New-York tribune., 1881-03-25

streets by night and even by day secluded portions
cf the city are uneafe. Burgaries occnr nignty'
often accompanied by murder. The sense OIL ip'
security is all the greater. since IL Is known sha'
soidiers and policemen are often the burglars.
When bedtime comes. perfect iusiiiode puiS's
foyt In some parts of the city, the anxious house.
holders firing pistols from their windows oy way
Of warning TO possible maicfaetors. In inc pro-
vinces deeds Of violence are OF common occurrence
To the district Of smyrna 1t Is said that no less 'a
800 highwaymen are plying their vocation IN gioas
conatort upon the roads. A few weeks ago pand
Of robbers in the province of Bagdad attacked 'ne
mail. which is carried on horseback under heavy
onar,l. The guard lost fifteen men killed. ana tne
robbers captured the mailbag with some $oo'VVV
In specie.
"A IL to can the climax of woes for the people OF
Turkey, the plague has appeared in Mesopo'aiin''
This terrible disease has periodically DroHeh o"s
this region during past years bnt mas hot spioau ca
auy great degree from the vicinity OF tle ilsii'
Riyer Now. however, the conditions are different
"A famine which followed the war with Russia mas
I5ft whole districts in misery. The lack Oh Trans
portation the scarcity Of animals foI farm woiA'
and tho lack of grain enough to seed the eids' nave
prevented the people from recovering tnemscNo'
A broad belt of land reaching from NOUN m.0ep
samia 10 the Russian frontier. between Moun'
pandreas of families have sold their stock, then
fnrnture aud their clothing TO buy bread, and are
zsll uinebed for the means of life. In numbers Oh
nlaces an epidemic fever last fall ravaged the
6amine-stricken village. tarryiug OH aoouS ~ poi
,a,t ~ those whom it attacked, and leaving the
snrv;vors wasted and wretched, ready to fall vic-
hius TO any new pestilence. This new pestiience
has now appeared in the form of the plague, anu !"
seems to threaten dark days for Eastern turkey.
Disturbances of political character are occurring
here and there In Syria there are signs Oh trouo'e
with the Druzes and several small outpreaAS
which have already occurred have led the Govern
nat IN increase the garrisons of the towns on the
seacoast. lp Albania the Turks also nave occasion
sor anxiety. The so-called Albanian insurrectlon,
which has more than once served the Porte good
purpose, has been prolonged for such length Oh
time that it seems Likely to become, IN some places
an actus TACT Nevertheless, the Turks are Ioth 70
nae harsh measures with the Albanians, and are not
afraid TO enlist them for service In the army In
Macedonia utter confusion reigns. Turks, Greeks,
Bulaarians and AIbanians all seem to be en-
gagged in q ar of replisals which makes the public
highways the arena of bloody acts. Oddly enough.
although the Turkish Government Is nearly as
sverds points with the Greek Government tne
lrurkish authorities IN Macedonia are In amicaoie
relatims with the Greek bishops with view to
common Weifafo upOn tnc OuiS"ai'A
khas region. A number Of Bulgarians have oeen
banished to Mesopctamia by the Turks ct the re-
quest of the Greek clergy. The Greeks and the
Bulgarians are political rivals, and their mutuai
hatred is bitter aud implacable. There is reason 10
believe that in case the opening OF spring III the
signal for the outbreak of var between Turkey and
s,reece. Macedonia will be the scene OF bloody
struggies between Creeks Bulgarians and Albar-
cans. BY this means all Bulgaria may be drawn
into the fray.
it is easier to foretel the changes OF the weather
than the changes of the Eastern Question. iet
everything now points to renewal of disturbance IN
Turkey at an early day. Germany appears to hold
the KEY TO tbe situation; and yet any irresponsible
band of cuthroats in the border provinces have the
povsr 10 preeipitate war which all Europe cannot
arrest The Turkish Government is In terrible
straits vet it goes on collecting the materials for
NJ pfacraton which can harm no one so much as IL
self 1t needs peace, 1t has not the means OF carry
ing on war, and yet it calmly proceeds with It's
military preparations calling ont reserves. daily
seudiug fresh troops to threaten the Greek border
md hourly Increasing the distress OF ats own SUD-
lects There Is something sublime in the callousness
with which the Turkish Ministry. diTegardlng tne
anguish of the country. persists In courso which
must In all ordinary probability end in Humiliation.