The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-15

Alexander the Great, who went thence
and conquered the world. II became
Christian shortly after the time when Paul
wrote two of his stirring epistles 10 the
citizens of Thessalonia, or Salonica, then
as now the chief seaport and one to Phil
ippi. where the triumvirs won their great
victory over Brutus and Cassius. Under
mere fortunate circumstances and under
less brutal and cruej masters than the
Turks it would be one of the garden spots
of the world, although the soil has been
cultivated for $500 years.
Christians delivered the Macedonians in
to the hands of their Turkish masters Aft
er the Russo Turkish war of 1877 the Rus
SLAMS, by the treaty of San Stefano, made
Macedonia part of Great Bulgaria I'M
der Christian rule The Austrians and
British interfered, however, and prevented
the making of Macedonia a part of an
autonomous principality subject to the sui
ton for which Russia had contended. By
the treaty of Berlin the powers, fearful
lest Russia's influence would be paramount,
and wishing to settle the Oriental question,
delivered the Macedonians to the Turks.
Statesmen are not humanitarians.
Bulgaria achieved its independence by
the same treaties, and was allowed to re-
main free. 1t was the Bulgarians whose
struggle for freedom, both political and re-
ligious, provoked the war. The Bulgar-
ians once content, did not complain of
their severe lot under the oppressive rule
of the Turks. They were cowed to submit
to the extortions of their masters as their
fathers had before them. They had grown
accustomed to it, and had forgotten that
they had a proud history. The Greek mis-
scenarios recalled them to their old reli-
gion, and the Turkish government was
asked to establish a Bulgarian church.
This was granted by the porte in 1870, but
it was stipulated that the eXarch should
reside at Constantinople. Meanwhile.
there was an awakening Of a desire for
political freedom as well as for religious,
fOstered by the Christian religion.
Then came the awful masscres of 1876, at
the time of the Instruction in Bosula and
herzegovina. The panic-stricken grand
vlzier convinced that the country was ris-
ing, let loose the 100000 wild Tartars and
Circassians, who had been imported pre-
viously on the suggestion of Sir Henry
Bulwer the British ambassador, to keep
the people in check. The Bashi?Bazouks
p.undered and slaughtered without re-
straint, and for three months there was a
carnival Of death in the vain attempt to
exterminate people. Over 10000 persons
were butchered, and the result was the
Russo-Turkish war. during which the Ball
garians fought like heroes, and the Greek
church, under the Russian leadership, adj
ministered whipping to the Moslems.
BY the treaty of San Stefano Bulgaria
was made powerful state, stretching from
the Danube to the Aegean. But the treaty
of Berlin reduced it's size, gave eastern
ROumelia and Macedonia back to the sui
tan, and provided that Bulgaria should be
a vassal state Of the sultan's, with ruler
nominated by the powers subject to the
approval of the porte.
The Bugarians adopted a constitution
providing for a legislature to be chosen by
universal suffrage, barring only illiterates
Bulgaria then took its place among the
ainty OF the sultan was merely nominal
smaller states of Europe; for the suzer-
and the Christians have been free to prac-
tice their religion without fear of perse-
cution by the Turk.
Eastern Roumelia revolted in September
1S5, unable to submit to the outrages of
the Mohammedans, to whom the Christians
had been handed by the powers. and its
union with Bulgaria was proclaimed, max
ing the new state the create sof the Bal
kan powers and larger in popu-ation and
territory than Greece. 1t is now possible
that Macedonia vii revolt if the Bull
garians can stir the Pickering fires Of pa
triotism. Macedonia would have revolted
during the war between Turkey and Greece
in 1897. and did in fact make the attempt,
but the Bulgarians were restrained by the
express command of the powers from rem
deriug them aid, and the badly drilled rev.
olutionists were quickly suppressed.
Bulgaria, Greece and Servia. all border
ing on Macedonia, have endeavored to win
the province as a part of their state 1t
would add much to the importance of
either one Of them, and in this respect the
! action OF Bulgaria in the matter is sell
fish just as was that of Russia in the war
with Turkey during which Bulgaria OBJ
tanned autonomy. The recent history Of
Bulgaria has been struggle of the peo-
pie TO obtain Macedonia and aid the
Christians in their desire 10 achieve indie
| pendenCe and annexation to Bulgaria
/ Most of the Christians in Macedonia are
BulSarians, and racial as we'll as relig-
ious ties unite them. But their ruler
/ Prince FerdiDaud Of Saxe-COburg-GOtha
/ has been tool Of the Sultan and is un-
der the influence OF the powers. HIS po-
/ sition has enabled him to check the Bull
/ garians. and his influence upon the cabi-
/ net was sufficient 10 make it propose the
unpopular measure which led 10 its resig-
nation on January . of this year
/ Before the Greek war Ferdinand went
! to Constautinople and had a talk with the
/ Sultan. and demanded the creation of five
/ Bulgarian bishoprics for the benefit OF the
/ Christians in Macedonia. Ferdinand went
/ home and told his subjects that the Sui
/ tan had promised 20 grant them But
! the WHY Sultan did not. Then came the
I war and rUmors OF Bulgarian eruptlons in
/ Macedonia. but Ferd. nand. with the Rus
sian influence this time in Turkeys IA
vor. was able 10 prevent his people from
! interfering. Before the close OF the war
: Ferdinand went again 10 C0nstautinopie
and was received with affection by the
: Sultan. VINO promised him that Just as
! soon as the war was over the bishOprics
would De allowed.
Ferdinand went home, and On his re-
I turn had great trouble II keeping the
/ Bulgarian people from sending him back
. % demand the immediate fulhnment OF
/ The Suitan's promises under penalty OF an
+ immediate Macedonian uprising Ferdi-
I uand succeeded IN keeping ms people quiet
ana By the close Of the Greek var they
4 lost the best opportunity they have eye-
: had % obtaining Macedonia When ehs
war ended the Sultan was free. from the
I Bulgarian point Of view. to carry out his
| PROMISES. and Ferdinand made another
( TIN 70 CuzEst antETlople. when the Sultan
I sad he would appoint the bishops - soon
as tvys-tsiris OF the people Of Macedonia
I should ask =.
At this the BuIgartaaS were eurzged