The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
FRIDAY, AUGUST Fl.
THE BULGARIAN REVOLUTION .

With the rebellion in Macedonia and
Bulgaria rapidly spreading and gain
ing strength, and Russia's Black sea
fleet approaching the Turkish shores
to enforce her demands growing out
of the assassination of the Russian
consul at Monastir. the Turk finds HIM
self in a pretty close place. The first
pitched battle between Turkish troops
and insurgents has resulted in victory
for the latter. This. of course, Will
give impetus to the revolt and add
many recruits to the forces Of the
rebels. So far, ii seems to be a war
of determination. We hear of whole
villages of Christians being ~butchered
by the Mussulmans n the Christian
Bulgarians are little less ba~rbarous.
The movements of the Russian fleet,
while ostensibly having nothing to do
with the Bulgarian revolt, grows out
Of an incident Of that revolt, and will
give encouragement to the rebels, as
it is likely intended to do.
1t is hard to understand just how
matters stand in the locality of the
revolution. The insurgents are trying
to throw off the Turkish yoke. They
are making war to the death on the
Mussulmans, while Turkish citizens
now and then band together and wipe
out a village of Christians. There are
Turkish soldiers present whose duty
it is to defend the Christians against
the rabble, but they do not seem to
try to do so. The Christians in many
places are terror stricken and afraid
to leave their houses. 1t is d horrible
state of affairs. 1t seems to be a case
where Mussulmans and Christians are
vying with each other to see which
can go to the greatest lengths Of bar
barOus warfare.
In the meantime the balance Of
Europe is standing by, passive n
waiting for developments. What Rus
STA will do when her fleet makes its
hostile demonstration on the Turkish
coast Will ave much bearing on the
course of the other powers. There IS
no doubt ii she is secretly aiding
the Bulgarians and also melting them
~ itNOIl. SIN "pAAhS liz D."
to bring matters to such a pass that
she can, with a show OF acting IN the
cause of humanity. step in and take
a hand with the Bulgarians in order
TO put a stop to Turkish cruelties to
Christians in the Macedonian prov
inces. This will mean another slice of
Turkish territory. unless the other
European powers interfere.
Emperor William must think there
is likely to be a general scrimmage'
for he wants to add thirty-nine thou
sand more men to his present stand
ing army of over six hundred thousand
soldiers.
In the meantime Christians are mas
sacring Turks, and Turks are butch
ering Christians. The Christians who
are fighting to free themselves from
the "~barbarous Turk" do not Indicate
by their deeds that they are deserving
of liberty. They are, so far as one
can judge by their conduct, as low In
the scale of civilization and of hui
manity as their masters. Their sue
cess against the Turk would simply be
a change from despotism to anarchy,
and, that, anarchy of the worst kind.
What the end of this striving after
the territory of the Turk Will be no
one can conjecture. Ever since the
the Turk has been in Europe he has
been the cause of bloody warfare. His
departure will not be until after a war
$500 49, r~~,1. @aNo
and followed. most probably, by fierce
conflict among those who drive him
out. Should the Turk be driven from
Europe there wou be a scramble
among the big nations for his territory.
Millions of dollars would be expended
and thousands of lives sacrificed III
the contest TO see who should possess
Constantinople and hold the key 10
southeastern Europe and a large sec
ton of Asia.