Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-29
and IN Englisnman named Noel, es-

land IN Englisnman named Noel, es-
tablished at Negroponte, who were
lprored to have been accomplioes of the
bIigands, Noel indeed having furn-
ished the information as to the amount
of ransom which it would. be well 10
demand for the release of the Nun
caster part. A number of them were
convicted and put to death, while the
others were sentenced to various
terms of penal servitude.
Until ten years ago the Sublime Porte
was invariably forced to refund to the
foreign embassies at Constantinople
whatever ransoms they had been called
upon to pay for the release of their coun-
trymen and eountrywomen captured ana
held for ransom oy Turkish brigands.
Some readers may recall the Sultan
grumbling at having to pay the sum OF
$4,000 for Count hnd Countess Bray-sten
berg. who had been subjected to a good
deal Of i'll usage by their captors. owine,
to their struggles. At the Sublime Porte
it was plaintively remarked in this con-
nCction that $4,000 was Il very big sum
to pay Tor damaged Germans" Euf
when n Major Bothwick, who held an
appointment in the Turkish gendarmerie
called upon the British embassy to ram
som his WIFE ana cIlitfGN. VINO had bpe1
carried off by hriSands. the British for
eign office called a halt in the affair real
izirg that, in view Of the fact That the
major was i'll the employ Of the Turkish
governments il would have difficulty in
recovering from the latter the repayment
Of the money expended in the libp-atib1
OF his family. SO the major was in
formed that while the embassy would
Use its friendly offices in his behalf with
the Turkish government it could nn!thrr
itself nay the ransom nor would exact
the latter from the Porte, since, as a 20
lice official, he must have known better
than any one else the risk to which he
was exposing his wife and children when
he brought them out to live in that par
ticular part of Turkey where the outrage
took place.
Since then foreign governments have
been more Chary in either fuTni sling the
money themselves for the ransom Of
those captured by bfigands or making
any claims upon tbs Ottoman authorities.
OF course, If any foreign official were 10
be thus kidnapped ana held for ransom
especially if he was engaged at the time
on official business, his government would
at once pay for his liberation. subse-
quently forcing the Porte to return the
money. But tourists, men chants and mis-
siunarias who insist OIL visiting and So
fourning in brigand infested districts arr
now regarded as doing ~ mt their own
risk ana peril and as having no claim
upon their own governments or upon the
Porte in the event OF their capture and
4 tention for ransom.
This Is undoubtedly the only logical
course to adopt. not only in Turkey, but
iii all other ciVilzeI. half civilized and
bGrbarOus countries. where law and order
are at a discount. Thus, while ii is per-
fcctly right ana proper to demand pe-
cuuiary iudemnIties Tor CutraScS to which |
tourists, missionaries and merchants |
have been subjected, say in China, when |
it can 10 shown that the local authorities |
have either participated in the affair or
have declined to Interfere, yet there is no |
ground lor any demand by the injured !
parties either upon their own govern |
mcnts Or upon mat Of the country IN !
which tho crime has been committed |
Wh.n the latter mas been ptrprtrdted bs |
outlaws, or even hy the popullcc Pen- |
plt Who venture into such countries On |
SO at their own risk, ANA cannot expect !
to enjoy there the same SCCut!gN as 1t |
nome, or TO be firn,sned free Of crst with |
that ARMED escort which alone could ln- |
suTt their safety from briganls.
In Japan in the first ten or fltSocn |
years that followed the revolution Of 1871 /
the Afik1lO's government was blamed fJr !
prohibiting foreigners from tr yelling IN 1
tho Interior YET IL was thoruughly jus !
tiiei in so doing. II Was not throusn |
any prejudice that ~ entertain. against /
white people, nut r.erciy bcca- III cOnh /
NJ; guarantee the safety az Europeans |
ana Americans from attacks on the PARK |
Of fanatics who Rad grown up in the be- |
Lief that the foreigners were ilc foes "a |
the japanese race. Prior 40 iH6- the jap
anese government had been repeatedly !
called upon 70 ray heavy indemnites for |
murlerous attacks upon toreiEl RS. so l. Z
made NJ its mind to diminish tnr 0pp0r- /
tuuit- w fOr oUtrascs Of this chm icter ly I
prev nting foreigners from tray ling IA |
the interior and from coming into conttc, !
with any ~ tho natives save those Gl- !
ready accustGmed % their Weys.