The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-18
THE NEW BULGARIA.
Stambulofr Made a Powerful Nation
Out of Miserable Serfs.


A strange experiment In self-govern-
menf was made when. seventeen years
ago. tho European powers created the
prircipaiity OF Bulgaria. The conditions
ed to render its success impossible.
Two millions of peasants, suddenly freed
from a nve-century-fong servftude were
started in national life with ready-Inade
constitution of which manhood suffrage
and parliamentary government were the
Trspciral features. They were ignorant
and without leaders. There was not
among them even family with claim
10 rule. They had no army. though sur
rounded by hostile or jealous nesghbors,
and they chose for q ruler a young man
OF o. as inexperienced as themselves. 1t
is true that the Bulgartans had a strong
national spirit which the Turks had never
been able 10 destroy. They were stanchly
loyal to their church. and ardently at
tached to the land which they cultivated.
Moreover. a singular desire for education
had been aroused in them. mainly by the
efforts Of American missionaries. The
most fnsidious and determined enemy OF
their Independence proved 10 be the power
which had liberated them from their
bondage. The state has been ruled from
the beginning BY knot of self-taught Of
ncials. the most distinguished of whom
was the son OF a peasant. The people at
large have been generally indifferent 20
and have rarely awaited themselves of
their constitutional rights. while plots, as
sassinattons, intrgues and corrupt cleo
tions have characterized their political
history.
Under such circumstances 1t would have
been remarkable had the Rulgarlans
merely maintained their Independence and
kept intact their constitutional liberties
They have done this and far more. Since
1Sse their territory has been increased one
third by the rich province OF East Rou-
me.ia, whose inhabitants preferred union
with Bulgaria TO the semi lnSlepe ndence
granted py the treaty OF Berl4n. Their
finances have been 50 slSllfUlly managed
thaI, at the end OF the first eleven years
OF their national life, their receipts had
eNeteGe1 their expenditures by ~ ~. ~.
In addition TO meeting iaesr ordinary ex-
pSnseS. tAey nave equApped their army.
paid Tor the war with ServLa, built rail-
ways. established national hank and
reaLeed their aoot 50 tha5 y now amounts
10 only a year ana a Aali ; revenue. Prom
one point OF view. indeed. 4}taga ria IS to-
day ~ an Ideal poslGoa. F1Ne-seVenths
~ her people are small farmers Who own
tee ground MF-ca they t1A!, and OF the re-
malnGer srea& proportion are lana u
pFVfAitttofS. Every man, therefore. mas "A
STRONG personal interest IN the welfare
and StAh!lty % The state. Then there
are 10 DC found IN i net ,hSg the vt.I..
raca nor the very poor. recen. traveiar
and competent observer. r. lerev saws
that n ne S,sss.en iuha hlIants thera ara
nor SO VINO have S3,Uo. ON the Other
hand. there - hardy a bulgarian vsao
depends absolutely aAd ent-re.y Tor bis
who has MOI some synaa incosne OF as
own. derived from land. or houses or caI-
ile. Seggars. Il - hardly necessary 70
adj. are practically unknown
This Is s>onfeSScdty the Srigat SIDE o.
he picture. TEie psasglnt stu Ewes In a
ryste AoVel hardly s. for rs cattle. aid
- content Wtth ttef Of bread gaY. t,- I'D
water. lie Is bUr1eued with tebg fo- MS
lauA and With the weight OF fsst Faxa-
ton, which falls almost wholly on the
hand Fhs Capitliations s.th bang IN
force. To the thrift o. the small farmer
hs fcins hts jealousy o. foreign canifSl.
ISIS Too poor himself 90 build the l1esre =
strY roads. 20 exploit the mlueS and 10
improve the har5orS. he permits the
Ereat natural resources OF his country %
rsauaia ursievesOrea because 81 rs m
willingness 10 oorrow money Tor fSeea
purposes This condition OF Ignorance
however, 60 - - be hoped. vii pssS away
With this generation. FOR the eNfraoreft-
be termed \ psSS1or3--Teh tsh marked the
last years % their bondage. ssssl nragssils
Tasesa peasants n hose average cost ~
living - cents day. VITO grEs3ge ever
pesEly speuf OF Internal talproy e-rlsT,s
ara positively fnuns8cent fn tae s8psl.-r.
% fhetr schools. But thts E-aur tfs,ersa "a
not confined % nc cNEf~pn ~ fhes- own
citizens With a keen FAIRS iEh tsxis,ssss a.
Vel as a fratSgu2l generosity. fer N-h5eb
lt ranrot ~ praised too hlzAf- tAa
soarauyo Ia lssa appropriated $50 ls.4 ss,-
SIRE Support % Bulgarian ss-No-ols IN e,Ya
tertst1c. TOO. % this eHEzhte1esf srsrit
- nach - ths hope ~ Bulgaria sosfav -
enc tact faat wires Eastern ROu-nntta ss4x
up i}s snsteper sient exsS,enee taa -7surls-s-
F@Aly - lAhlitpporolts. TIE capital
SaAnFss5 fHe parliament house into a pub
ite lhracy- To-Day ne}- her tfres.-e Besl-
usa1ia lo- SerKlG has the rrornss - ~ 49,
PEASANT state