Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-05
Probability of Maintenance Of
Peace In Europe Seems
Small Now
THE SITUATION is ALARMING
Revolt in Macedonia Likely to Bring
About Hostiltes Among the Powers
-scares Have Been Perennial, But
This Time 1t Seems to Be the Real
Thine-other Foreign News.

IL
You'd the next few weeks is less, con-
siderably less, than the probability OF
war. This grave conclusion is the delib-
crate judgment of statesmen and pri-
yate observers alike who are acquaint-
ed with the latest developments in the
crisis in the near east.
There have been perennial war scares
over the Balkan question for many
years, until diplomatists as we'll as the
world at large have come to regard the
cry of wolf with Indifference, but it is
impossible to ignore or belittle the
alarming nature of the present situa-
ton. The Times does not eexaggerate
when it says:
Every European chancellery is
aware that there is most imminent dam
ger of revolt in Macedonia on total
ly different scale from the usual spring
disturbances, and an opening up OF
questions that may lead to a struggle
the limits and issues of which wise
man will not pretend to forecast
The preparations of the Macedonian
revolutionary committee for general
rising in the spring are SO extensive
that it is impossible to keep them Sc
cret. and it is impossible to offset them
except by large army and campaign
arrangements.
1t is only necessary to point out the
main features of the situation in order
to demonstrate the imminence of the
peril. The sultans atrocious misgov-
eminent of Macedonia. despite all
warnings and protests. has at last
aroused both the Christian and Otto
man populations to revolt. The Bulgar-
ian government has given formal as
surances that 1t will do everything in
its power to avoid interference in the
coming quarrel 1t is quite beyond It's
power, as ell concerned know, to pre-
vent the Bulgarian people from cross
ing the frontier and making common
cause with the Macedonia revolution
lists
Servia also processes its intention to
stand aloof, but there also no govern
ment is strong enough to keep tn.
country long out of the field after the
fighting beins.
1t will naturally be inquired how it
happens that the European concert,
which especially champions the rights
of the Macedonian Christians. has al
lowed the crisis to reach point of such
danger that now it is probably too late
to avert an outbreak of the much
dreaded confagration.
1t would have been much better. as
the Times observes, If Europe had
+oly lot ia, &c,
protection instead of only the Christ
ians, inasmuch as the Ottomans ara
suffering equally from the atrocious
misrule of the corrupt governing
class.
1t would be unfair, perhaps, to ques-
ton the sincerity of the efforts which
Russia and Austria, as the powers
chiefly concerned, are now making to
avert the crisis. None know better
than the authorities of those powers
how futile at this late day must be the
measures on which they have agreed.
1t has been decided to press upon the
sultan certain reforms, the principal
being the appointment of a Christian
governor of Macedonia, with practic-
ally full powers. This concession, If
it could be offered to Macedonia as an
accomplished fact, even at this late
day. might avert a revolution
The concert of Europe. as has been
many times demonstrated with appall-
ing consequences, is a useless machine
for any emergency requiring prompt
action. Moreover, Abdul Hamid has
resisted it's efforts more
than once, even when it was unani-
in earnest. 1t is almost hope |
less to attempt to wiring adequate con-
cessions from him now in time 10 in
duce the Macedonians to abandon their
revolutionary program.
1t is clear that this Is fully UNDER !,
stood by the powers proposing these re- |
forms, but Russia and Austria have all |
ready begun massing troops OH the I
frontier for a campaign which they
inevitable early in the spring. !
The only object; apparently. of the |
recent announcement of the scheme of
by Count Lamsdorff, the Rus /
sian foreign minister is to throw the
onus and blame for war upon Turkey 7
This IS rather flimsy attempt to evade I
the responsibility. There has been /
ample warning of the present crisis
Why We're not the proposed reforms /
forced upon tue soutNdl5S acceptance /
ago, when they would have /
served to avert the now almost newt
able revolution? Russia will certainly |
be accused in the present situation OF I
the long dreaded crisis in
the near east to rise in revenge for the |
temporary check of her Asiatic ambi- +
tons by the Anglo Japanese alliance. +
There is no doubt that the Gear will 4
endeavor to divide the spoils of war
with Austria alone. Russian troops
are now massing along the Roumanian
In all probability they will
strike at once for Constantinople. Aus
tria is pouring troops into Bosnia,
ready to advance at a days notice thru
the Sandjak or Novi-Bazar
The Sultan himself is by no means
idle He is preparing to put down i'll
his usual savage fashion any rebellion
In his dominions. There is no doubt
of the result, however IT, While strug-
Cling with the revolving provinces. I
Abdul Hamd is confronted by the
troops of Russia and Austria, the Turk
will at last be driven out of Europe.
But what will be the effect of Rus
sian seizure of Constantinople A few
years ago ii would have been the sigma,
for general European war. This is
les probable today, but to again quote
the Times, wise man will not pretend
to forecast the limits and issues of the
questions which would be opened up.
Great Britain might now content
herself with full sovereignty In Egypt
and the Nile valley. All the powers