The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-21
War or Peace.
Marion, Kan.

Mosler1' the antecedents of the Eastern
Question which arose in the tenth century
when Oleg and his companions foated
down the Dneiper and suspended their
shields on the walls of Constantinople, and
which took definite and obnoxious form in
1853 with the establishment OF the OsmanliS
Turk or the Bosphorus. / denounced IN
no measured terms the criminal war waged
against Russia in 1858 and the in:Quitous
treaty Of Berlin substituted for that of San
Stefano which latter if il had been allowed
to stand would have spared us the reopen
ing of this miserable Eastern question for
a long time, for all time probably. The
alleged government known as the Porte
would have gradually fallen into innocuous
desuetude, and the bankrupt institution
known as the Ottoman Empire would have
PASSED quietly into the hands of receiver
Russia or ner nominee.
In formulating Tin 1890 my conviction OF
the proximity of that inevitable day when
the Eastern question would burst upon US
again like a thunder clap and that before
another decade was over we might see the
treaty of Berlin, like that Of Paris" blot
ted out in the smoke and gore of battle
fields, 1 indicated the three points that
would probably furnish the sparks OF a
SAcdI SACtC d4iO
Macedonia. After two costly and bloody
campaigns, Russia decided independence TO
the whole of Bulgaria, and placed effica-
cious checks on Turkish misrule in Asia
and the Islands. But Lord Beaconsfeid
stepped in. and by the treaty OF Berlin
and Eastern Roumela to Turkey: While
with much grandeloquent self-gratulation,
the guarantees and checks provided by the
treaty of San Stefano were swept away.
Since 1879 there have been frequent cries
of distress from Armenia and the Greek
insular on whom the Turkish yoke weigh
ed the heavier that it was now borne by
them alone.
The Powers Carefully considered" the
situation from time TO tine. and, IN 1859,
they demanded from the Sultan that Crete
have a Christian governor and a mixed
council, according to the; treaty of Berlin.
The Porte responded by sending another
Moslem governor with a well-established
reputation for religious fanatic.sm; while
in Armenia outrage like those perpetrateG
by Noussa Bey were committed with i'm
punity. Even the worm will turn at las,
and though we cannot Justify the insuT-
rect:onary excuses committed by either
Crctans or Armenians. 1t were unjust to
deny that the extenuating circumstances
are many. and ne who would cast the first
stone must needs be more or less than
man Cretans and Armenians have found
vigorous denouncers and warm sympathiz
ers who are both right according to their
point of view. IT the enthusiasm with
which Greeks on all sides have taken up
arms on behalf OF their kinsmen there is
something breezy and refreshing that re-
calls the halcyon days of the Middle Ages,
when Europe having heard of the oppres-
sion of fellow Christians and pilgrims in
the Holy Land, million blades leapt from
their scabbard, and men, women and
children. without distinction of nationality,
poured into the enemy'S country as blinGiy
as sheep to the slaug inter-. Then. as indeed
in all seasons of fernent and revolution,
men actuated by the most diverse motives
may be found on the same side. More es-
pecially is this true in the complexities OF
modern conditions, when we must count,
not with the greed and self-seeking Of in
dividuals only, but with bankers, bond
holders, governments and conflicting poll
teal parties.
The situation today IL the direct OUTGOING
of the Crinean war and the Berlin con-
gress. The acts of nations as well as those
Of individuals, are Ike quivers that have
left the bow and can never De recalled
The past cannot be undone, though the
whole English press confound itself in Pee
cavis as II has been doing since a year.
In vain that they now repeat, please,
please take Constsntinople." (Con-
temporary Review, Feb. 1880 Fortnightiy
(Feb. lS9O-in vain that they now acknow-
ledge to safety that 'the present situation
Il the outcome OF hostility TO Russia"
Russia is wary and bides her time, the
time when she may dictate without let or
hindrance the status Of Southeastern Eu-
rope AS 10 Armenia and Crete, the days
Of compromise are over. There can only
be one OF two solutions-segregatio from
the Turk or determination by the Turk.
Can this be accomplished without the much
deprecated European war? It Is doubtful
unless, indeed, Russia can succeed IN gal
vanizing the Sick Man and postponing the
rash until, with Tartar millions IN high
trainipe, a network of railroads
for rapid modifying. navy second to none.
and her own immense resources in full de-
yelopment. she shall have become power
so stupendous that none viii care 10 say
her nay.
J. NAPIER BRODHEAD.
Aiken, S. c., April 9. 1897.