Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1902-02-27
POLITICAL ASPECT
Il CASE

Threatened War Between Turkey
and Bulgaria May Be listened by
the kidnapping Incident Similar
Atrocities Caused T14A or
Wharf.-The Macedonian Problem.
The Chicago Record-EIerald prints a
special cable from it's well known staff
correspondent, William e. Curtis, now
In Bulgaria, which clearly and most
admirably sets forth all the complicat-
ed conditions underlying the remarka-
BILE case of Miss Stone, the American
missionary now in the hands of Bull
garian Or Macedonian ~brigands. Mr..
Curtis statement, written from Sofia,
is as follows:
The war which is threatened be-
tween Bulgaria and Turkey may be
FASTENED by the Stone incident. Mace
donia, or Roumelia, now a Turkish
province, formerly was a part of Bull
garia. It's Inhabitants. who are Chris
tians, are descended from the same
stock and have largely intermarried
with the Bulgarians. They are now
suffering from the prosecutions of the
Turks.
Similar Bulgarian atrocities caused
liz Ill hO-4luSSldA wal VI ! Dy
peace treaty the, sultan granted to the
Macedonians independence similar to
that enjoyed by the Bulgarians, but a
conference of European powers held
at Berlin restored the province to Tur-
key upon guarantees of the appoint
ment of a Christian governor and re-
lief from persecution and excessive
taxation.
AS usual the sultan's promises remain
unfulflled. The prosecutions are grow
ing worse, and murder, robbery and ra-
pine are continual. The exasperated
| Christians are preparing for retaliation,
and a revolution will take place as soon
as conditions are favorable.
The so called Macedonian committee
| of Bulgaria was organized for the pur-
! pose Of providing money and arms and
assisting in the preparations for an out
break.
The Macedonians are now well organ
lied. The peasants have guns conceal
ed and drill at night in the forests I'M
der Bulgarian officers. Almost every
citizen of Bulgaria belongs to h or
ganization and contributes literally to
: the cause.
The government Of Bulgaria ncour
ages the movement and has organized
q large army to assist the M~acedonians
when the revolution begins. Indirect en-
. enlargement and sympathy are extend
ed by Russia, which practically con-
trolls the Bulgarian government.
Any unusual provocation is likely to
cause an outbreak. The Macedonian
committee is anxious to involve Turkey
800 49, TT-i4oI C4o&or I- 90 tho
Stone incident. It needs the ransom
money to buy ammunition.
The Macedonian committee is a part
of the national existence. Both support
ers and opponents Of the government
unite in the movement, hence the gov
eminent is powerless to control or pun
fsh the bandits. The Turks are equally
powerless, as the captors are Bulga-
rians. The payment Of the ransom,
therefore, is absolutely necessary.
The former officers of the committee
were deposed last summer because of
r~asca1ity. The president, Boris Saraoff,
disappeared two days after the kidnap-
ing Of the missionary. His whereabouts
is not known, but he is believed to be
with Miss Stone.
Sar&of is a notorious desperado. He
was recently acquitted Of murder, al
though undoubtedly guilty, and has
been engaged in a general system of
blackmaiI to raise funds for the pro-
posed revolution.
He has extorted money from high
government officials and wealthy citi.
zens by means Of anonymous letters
threatening to abduct their children.
The government is afraid to arrest him
because the. common people consider
him a great patriot.
The present officials of the Macedo.
MAN revolutionary committee, who are
honorable men, abhor the kidnapping OF
Miss Stone and publicly disavow sym
pathy with the ~brigands.
Slogan Mikhailovsky, the new pres1
dent, is a highly respected literary mar
and poet. He recently published ar
article denouncing the act and express
ing regret lest it prejudice the Europe
an public against the movement fol
Macedonian independence.
All the communications that have
been received from Miss Stone have
been written in the Bulgarian Ian
guage, which proves that her captorf
are Bulgarians. If the latter were Or
binary bandits, they would be satisfied
with a small ransom, but the revolu
tionary committee is in need Of a con
siderable sum of money.
The last case of the kidnapping Of s
foreigner occurred near the same place
: The victim was ar agent Of the Brit
J ish Bible society, and no politics wa
involved in the affair. He was detain
ed for three months and then ransom
= ed for $4,000.
The Macedonian sympathizers believ
: that If the full amount is paid they cal
: communicate with the captors easily
t The local organ Of the Macedonian com
' mittee published the news of b CAP