New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07

A SINGLE SPARK IN MACEDONIA MIGHT
SET A CONTINENT AFIRE.
A MIXTURE OF RACES. CREEDs AND INTERESTS
THE RUsso-RCLGARIAN INTRIGCES
SPECIFICATIONS on POSSIBLE WARS.

MIXTURE OF RACES, CREEDs AND INTERESTS
THE RUsso-RCIGARIAN INTRIGUEs
sPEcuLArIoNs on POSSIBLE WARS.
"A land where fragments of forgotten
peoples dwelt" might well have been written O.
Macedonia There is not in all Europe another
such land so mixed up in races. creeds and inter-
ests Plutarch once called IL land where a
spade is called spade. II is scarcely entitled 70
that distinction now. for in II everything has
dozen names. And when you come TO multiply
the number Of races. creeds political factions ana
what not by the number of names each has, tie
result s something appalling.
To begin with, then Macedonia is rot even what
Italy was contemptuousv declared to be before
her union-a geographical expression II IL not
geographical nor yet ethnographical concep-
ton. as Bulgaria. Servia. Montenegro are. us
frontiers which always political nave
changed over and again, with the varying
vicissitude. of and diplomacy: and as for It's
people you will find them consisting Of remnants
OF at best dozen different tribes and tongues
but not a single Macedonian among them all.
There are Slavs Turks Hellenes. Jews. gypsies.
etc Catholics Protestants, orthodox Greeks
Mosems and veritable agnostics, who In sober
truth know nothing about religion. and care. II
possible less; to say nothing OF the numerous
bands OF apostates who are sure or reaching
heaven by the most extraordinary roads and OF
entering It through the broades' gates But the
genuine old Macedorans the warlike men upon
whom PHILIP and Alexander the Great relied as
the pillars OF their empire: are as irretrievably
lost the Ten Tribes
CONFUSION OF TONGUES.
To illustrate the confusion OF tongues that pre-
walls In Macedonia II is told that at the Congress
OF Berlin a satellite Of one Of the diplomatic stars.
who objected to the resuscitation OF the kingdom
OF Great Bulgaria. explained why he fel, opposed
to Russia's proposal TO hand Macedonia over TO
Bulgaria "If the population. or even the Chris
tan element in II. Bulgarians. II would be
all very well. But they are not; and the others
will kick against any such arbitrary arrangement
What for instance will the Kutzovlachs say? And
the Zinzars? Then you can hardly expect the
sbkinetars or the AIbanians or those ruffian-
IL Arnou,s who after all are old inhabitants OF
the country to bow their heads and submit without
A blow 10 the hegemony of their enemies me
Ruearians" II would have been difficult 10 an
swer this rising young diplomatst without wound
ING his susceptible feelings: for II would have
been necessary 70 tell him that the Zinzars are
Identical with the Kutzovachs. and that the Al
ban,ans Shkpetars and rufianly Arnauts are one
and the same people. Yet such is the case
Tho country Itself is wild and bleak. with
enhancing landscapes. and sparsely strewn with
Gases OF fertile soil It abounds In rocks. caves
lakes fens boys dens and shades o. death. shut
in BY heaven kissing hills Nature has done some
thInr-no. very much-for the land and man has
s,renuousy striven to undo even that There are
extensive plains here and there. which are among
the most fertile In Europe. but they lie neglected
and fallow The poughshare. TO be worked with
ANYTHING like success must be turned into a sword
or. at least covered by friendly rifle. and even
then the husbandman must take his life In his
hands and say his last words before salying forth
In the morning to earn his bread Yet eve" ~hen
entirely reclaimed to civilization Macedonia Will
never take rank as a corn-producing country. But
under good mana cement considerable profit might
no made by working It's minerals and dragging into
the light OF day the unsunned treasures that have
lain there unprohtably since the creation OF the
world The hot sulphur springs OF Novoselo, near
Shtep would be among the most celebrated in
Europe under any but the Turkish Government
Ancient Macedonia possessed several important