The Washington times., 1901-11-03
LIVE EUROPEAN TOPICS.
The Stone kidnapping and the Ma
cedonian Committee.


fortunate missionary, Miss Stone, has dj-
rccted the attention to the existing aggra-
walton of the chronic disorder that rgigns
IN the Balkan Peninsula. Nothing has
hscn heard for some time of the lady,
who is Of American nationality. nor, ap-
parently, can any trace be found of her
c3ptors. Our Constantinople correspon-
dent telegraphed fortnight ago that lhe
American Legation was convinced that
the affair was not one of ordinary brig
andaSe, but a scheme hatched by the
Macedonian Committee in Bulgaria with
the object of obtaining funds for revolu-
tinnary agitation.
No less a sum than e25 900 is asked for
Miss stones ransom, and that is a sum
which may well make the mouths Of Bull
garian patriots water. But the view
entertained by the American Legation did
nOt prevail, for we find that the troops
which were supposed to have surrounded
the retreat Of the brigands were hastily
called back at the last moment upon the
theory that their advance would be the
signal for Miss Stones murder. So far
as can be seen. the troops might have
carried out their intended movement
without any danger either to Miss Stone
or themselves, for the simple reason that
the brigands were not there. After plac-
ing her in safe custody in some sequcs-
tered spot the band appears to have
promptly dissolved.
The American Consul General has now
changed his tactics. He has announced
that no ransom will be paid to any one,
and has energetically demanded from the
Bulgarian Government the arrest Of the
chief instigators OF the plot. II is exceed
iEgly doubtful whether the Bulgarian
nj
convenience upon committee from which
it is accustomed to expect political ser
vices. a telegram from Sofia of the 10Th
informed US that the police have been
looking for the notorious NJ Sarafof, the
former president of the Macedonian COM
mitiee who is suspected of having organ
lied the capture of Miss Stone. His ar-
rest, however, has not been effected, "as
many of the police and other authorities
sympathize with NJ Sarafof."
That his aims political is shown, as
suming the suspicion just mentioned 10
be well founded. by the gentlenanly man.
ner in which his agents abstained from
appropriating Miss Stones baggage. a
common brigand would, of course have
plundered her, but politicians content
themselves with obtaining control Of her
person in order to put pressure upon the
American Government for the benefit Of
their beloved country. To those who Pc
danucally apply narrow ethical rules to
political conduct there may seem to be
a tinge of immortality in the proceedings
Of these patriots, notwithstanding their
superiority to the temptation offered by
Miss Stones baggage
Yet in this country, which, in spite Of
Lord Rosebery's hypercriticism. knows
itself to lead the van OF civilization, to
profess political aims is a sure way TO
secure sympathy among police and other
authorities for proceedings which private
aims would not be held to justify. We be-
lieve that a corresponding breadth Of
view is far from uncommon in the United
States. NJ. Sarafof and his friends in the
Bulgarian administration must, therefore,
be regarded with the respect due to lofty
motives. We expect from them nothing
less than the most courteous and consid-
crate treatment of the lady whom rea-
sons Of state compel them to withdraw
for a time from her missionary work
Prince Ferdinand and the Bulgarian
Government are impressed with the be-
lief that there are no men more fit than
themselves to govern Macedonia, which
at present is a province Of the Turkish
Empire They are. therefore, very un-
likely TO interfere with a committee which
ernable by the Turks. On the other hand.
Turkish notions of government have un-
dergone no change since they first over
ran southeastern Europe The native
honesty which abounds among the Mus
sulman common people has very little
chance to assert itself in the ranks of a
soldiery which the Sultan regularly for
gets to pay
The Turkish troops and police in Mace
donia get no wages. Vet they share the
common human weakness of supposing
that men must live somehow. They have
thus contracted the bad habit of plunder-
ng villages and carrying of the food
they have no money to buy. Ii is vain
TO look to COnstantinople for any serious
attempt TO maintain order in the prov
ince which the Concert of Europe. in the
Treaty Of Berlin. marked out for reforI:.
What with the Bulgarian mischief-mak-
ing, ratfve turbulence, and Turkish NAL
administration. it is not wonderful that
Macedonia is a seething caldron. Farther
west We have the gentle Albanians car
rying on systematic plunder in Macedo-
MIA. Their ways are described in letter
we publish today from our correspondent
in the Balkan States
The Central Government has no other
control than such may be derived from
playing of one faction against another
II cannot collect taxes nor can it obtain
recruits for the Ottoman army. But the
Sultan has an Albanian bodyguard
around his sacred person, for these cut
throats can be depended on to De faithful
to their salt. Yet tiHid master Will not
try them too far; SO. lest there should be
discomfort in the bOdyguard. the Albanian
at home IS allowed 70 follow his own
sweet viii.
Throughout these distracted regions one
looks in vain for any power or influence
that makes for order and progress. Be
sides Macedonian discomfort. Bulgarian
intrigue, Albanian violence, and Turkish
incapacity. we have the restless ambition
Of Greeks and Serbs and Montenegrins
Yet they might all go on indefinitely with
their perpetual turbulence were II not that
from time TO time one or another becomes
a pawn in the game of one Of the Great
Powers. So though unrest IS more ac-
centuated than usual, and though these
natiOnalities have now got just
education enough TO enable them TO in
trigue and plot without foreign instiga-
ton II does not follow that anything Will
happen OF serious interest TO the outer
world unless one OF the neighboring Pow
ers directly OF indirectly takes a hand
In the game. II IS not clear that any
Power has any interest at this moment
I'm stirring up further mischief, though
there have recently been symptoms of a
tendency In Russia to pay more attention
to the Near East. There is some aDpre-
henslon that Germany may push CONNER
cial advantages too far, unless Russia
makes some move to reassert her infiu- !
euCe ana authority. But II is very diff !
cult to judge how much these tendencies
and speculations amount to. Russia s in
tsrnal condition f. bad, her hands are
pretty full. and the French are beginning
10 doubt whether they have not lent about !
rather hard to appraise. Yet neither in |
ternal distress nor financial tightness can !
altogether check military adventure in I
such country as Russia. Whether as a (
demonstration or as a preliminary, she |
has recently made a considerable naval /
display on the Lower Danube. the signi- /
hcance OF which will have to be judged !
10y later eYents.-LOTdon Times.