St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-11-05

religion, though separated in part by
the heavy wall of the Balkans and by
Turkish restric tons upon freedom of
trade.
But the revolution was a plain in
fratcion of the Treaty of Berlin. The
war of 1877 had ended in the advance
of the Russians almost to the gates of
ConstantinOple, where the frightened
Turks hastily agreedito the Treaty of
San StefanO, by which, under Ignati-
eff s diplomacy great Bulgaria was
formed, including what was afterward
Eastern ROumelia, and parts even of
Macedonia. The other powers, fearin &
the control which Russia, by great
dependent Bulgaria, would gain in the
Balkan peninsula, protested against
this treaty, Lord Beaconsfeld heading
the opposition to it, and in a general
congress which met at Berlin in July,
1873, made new disposition. Bulga-
ria was limited to the region between
the Balkans and Roumania, as an ''au-
tomato and tributary principality,"
under the suZerainty of the Sultan, but
with prince of its own choosing, to
be confirmed by the Porte with the
consent of the powers. The ruler
chosen was Prince Alexander of Bat
tenberg South of Bulgaria, on the
other flank of the Balkans, province
was formed, and called Eastern Rou-
melia, as an integral part of Turkey,
yet "subject to conditions of admins
trative autonomy" That is, it had a
Christian Governor General, appointed
by the Porte with the consent of the
treaty powers, and its own gendamerie
and militia-this accounting for the
easy and blOOdless success of the late
revolt at PhilippOpOlis.
Thus the Roumelian revolt at once
challenged the signatOry powers to
vindicate their own dignity, and warn
ed Turkey to hurry forward troops in
to the disaffected region, as she had q
right to do under the treaty, ''if the in
ternal or external security of the prov
ince should be menanced." But Tur-
key hesitated, as if paralyzed by the
bOldness of the movement, or I'D doubt
what scheme of Russia or Austria might
underlie it, and the golden moment for
action was lost. She remembered her
bitter experience with Bulgarian insur
rections ten years before, and waited
for the support of the powers, who,
after all, only appointed conference
of ambassadors at COnstautinOple,
which till now has done nothing decl-
sive. Meanwhile Prince Alexander
aided irresolutiOn by ardently renew
ing his allegiance to the Sultan, pledg-
ing him the support of "the two Bulga-
rias" in keeping Macedonia quiet, and
perhaps promising that the tribute
should still go on. Still he took the
precaution to mobilize all his troops,
4 kI1l, Il ~ In
came like a vast camp, trade being al
most at a stand-still till union should
be assured.
Now war clouds from new source
rose in the sky. Servia and Greece
called for the restoration of the status
quo ante in ROumelia and the vindica-
ton of the Berlin Treaty, declaring
that Turkey must fight Bulgaria or
fight them. The selfishness of this pO-
sitiOn was supreme, for the cause of
ROumelia being that of greater release
of a Christian community from the
Turkish yoke, and union on the fOOting
of nationality, was the cause in which
they had once struggled, and for which
they had implOred aid. Its seltishness
became more evident when both Servia
and Greece expressed a willingness to
compensation were made to them. Tur-
key, however, in this instance, wanted
just what they prOfessed to want-the
sundering of the Bulgarian union; hence
why should they come to her for in
demnity, and why fight her?
The illogical position of Servia and
Greece did not check their preparations.
Both countries rose in arms and swept
thnir InnnarchS hafnra tbatn tn n yUaP
policy. King George of Greece found
his subjects clamOring for a slice of
Macedonia. King Milan of Servia found
that he must fight or risk dethrone-
ment, and needed no such spur to fight.
He was hailed as "ruler of Macedonia"
while cries arose from his troops to be
led into "Old Servia," of which Pris-
rend was the ancient capitol. But Aus
tria has been the patron of King Milan
and Prisrend is on her coveted path to
SalOnica, to be taken whenever Russia
goes to COnstantinOple. The Servian
battalliOns therefore turn to the east
ward to indemnify themselves out of
Bulgaria; for it happens that this cOun
try possesses in the city and suburbs of
Widden a corner which Servia cOnsid-
ers rightfully hers as part of Old Ser
via, though the Congress of Berlin
withheld it. Prince Alexander, an eX-
perienced soldier summoned every
available man to oppose this menace
of King Milan.
With Turkey, Greece, Servia, and
Bulgaria on the brink of hOstilities, the
issues of peace and war, as these words
are penned, hang equipOised in the
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