Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-17
THE MACEDONIAN TROUBLE.


The civilized world gazes with hor-
ror upon the atrocities being perpe-
itrated by the Turk upon the Macedon-
ians, especially the Christian popula-
tion. OF course. the Macedonians Of
all classes are a turbulent and gener-
ally ignorant lot, but the horrible
butchery of men. women and children
Is a disgrace to the world In the first
decade of the twentieth century. Not
Atilla, the Hun, nor the bloodthirsty
Saracene5 Of the middle ages, VINO
gave the choice of the Koran or the
sword. could show a parallel.
Bulgaria appeals frantically to the
nations to Interfere TO stop the slaugh-
ter, but the great powers. Jealous Of
each other and fearful OF the condi-
tons that may arise from the dismems
berment 81 Turkey, hesitate. Much
Is hoped for from the conference be-
tween the car and the emperor Of
Austria, the latter part Of this month.
In the meantime the Macedonians
are being butchered and Bulgaria IS
being menaced. The Turks have mo.
bilized their entire army. 1t Ii believed
with designs on Bulgaria, and the bor-
ders Of that brave little nation are
being approached. 1t Is probable that
Bulgaria will be forced into the fight.
It is believed that Russia ana Austria
are friendly, but whether they will
give open aid or not Is a question.
Undoubtedly, the same reason re-
strains the nations that has actuated
them In the past to allow Turkey to
remain az d disgrace 10 Christian En-.
rope. They dare not allow Russia TO
obtain possession Of Constantinople
and T e access to the Black sea.
II Is a satisfaction to know that the
Macedonians are obtaining some adj
vantage IN their desperate fight. Their
present policy Of dividing into small
bands and making a guerilla warfare
IS likely to wear out the enemy, as
well as to withhold the vengeance of
the Turk from the towns.
The troubles leading to the rebel
lion have two sources. One Is the
tyranny Of the Turks, and the other
Is the conspiracy OF the Macedonian
lenders. Turkish tyranny Is due part
" TO religious fanaticism and partly
to official greed. So far as taxation
is concerned, absolutely no limit Is
placed on the burden, except the re-
sources of the Macedonians. Take,
nor instance, the a on grapes. First
Of all, a 1.-THE OF the IL IL per cent is
levied and collected before the fruit is
IS gathered. No one is allowed to
gather his grapes until the tax collec.
tor has gone his rounds, and il the
farmer Is not considerate, his fruit
may be allowed to rot on the vines.
After he has gathered the grapes ana
pressed out the wine the government
collects another tax Of is per cent.
a further tax OF is per cent is col.
lected on arrack, a spirituous liquor.
distilled from the skins. Besides this,
there are the tips, or baksheesh.
which the officials demand at every
stage. This system is not confined
to grape-growing, but extends to near.
~ every product OF the soil. When
payment is resisted then follow the
atrocities FOR which the Turk has be-
come Infamous.
But the financial burdens are not
the worst. The country has for years
been In q state bordering upon an.
archy. yet all Christians are forbid.
den on pain Of death to bear arms.
They are disqualified from giving eyi.
dence in a court of law against a Mo-
hammedan.
The people. knowing the terrible
scenes that would follow should they
resist. bore the oppression as long
as human nature could endure and
then rebelled. II Ii imDossihIa sor