The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-04-29

1
In the case Of Turkey history often re-
peats itself with startling fidelity.
Twenty years ago. almost to day. says
the st. Louis Globe. Democrat, a con
fiict began with Turkey which altered
the map Of Southeastern Europe In sew
eral places, and again that country has
entered on struggle which promises
to have mn important influence on its
destiny. In April, 1877, rs In April,
1897, tho assault on Turkey started.
though In each case the provocation
had existed from period long before
the actual opening Of hostilities. Her
zegovina, Bosnai and Bulgaria had risen
up in revolt against the Turk In 1875
and 1875, and had been put down with
savage barbarity, the Bulgarian atroci.
ties OF the latter year resembling the
Armenian massacres Of 1905 and 1900,
and the atrocities against the Cretans
In 1897. Then. as now, the great pow
ers, or some Of them, protested against
Turkish ferocity, but then, ~ now, tho
powers were jealous Of each other and
discordant and Turkey persisted In It's
savagery
Thus far the parallel between 1907 and
1877 is complete, but in 1877 Turkeys
enemy was far more powerful than its
present foe. Russia was the Mussnlman's
assailnnt twenty years ago, and Russia
was assisted by some Of the Balkan pe0.
pies then or until short time previ.
ously nnder tho Turkish yoke. The
menace to Turkey was vastly greater
twenty years ago than II is now, 80 far
as surface indications reveal, for all the
Balkan states declare they will remain
neutral this time But II Greece gains
a few victories at the outset their neu.
trality is likely to quickly end. Turkey
has some territory which each Of the
little Balkan nations want to round out
their frontiers, but which they are
afraid to strike for lest vengance shonld
be visited upon them when Greece il
beaten. But II Turkey meets with
few serious reverses, this dread will be
removed, and then Greece may get
few allies which will count In the con.
fict.
But in any event the war which has
now begun will attract earnest atten-
tion throughout the world. A rising
against the Turks in Macedonia and in
Epirus which Is still outside Of the
Greek domain il, Of course, morally
certain, and this will strengthen Greece's
hands. The odds, however, in popula.
tion, number Of soldiers and in general
military resources are heavily In favor
Of Turkey, Greece, though, has the sym.
pathy Of the people in all the Christian
nations, for even in Russia and Ger
many, the most reactionary Of Europe's
great states, the masses wish Greece to
win- Despite Bonaparte's dictum that
Proyidence Is on the side Of the heaviest
batallions the worlds history shows
that the battle Is not always to the
strong. There is a chance that some Of
the great nations may be drawn into
the conflict, in which case sll Of them
would be likely to participate. but this
chance seerhs to be remote. II is safe
TO predict that Turkey will not be al.
lowed by the nations Of Western Europe
to dismember Greece II the fortune Of
war turns against the latter. Public
opinion and the whole spirit and tenden
cies Of the age are hostile to Turkey, and
whatever may be the immediate out
come Of this struggle il will bring the
inevitable expulsion Of the Turk from
Europe neasnrably nearer to hand.