of the Mus
sulmans is more prccarious Much depends upon
the Tchorbadjce, village elder. II he happens to
be q like the Tchorbadjee of Tcholluk, whom
mentioned in my last letter, the Turks run great
risk OF being robbed and beaten: the other hand
Ii lie be n like Stoinof, whom saw at Oktchinr
they may live unmolcsted, unless there happens
to be in the village some fanatical Bulgarian
rtf 4hs a1.
The motives of the occasional ourages perpctraed
the Turks to be OF three kinds First there In
the simple desire of plumber, but this motive cannot
have much to do with the disorders, for the Turkish
families in their present condition generally too
poor to excite cupidty. Second, there Is the old
anatica hatred and the desire Of vengeance past
wrongs. Third there is the wish to brighten away
the few Turks who are at present In the villages aud
to prevent the others from returning. Besides this
IL sometimes happens as l found in Tchirpan, that
there are few lawlcss spirits who think II pleasant
amusement to break into the Turkish houses ut night
and violate the women when there is little no
danger OF being punished for IL.
To sum up may say that the present state OF
Eastern Houmelia seems to me far from being salts
factory. II Russa's object to introduce into
that part of Turkey u good government, which
should give liberty, security and legal equality TO all
and crceds, she has not yet succeeded in her
mission and has not made good beginning for
among the Bulgarians there Is general conviction
that the Turks may be iltreated with impunty and
among the Turks there is so little confidence IN the
existing administration that very many Of them think
II useless TO claim protection redress from the
thoritcs. Some OF the latter say that they expected
things would change after the arrival of the Inter-
national Commission, but that they now begin.
ming despair, for their condition has lately become
worse rather than better.