The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-19
DANGER Of AN UPRISING
The Sultan Is Hurrying Troops
Into Macedonia.
TURKS ARE DISCON TENTED
Promised Reforms Have Never Mate
alzsd-Powers of Europe Will
Not Raise Finger to
Help Them.

Help Them
London, Feb. 1S.-Disquieting news
continues to come from Macedonia. A
week or so back it was thought the
danger of an uprising in the spring was
over, but within the last day or two re-
newed demonstrations Of discomfort
have been witnessed and Abdul Hamid
is hurrying the Turkish troops to the
northern part of the disaffected prov
ince to stamp out any signs of rebel
lion. The governor Of the province has
demanded the surrender of all arms by
the inhabitants and public meetings are
not allowed to assemble.
The sultan will be able to put down
any armed uprising, but by resorting to
guerrilla warfare the Macedonians can
harry the padisha's soldiers a great
deal. Much help is looked for by the
Macedonians from Bulgaria. but it is
more than likely that Russia will COM
pei Prince Ferdinand to keep quiet.
That the disconnected subjects of the
sultan intend to do something desperate
is apparent from the language of an
appeal to the powers which has just
been issued in their name. 1t begins
with a powerful appeal to Christian
Europe. recounting the wretchedness of
Christian population which for five
centuries has never ceased to struggle
against the ottoman yoke, but still re-
mains at the oppressors mercy when
the kindred Christian states of Greece,
Roumana, Servia and Bulgaria have
been delivered. chiefly by the assistance
of European influence or force. The
ap mi SneaLC hpna1f nf a Chris
tan population of 100000 souls, of
various races-Greek, Wallachian, or
thodoX. Albanian, Serb and Bulgarian
but united by a common religion and
centuries of suffering in common at the
hands of the worst government in Eu-
rope. 's
Promised reforms in Turkey are one
of the laughing stocks of history, and
the Macedonians point out that in the
case oe Crete reforms have only been
genuine since European troops insisted
on autonomy under representative gov
eminent. But the Christians of the
near east have been taught by bitter
experience that although Europe may
protest a. heartfelt sympathy with their
oppression. not a single power will ever
move, a little finger to help them until
the old tale of massacre and outrage is
renewed, and the pity of the common
pSoDle III lilS Hdtlpll VI Tic otHtl lS 81
worked upon that their governors are
compelled to act at last for fear of a
general upheaval.
The Christians in Turkey know per-
fectly well that as long as the ordinary
Turkish misrule and persecution con-
tinue, and there is nothing more strik-
ing or. terrible to attract attention,
nothing will be done for them. AS
they put it themselves in the manifesto
Il ~ f~,, H.
stead of seeing their brothers murdered
one by one day after day, to give their
ancient tyrants pretext for a general
massacre, so that the outpouring of
Christian blood may move Christian
Europe to pity. The condition of the
Christian population in Macedonia has
long been uncomfortable. Their patience
is exhausted; they are encouraged by
the liberation of Crete; after all, they
only demand what was granted to them
by clause AZ of the treaty of Berlin, and
if Europe will not insure it for them
they now openly declare that they will
take the matter into their own hands.
This is their final appeal to the Chris
tan powers to deliver a Christian pop
ulation from the Turk without the ac-
customed preliminary of wholesale
massacre.
In an appendix a scheme of the pro-
posed reforms or new constitution is
roughly drawn up, under several heads.
A central province of Macedonia is to
be marked out. including the vilayets
of Salonica, Monastir and Uskub, with
the capital of Salonica. The Christian
province will be marked off by natural
boundaries, especially from the savage
Albanian tribes of Mohammedans, who
are assembling their notables to coun-
teract the Macedonian movement. The
Macedonians demand that a governor
general of upright and tolerant mind,
but belonging to the predominant ma
tionality-that is, ulgarian-should be
appointed by the sultan for five years
to administer, with the aid of a general
representative assembly. The right of
minorities. personal liberty, inviolabili-
ty of the home and freedom of the press
should be guaranteed. and all the prin-
cipal languages be used officially in
their various localities on the same level
as Turkish. A militia, under the COVER
| nor general, should be recruited from
the various nationalites in proportion
| for the maintenance of order. The
budget and taxes should be fixed by the
general assembly, with the proviso that
| one-quarter of the revenue be paid into
the sultan's treasury. Further, the
| Christians should organize their own
| schools, a special commission should be
appointed Tor minor details, ana gem
| eral amnesty granted.
| Aided by the Bulgarians the move
| ment of revolt has been making rapid
progress of late. A man who is just
| back. from a tour of the province thus
describes the situat ton:
"A trader we'll known at Uskub as
sured me IN the course of conversation
that the movement of rebellion had
made startling progress within the last
few years, large sums of money having
come in to prepare the way for action
The people were thoroughly in sympa-
thy with their kinsmen of Bulgaria
| and they looked to that state for armed
assistance in the coming struggle. Bull
garia was only waiting for an oppor.
tunity to intervene. The crisis in theil
! fate was approaching, and all looked
| forward with apprehension to the
spring. My informant added that the
| Bulgarian people and army We're ready
and eager for War-I noticed myself the