The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-17
TERRIBLE STORY
Of TURKEY CRIME
The Belgian Government Places Details OF
Affairs in Macedonia in the Hands of
the Powers of Europe.

siest pretexts. as when they were re-
leased others were Immediately arrested.
The estimates obtainable give for the
vilayet OF Salonica 500 prisoners; for
Uskub. 800: for Monastir. $50. and for
Adrlanople $50. a grand total of $500 As
Information Is lacking from many dis
trcts in these Yilayets IL is thought that
without exaggeration the number OF pris-
oners may be placed at even three times
this total.
Dealing with other acts OF oppression.
the memorandum states that the Bulga-
rian merchants and artisans living in
Constantinople and Salonica were ordered
10 return 10 their native villages and
were not allowed any time or opportunity
10 dispose OF their business or property.
Some OF these Bulgarians. who, with
their families, had been established for 20
years or more. were utterly ruined. AS
the order applied equally to professors
and school masters the Bulgarian schools
were closed before the end OF the school
year.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.
The authorities vigorously enforced the
same order against the Bulgarian priests.
making every effort 10 paralyze the de-
velopment of religious and educational
works. deprive the Bulgarian exarch OF
all his privileges. and force the people TO
Patriarch
Encouraged by the Ottoman authorities
the Greek bishops and archlmandrites
forced their way into the Bulgarian
churches. burned the prayer books and
employed menaces to compel the people
20 acknowledge the Patriarch.
The Archimandrite OF Salonica declared
In a recent sermon that the Sultan did
not want Bulgarian exarches in his en-
pire; IL they remained they would be ex-
terminated
In addition to the decree banishing the
Bulgarian tradesmen from Constantinople
and salonica, the porte adopted measures
~ ruin tho traders elsewhere. The pro-
visional administration employed every
possible means TO install Mussulmans in
he Bulgarian villages.
On the slightest pretexts the Bulgarians
were forced TO sell their lands 10 the
Turks at any price the latter chose to
pay. Burdened with taxes. liable to per-
form statute labor for the Turkish land
owners the population is reduced to
This Is one OF the principal causes OF
discontent and when added to the exac-
tons OF the tax gatherers II is not diffi-
cult to understand why the wretched peo-
pie should revolt from such a despotic
government and servitude.
BROKE ALL PROMISES.
In conclusion the memorandum asserts
that the foregoing exposure once more
CONDEMNS ottoman administrative gov
eminent In Europe. It says Not long
ago the porte denounced the revolution
ary movement as being fomented by Bal
garia. and tried to put the responsibility
on this principalty.
Today It must acknowledge that IL is
bad administration which Is the only
cause OF the trouble. From sad expert
ence the porte must learn that syste-
matte persecution, cruel Injustice and
bloody repression do not restore order
and peace In a country.
THE porte accepted In principle the
project OF reform which Il has not put
into effect. IL has declared that the pro-
tect is insufficient. Lastly the porte for
mally promised the Bulgarian govern
ment to cease the arrests OF Bulgarian
priests and school masters, reopen the
churches and schools. release the pris-
oners and punish the officials guilty of
exactions; In short. 10 adopt policy OF
Justice and amelioration.
mot only has the porte failed to OBJ
serve single one OF the promises. but
IL has enacted sterner measures OF re-
preston"
The memorandum has made strong
impression In diplomatic circles The
Austrian diplomatic agent already has
called on the premier TO express his
anxiety regarding the results that may
ensue from its publication The French
ana Italian agents also express uneasi-
ness.