New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05
BULGARIA AGAINST RUSSIA.
THE LATEST FIGHT FOR LIFE-SNOW All
s,rAMROIu,-IIIE RAILROAD SCHEME.

Annthcr effort of the free and lndependfnt Bull
rarions who live on the borders OF their country to
overthrow the usurpcrs who persistently keep the
nonulace from showing love to Russia has failed
This latest manifestation OF the law-abldlng part
of the Bulgarian Nation took its rise in this city,
Tn the most unsavory part of the district of Ga
lata. where travellers arriving at Constantinope
have their first indcbe impression Of the filth Of
the city, is a Russian monastery dcdica ted TO St.
Andrew This place. being set apart 30 the use Of
Russian pilgrims bound to the Holy Land, is, as
all who have seen Russian pilgrims in Jerusalem
can imagine, most foul and unsavory place.
Perhaps it was for this reason that the police did
not know what was going on within its walls AT
all events the Bulgarian patriots there assembled
made their preparations for the voyage to Bourgas
on the Black Sea, and all being ready, from that
monastery they took their departure last Monday.
They had approached the commanders OF several
small steamers the subject Of transportation 10
their destination but had found none willing to
engage in SO dubious an enterprise. AT lenGth Wy
means Of cOncealing their patriotism, they induced
the owner of n small tug to undertake the Job.
BEFORE they had reached the Black Sea entrance
10 the Bosphorus however, the captain OF the
steamer discovered that his passengers were all
armed He then quietly ran into Buyukdere BAY
and refused to go any further. The patriots were
in despair but at length found another tug,
whose captain consented, for the Of 5000, to
take them to their destination. Arrived in the
vicinity Of the Gulf of Bourgas they disembar<ed
at place called Vasiliko which is on Turkish
territory.
It is curious illustration Of the ease with which
n man who has ell objects IN view may enjoy
freedom from INTERCHANGEABLE landing of these
men under the nose of the Turks without the least
hindrance. The time had come for the band to do
its work A Russo Bulgarian officer on hand
TO take command, and the expedition moved rap
idly across the frontier They were on Bulgarian
soil, and the hour had come for delivering the
Bulgarian people fran the phantasy Of freedom
which has so long held them aloof from the en-
braces of the Gar They met however, with the
same obstacle that many similar enterprises have
encountered. The obstacle was a force of Bull
garians, which barred their road short, sharp
and decisive fight ensued. The ilibustcrs were
dispersed their leaders killed. with several Of their
followers: half dozen were captured, and the
rest of the band took refuge the soil of the Sui
tan The wanton cruelty with which the Bulgarian
troops fired upon these patriots who wanted
nothing save to be let alone, is now the theme of
fresh editorials on tho innate turpitude oil the Bull
garan character
This affair is only one OF several which Illus
trate the determination with which Russia is still
pursuing its purpose to overthrow the Bulgarian
termination is only equalled by that of the Bull
Yarians themselves to defend their liberty at any
cost. 4 year go it seemed that the little princl-
patty must succumb TO the pressure and become a
little Poland The events of the year. while Ill no
wise diminishing the confidence with which the
Russian press declares that Bulgaria is now groan-
ing under the tyranny Of adventures, have at
least reduced the confidence of the European
Powers in the veracity of these statements. There
yet remains a chance for the freedom of Bulgaria
Last week snowstorm threw the capital into
sorrow AZ least an inch and half Of snow fell,
end the temperature went down fun five degrees
below the freezing point. This was sufficient to
stop the working of the horse railroads during
three days and it also nearly arrested all carriage
traffic the streets. AS to the railroads leading
out of the city, they had to interrupt their opera
lions as a matter Of course The fact is that in
This climate, which was intended to be an cquable
one the least extreme of cold reduces the people
TO utter liberalization 1t is ten days since
we have had a mail from Europe. Happily it is
now understood that the obstacles to traffic have
been overcome and we are tomorrow to have our
mails again. The winter storms are OF unusual Sc
verify on the Black Sea this year. Many coasting
craft have been cast away and an English grain
steamer from the Russian coast fOundercd in q
gale in the Black Sea. Six of her went down
in the ship, and of the twelve who escaped in the
boat six more died from exposure before they were
picked up by a passing vcsstL
The negotiations for the Asiatic railways have
come to a definite end. The syndicate which was
TO undertake the operation hos spent good deal
Of money IN the attcmrt ard has gone away wiser
than It came. Since the applicant for permission
to undertake any public work III this country has
to fee The men who can help him to get a hearing,
81 i1,,lf.
Amer they have extracted all that can reasonably
be expected from the applicant these men are very
apt to feel that the good of the country requires
the announcement of competition. Hence they
are commonly led to look for new and unpluckcd
syndica.cs. 1t is understood that this is what has
made the last railway scheme to fail so disastrous
ly. The point made in the official circles is that
competing company would probably give better
terms
Measures for the eXtirpatiOn Of brigandage are
beng ,lshcd in many parts of the land. II Is the
first time in many years that the GG"crnmeut has
shown anything like determination TO be nd OF
the scouree The Sultan has caused regular re-
wards and promotions to be given to all the sol
diers and officers who successful in killing or
capturing the outlaws. and the effect is good.
1t is commonly supposed that Islamism is dead
or dying as a growing force. The Turkish papers
record every day the conversion TO Islam of both
Christians and Jews. The converts are mainly
women although in some cases they men,
especially among those who dissatisfied with
the Christian strictness to the marriage relation.
In some cases if not in all the Government gives a
money premium TO those who become Mohamme-
dams. federation forms part of the statutes OF
the Empire. 1t is understood in very curious
way by the officials however. If a Christian be-
comes Mos!em he is rewarded with material gain
II MOslcm becomes a Christian, the whole power
Of the Government is exercised TO crush him. The
death penalty still stands on the books, and i'm
prisonment at least is the certain fate Of such
converts.