Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-23


is a deplorable situation, but I can
not see any remedy except time"
CONDITIONS IN THE BALKANS.
Peace Possible Only After There Has
Been Ware
Brigand is the name bestowed by the
Turks upon all men who take up arms
against them, and although it is very
often a false label, like the words
Democracy and Republicanism In
America, it carries weight.
The name caused me to arm to the
teeth when I ventured among the
mountaineers, but soon learned that
my weapons were needless-at least
on the Bulgarian side Of the border.
Not one member Of a revolutionary
band would compromise the country
which he loves, and Of which he hopes
Macedonia will soon be a part, by
hurting hair Of an Americans head.
Miss Stone was captured by Bulgarian
revolutionists, as they now frankly
acknowledge, but she was neither TAX
en- nor held at any time on other soil
than Macedonia. 1t was supposed that
the United States would, like any 9TH
er great country, exact from Turkey
the ransom paid. The money was used
for procuring arms. and 1t was expect
ed that the sultan would have to set
tie the bill for the weapons to be used
against him.
The revolutionists found Miss Stone
and Mrs. Tsilka more trouble than
they were worth" and kidnapping has
been dropped from their programme.
The assassination Of citizens Of other
countries, however, Is a plan which
they have adopted, In order to prove
that the sultan cannot rule, and they
say that they will continue to terror
ize the country until Europe takes
charge Of it.
I am calling the Christian Macedo-
mans, who speak the same language,
Bulganians, for that Is wnat they call
themselves. Turks and Albanians
born in the province are Macedonians.
There Is no difference between the
Bulgarians on either side Of the bor-
der, except that one is as free as the
American villager and as happy, 9TH
erwise than in his sympathy for his
suffering brother, whereas the other Is
cowed and in abject despair.
1t is not strange that Bulgaria has
opened her gates to the Christian Mac
edonians, and aided and abetted
them. In comparison with their suf-
ferings the Cubans lived in peace and
made much ado about nothing.
Every member of a band whom I
have met has made excuses for tactics
which have been compulsory. Civil
lied Europe will do nothing for them
because each country Is jealous lest
some rival may get the prize. They
want to provoke massacre, or, at
least, many Of them do. They say
that their own determination or the
expulsion of the Turks must come, for
there is no other alternative. They
are right about reforms In Turkey.
One only needs to take step across
the frontier in order to be convinced
that there can never be any reforms.
The Turk is hopeless.
Liberty or death" Is the legend
worked in their caps under which the
Bulgarians are fighting. Their ground
or justification for methods for which
they have been condemned as barbar-
GUS Christians is the thought that the
end will justify the means. Under
Bulgarian rule there Is hope for por-
ton Of the southeastern corner Of Eu-
rope. In the Sobranje, or parliament,
at Sofia, sit eight Turks, with their
fezzes never removed, the representa-
tives Of districts in which their race
is more numerous than Bulgarians.
Under Turkish rule there Is g. perma-
nent menace Of a reign of horror.
|. It Is becoming more and more intol-
cradle to the Bulgarians, especially
the troops and gendarmes along the
border, to be compelled to hamper and
discourage their brothers in their
struggle for liberty, and to do this at
the dictation of a country which once
kidnapped their ruler and Is suspect
ed Of plotting against the welfare Of
the principality itself. Several con-
signments of ammunition, labeled "ox-
yokes," hardware" etc., have been
confiscated, and two members Of bands
have been shot, but the Bulgarian
troops on the frontier watch for bands
and arms as the rich Irish woman says
her husband hunts for work, pray
ing that he won't find it."
The Bulgarian line along the bor-
der averages two to three men to a
kilometre, except on the highroads
where the dutiable products cross the
frontier. The Turkish troops are
within shouting distance Of one anoth-
er, except on the snow-clad mountain
tops, where their scanty raiment and
half-fed condition will not allow them
to maintain the Gordon. Instead Of
keeping a patrol, like the Bulgarians
they take up post, sit on their legs
behind a coffee pot and pouch of
tobacco, and never move until relieved.
1t is impossible for bands. or single
members to get through them by day,
but at night all these outposts go in
to their blockhouses and the cavalry
patrols retire to the nearest barracks.
The bands boast that, while the
Turks rule Macedonia by daylight, not
one Of them dares to show his face out
of the large towns by night. The rev.