New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-12
RENEFJCENT "BOYCOTT.n

The recent abortive attempt to murder NJ.
Stambouloff, the Bulgarian Prime Minister, IN
which. however his companion, NJ Baltcheff,
was killed, probably indicates an important
change in Russias policy toward the Balkan
Principally. For years that policy has been
one of persistent non-recognition and non-inter-
course varied now and then with intngucs
against the stability of the government and the
peace of the people. On one occasion it COM
passed the kidnapping of the sovereign, and at
other times it has threatened violence, though
without actually inficting it. The general aim
has been to bring the nation to terms by " boy
cottng" it, or else by agents of treason and cor
ruption to induce state Of anarchy, and thus
create cause for Intervention and conquest. This
policy has been Intellectual, and resort is now
had to deliberate assassination.
How little Bulgaria has suffered from the
"boycott," or rather how she has prOspered
under it, is clearly to be seen in recent reports
on the condition OF that country. Prince Fer
dnand has been its Chief of State for less than
four years, during all of which time the nation
has had to endure the frowns of Russia. Yet
in that time Bulgaria has made such progress
in material interests as scarcely any other coun-
try can show, at least among those of the Old
World. Thus in 1887 its exports amounted in
value only to $780, 900: in 1888 they were
increased to S12,700,000, in 1880 to $40,
10, 600, and in 1890 to proportionately high
er figure. At the same time the imports only
ranged from S1291O,OO0 in 1887 to STA
$40, 900 in 1899 and scarcely more in 1890.
A healthier condition for the balance Of trade'
could scarcely be desired The budget Of the
treasury for the present year shows surplus,
and the public debt is rapidly diminishing
Railroads are being built and harbOrs construct
ed The system of popular education is being
steadily extended. And, despite the Russian
propaganda, crimes and disorders are growing
fewer. So good is the public credit that notes
of the national bank circulate at par with specie,
and prosperity is the general lot of the people.
Strictly and technically speaking, Prince
Ferdinand may not be the legitimate constitu-
tional sovereign. But his title rests upon some
thing which even European statesmen-outside
of Russia-are beginning to recognize as su-
perior to traditions OF divine right and even
10 treaties Of the Great Powers and that is, the
popular will There can be no doubt that the
overwhelming majority of the Bulgars want him
for their Prince and King. In few States is the
principle of self-government more conspicuous
than in Bulgaria. The civil machinery is purely
democratic. There is no House of Peers, no
hereditary legislator There is single Legis-
Iative Chamber, thoroughly representative in
character elected by universal suffrage. The
Ministers, and even the Prince himself, are sub
ject to its will. II is this body that keeps NJ.
Stambouloff IN Office and Prince Ferdinand upon
his throne.
Russia, then, has been "boycotting," not
Prince Ferdinand, but the Bulgarian people
intriguing. not against a Government. but
nation striving to assassinate not Minister,
but commonwealth. This the Bulgars know
full well and if that fixed and familiar feature
Of the Eastern ornament the "war cloud in
the Balkans" shall burst in actual Storm long
threatened but delayed, the Northern troubler
will surely find that he has practically united
and patriotic people to deal with. Bulgaria as
military Power is small and weak but by no
means insignificant. There are no drawer SOL
diers in Europe than her $4,000. That the
Servians know and so do the Russians who
saw their work in 1877. The world remembers
how the Rumanian army was sconed with con-
tempt by Russia not long before Pevna, and
how only the splendid valor Of those same Ru-
manians saved the Russian hosts from utter rout
and ruin. So these determined Bulgars are
likely to prove a potent factor in the solution
of the eastern problem" If ever it shall be
worked out upon the field of war. II, however.
peaceful means alone are used, the recent and
present prosperity Of free Bulgaria shows plain