Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-12
TROUBLE IN THE BALKANS.

A Constantlnople dispatch says that
band of Bulgarians recently killed
and mutllated some Turkish peasants
not far from Adrianople, and then
sought refuge in Bulgaria, hoping that
they would be pursued and hat con-
fict on the border would be prec.pi-
tated
There seems TO be no possibility Of
peace Under the present Balkan ar
rangement. The Macedonlans are con-
stanty agltated. They have junta with
headquarters at the Bulgarian capital.
And a number Of Bulgarian bandits
are working for this iunta. The COM
mittee leyles tribute with an audacity
that is incompfehenslble 10 citizens Of
western countries and the tributes are
paid because the victims are almost
sure OF assassination II they refuse.
The murder Of some wealthy Rouman-
ians who refused TO comply with the
committees demands for money nearly
precipitated a war between Roumanla
and Bulgaria about a year ago.
The prevailing conditions are singu-
larly adapted for the kind Of agitation
the Macedonian committee Is carrying
on. There are a great number Of ban
dts who actually are proud Of their
occupation. They cry: Long live the
thleyes!" With as much enthusiasm as
western citizen ran put into an ex-
clamatlon Of patriotism And II their
attention Is called to the anomaly Of
this they will say; we ennoble our
trade by Blorylng in It. II we were
ashamed Of IT, II would be base" And
Il great many people In those countries
take the same view. They sympathlze
with the brigands. Their daring IL ad-
mired. They are, in popular estima-
ton heroes,
a famous bandit explained to an
American newspaper reporter. that he
regarded himself as kind Of prince
without definite throne or capital,
and the people that fell into the hands
OF his men were simply taxpayers. He
never took more. he said, than they
or their families could AFFORD He nev-
err moested poor people. except Tor
little passing hospitality, which he said
was gladly given. His band, he as
serted, was much esteemed in the dis
trict
This statement, according to the
reporter proved literally true. The
"Chorkoi' or small peasants do abso-
lutely respect and admire the "Kleph-
TOT" looking upon their life as entirely
dignhed and proving great courage
and a romantic spirit Of adventure
greatly TO the credit OF the possessors.
This 1t Is that makes any attempt to
capture these bandits so difficult.
Wherever they may be they are among
friends. When the Archon Of l.arlssa
was captured some six years ago by
the terrible band Of chief Pappakiritzo.
poulos and carried away with his score
tary to Mount Othfys. the whole peas.
ahtry OF the district became spies in
the interests Of the brigands. carrying
information by night Of the move.
mehis Of the small army sent to rescue
the officials.
There Is something radically wrong !
In country whore crime can be- car. |
ried on continually under the cloak Of |
heroism. and the government Is res.
ponsible. Either d is too corrupt TO |
care ION ifs suppression. or il Is too |
weak 20 tai the necessary steps. IN |
either case Il should be the duty OF |
the more enlightened and stronger |
neighbors 10 interfere and cleanse |
those countries Of the corruption that |
II left uhdisturbed Is apt to spread the |
coniaglon further
Macedonia has no hope Of deliver.
ance from Turkish rule by the aid Of
brisands These are not patriots
They are working for themselves. Tn.
der a rotten government they have an
the liberty they want They have 10.
erty TO kldnsp strangers Ct seems. and
extort q ransom. They have liberty 70
rob and Kill as long az they can hide
In the mountain Businesses. They have
no object TO labor for the liberation of
the country and the establishment Of
good laws firmly administered That
would cod ;heir occupation. some
country strong enough TO deal with the
Constanilnople government must take
o. hand ana effect new arrangement
% The Balkan situation Tho On one
iG unsatisfactory There must be- A
new settlement