The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-26
wATcHFuL TURKEY.
Diplomacy and Arms along the pan-
ube.
A Country Impoverished by a Large
Standing Army.



To me, looking at the matter from my
standpoint at Bucharest in Roumania, where
l sojourned on my way home. and from
knowledge of the imbrogllo, gathered from a
hundred sources at Constantinople, It looks
as II Russia would make rupture, and with
force and arms control, since she has failed
to control by the popular election. Perhaps
she will rally all the Selav element which re-
mains faithful TO her,or. II Is said. grateful TO
Russia for rescuing Bulgaria from Turkey.
But / do not see how Russia can make unit
in her favor of the Balkan provinces. The
Turkish rule In Bulgaria has not been harsh
al least recently, / believe even In Mace
dOnla Epirus and Albania, where the Sclav
and Greek element dominate, the population
are more content and are better governed un-
der the mild Turkish rule than II they were
under an uncertain Government like that Of
Greece, or a despotic force like that OF Russia
Much Of the old prejudice against the Turk
has worn out. But II Is very easy, II Russia
desires it, 10 make a pretext for war. The
Spaniards have prOverb '.If you want II
kill dog, charge him with eating lron." So
the Russians are provoking much hostility
which they may be very anxious 10 ayenge,
may afford them the pretext. The way
matters stand, II an election were 10 take
place and Prince Alexander would re-
turn and accept the election, le would no
uOuDt bB tAcCbCu ny bHt NItHt OODIIUIt.
For although he made rather q lamentable
show In undertaking 10 eOnciliate the Car,
and seemed 10 be pluckiest In leaving Bull
gaira for the reason which he assigned.
nevertheless he has hold upon the hearts
Of the people, which has been more or less
strengthened by his gallantry In the recent
war with Servia.
But Russia Is massing troops upon the bOr-
der L saw Russian officers by the score at
bucharest, tramping around In their high
Tod boots and HuulInu "a 10 -.
cross the Danube and take charge Of the Bull
garian people, among whom are now added
tue East R0umelians. By a glance at the
map IL VIII DC seen that there was an object
In the great Powers leaving East ROumelia
with the Turk and granting Bulgaria proper
quasi self-g0yernment, for the Balkan srange
OF mountains. which are strong defence
and barrier, stand between Russian ad-
vance and the cities Of Turkey In Europe III
therefore, Russia should attack Bulgaria.she
would take Il along with East R0umelia
That brings her over the b0rder-over the
Balkans. With her immense army always
equipped and modified she could NOV
down where she was nine years ago, upon
the shores OF the BOsphOrus OF MarmOra and
take Constantlnople In the rearin disregard of
all tOrpedOes and ironclads and without any
naval armament whatever
Is this desirable result?
The answer depends upon the attitude
which Austria, Germany and England may
assume. England could do more with her
navy, Austria more with land forces But
Germany Is the power that might. II she
chose, determine the question. II there be
triple or holy alliance between Austria,
Germany and Russia, the matter Is ended
and the Turk must GO But this same atti-
tude has been held by Turkey for 10 these
many years, II not centuries. The skllful
diplomacy Of the Ottoman has PLAYED is
mastery inactivity by playing one power
against the other. This policy leaves her
in possession Of the most conspicuous and
capital point In the oriental world.
For many months, almost until recently,
since September, 1885, IGTkey has been
standing with her hand upon her sword,
with an army Of two hundred thousand we'll
equipped men, ready for any emergency.
Her Sclavonic enemy, whether on the bor-
ders OF Greece. In Macedonia, or on the
frontiers of Persia or Russia In Asia. or
upon the Balkan border, has lost no time In
preparation by land and sea. What it costs
poor country like Turkey 10 keep up such
an army and navy, and at the same time to
avail herself OF every new invention con-
nected with armaments and explosives upon
water and upon land, IL Is hard to compute.
But Turkey seems TO have weathered her
financial trouble Her soldiers are scarcely
ever paid, but they are true as ever 20 the
Moslem faith. They stand steadfast BY their
amiable, benevolent, sympathetic and wise
ruler