The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-30


4 few members of the missionary col
ony disapprove OF the entire proceedings
and insist that II would have been better
to sacrifice Miss Stones life than 20 com
INomise with wrong. as they term it.
They predict that the lives ana liberty
OF American missionaries viii be imper-
lied from this time on and that it will
he unsafe for any foreigner 10 go into
the country hereafter. The people of the
United States having shown their wiling
ness 10 pay a large sum of money 10
ransom one missionary. viii be called up
on frequently hereafter 10 pay blackmail
20 protect others. and they argue that
the establishment Of such q precedent is
not onl yfatal as matter of policy, but
a shameful surrender Of the dignity OF a
powerful Christian nation.
These sentiments. however. find little
sympathy among those who are familiar
with the facts. for there is not the slight
est doubt that the plot to capture Miss
Stone was devised and carried out by
The agents of the local committee Of Mac
edonian revoutionists at the town Of
Samakov. which is near the Turkish Dor
der in southern Bulgaria. As I wrote
you from Sofia last October. the men are
known. and Consul General Dickinson Sc
cured abundant evidence to prove the
completely of the local revolutionary lead
ers. Their primary objectwas to obtain
fund for the purchase of arms and am
munition to be used against the Turkish
government; their secondary object was
naries for remaining neutral and refusing
to contribute to the cause Of Macedonian
freedom. The present managers of the
movement al Sofia are not involved. They
have no evidence 10 implicate them, and
their high character is enough 10 contra
diet such a suspicion, but their prede-
cessors were men of criminal records,
professional blackmailers. gamblers. and
capable of any desperate or despicable
deed. There seems to be no question
that the plot was approved of by them
before they were deprived of the manage
ment of Macedonian affairs, and those
who are familiar with the facts are con-
fdent that sooner or later Boris Saraof
the former president of the national Mac
edonian committee. will prove TO be the
chief man in the conspiracy.
The Macedonian committee has undoubt
eddy been aware of these facts and has
fought desperately to escape odium. The
present managers decline all responsible
ity for the conduct and transactions of
their predecessors. but endeavOr to con-
ceaI instead of exposing them.
I suppose that the United States will
demand indemnity and reparation from
the government Of Bulgaria. because the
evidence is overwhelming that the deed
was committed by Bulgarians and the
authorities have done nothing to assist
in the rescue of Miss Stone They had
very good reasons. however. because the
Macedonian committee, which is stronger
than the government were determined
that it should not be involved in the af-
fair in any way. The government Of
Bulgaria is lettering. Prince Ferdinand
is supported 10y Russia. and is absolutely
dependent upon the viii of the car.
He has no policy of his own. and could
not exercise it if he had one. His min
istry is unfriendly to him, and the rela-
tons between the executive department
and the parliament are strained almost to
the breaking point. The treasury is emp
~. and cannot be veplenished without
the exception Of by loans. which one of
the great powers of Europe must guaran-
tee. If the United States should demand
an indemnity. it would probably be paid
i'm some way or other. and Prince Ferdi-
naud would undoubtedly be willing 10
make any sort of an apology that might
be required of him. But that would be
an empty and useless formality.
The Turkish government is probably not
directly responsible. although the capture
was actually made upon Turkish soil. but
Indirectly it is responsible for permitting
the existence of social and political con-
ditions in Macedonia under which such
things SIRE possible. And behind the Turk
ish government the anal and the most
serious responsibility rests upon Germany.
Russia. Austria. France and England
for auowiaS tn sultan to trife with them
in refusing % carry ont the pledges made
by him nj the Berlin conference Of 1873.
The lament3hio condition Of affairs in
bulgaria is also due 10 the jealousy of
th., great nations of Europe The horrible
atrocities that are being committed con-
slantiv in Macedonia can be attributed
TO the same oeuse. II Germany would
ADOPT q Arm. vigorous ana determined
attitude IL the Tsick man or the East.
The other papers >would be compelled TO
follow. but as long as the German emper-
or stands IS the friend and protector
OF Tie sultan no change can be expected.
The capture OF ,he American missionary
and her release upon the payment II
.l---,aff y.-ortfr nor he s,eesif,i. if the
European mowers would force the fulfill
ment OF the pledges made 5wenty-four
years ago, And tie longer those Pledges
remain unful6ned the worse the condi-
lions viii grow. The province of Mace
donia Ike Bulgaria. Bosnia. and the
ueiehbor!ng states. should be rescued
from the tyranny - the Turk which
might be done but for the 5ealousies of
The European sovereisus.
WILLIAM f. Curtis