The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03

ro-1be Exarcfl's Conservative Action
.I.cle,s-- Non.t ombataBts Sent into
a.,rar,s- The Macedonian flight err
r.Lc 10 Mountain Guerrilla warfare.
pouy April ills deliveranoe at hand
H., ,he Balkan country? Direct informa-
w., seers TO presa g. that an insurrectio Ion
:. -, hand The Holy See has sent precise
"nrsc,ions to tn. heads Of missions for the
,,latiop Of their conduct az interest
and circumstances demand. Bu' war ID
Coming on like Il squall With however
,,ucb eager compliance Prince Ferdine nd
.nd his ministers ma endeav0r to carry out
,hs ins,r,ic,ions hat come from st. Peters
burg. they cannot exert any serious in
a,ence on the Macedonian move ment
sor this movement, which has arisen en-
,;,eIv without their aid, 10 developing
rather against them
The committees whose headquarters are
in the principality OF Bulgaria are merely
external factors, a sort of screen intended
10 hide the real moving power, the inter-
nal committees in Macedonia. These are
the real masters of the situation and they
are as free from Bulgarian interference
internal committees, whose existence was
until lately hardly suspected by the public,
whose attention was concentrated wholly
in the Sofia committee and its subordinate
branches have powerful organization
against which even the authority of the
Exarch cannot prevail, in spite Of the vene-
ration in which he Is held by Bulgarians
in Macedonia.
Two years ago the Exarch, having come
to the conclusion that the Bulgarian school
teachers in Macedonia were connected
with the committees and were taking an
active part in preparing general insur-
rec,on, did not hesitate TO discharge them,
for he is opposed to all armed action, be-
ing convinced that II would bring about
incaculable harm to his flock and perhaps
would lead to Intervention on Austria g
part, which would be>extremely injurious
to the national aspirations OF the Bulgar-
Ans. All the new teachers appointed by
the Exarrh have behaved Just as their
predecessors did and 1t may be said to-day
that they are the most enthusiastic pro-
seytes Of the internal committees.
II the higher clergy In Macedonia shares
the ideas Of the Exarch. the lower clergy
u allied with the committees, and the Metro
politans, being powerless to restrain their
priests. feel that these latter are escaping
from their control though they profess
absolute difference to their instructions
and exemplary obedience to their orders.
And as the lower clergy. which lives among
the people and shares it's daily life, Possesses
far different influence from that OF the
Metropolitans, the result Is that the ex-
hortations of the Exaroh 70 his flock, adj
juring them not to enter upon the mad ad-
venture of an insurrection. fall on ground
that was barren from the start
At the request Of the Ottoman Govern
ment. and on the recommendation Of the
Russian Embassy. Mgr. Joseph sent an
encyolical to his Metropoitans. requesting
them to inform the faithful the reforms
that had been announced and to preach
to the people to keep as quiet ss possible,
but he had no confidence himself in the
effect his words would have. He sees
that he Is overpowered and that matters
have gone too ar. Besides, instead OF
meeting with the reforms promised BY the
Governm mt the Bulgarian peasants nd
that they are the victims Of more oppres-
sion than in the past. The reserve battalions
OF the vilayet OF Kossovo, for instance.
composed almost wholly Of Albanians
who had been mobilised. fell upon the
Christians egardless Of nationality, looted
with the utmost barbarity, and were guilty
Of the worst excuses. Things reached
such a point that the Government itself,
frightened at what was going on, gave
orders that these battalions should be
disbanded. But as it would have been
necessary to fight pitched battle in order
to make them give up their arms. they
were kept under the colors. but were
sent to Salonica, where it will be easier
to dsarm them, little by little.
The Bulgarian Metropolitans in report
ing these facts to the Exarch did not con-
ceal from him the fact that the people had
reached the last degree Of despair. and that
the excess OF suffering was the cause of
20 that general instruction
was considered thousand times preferable
to the continuation Of the present state of
affairs.
Nothing shows better tho dictatorial
power OF the internal committees Of Mace
tuted their own action for that Of the Otto
hiou COuT u III all IdWbultS O0lW06n Dull
sarians. They have formed tribunals Hike
those OF the Holy Vehm in the Middle
Ages, before which all those who have Ids
putes to settle come. These secret tri-
bunals judge according to equity. without
cost to the parties. and their sovereign
Judgments. with no appeal. are carried out
exactly, all the more because. in case Of
disobedience. the dagger enforces tho
sentence Not only do tho Bulgarians
submit with dooility to this revolutionary
authority, but other Christians turn to it
IN order to escape the intolerable exactions
Of the official courts.
This is the case with the Kutso-Walla-
chians. who tend moro and more to unite
with the Bulgarians against the Greeks,
whom they hate. In spite OF the propaganda
Of Margariti and other impostors, who
nave given UP Grecophohia and turned
70 the idea Of a greater Greece. seeing that
lhey could not carry through the plan Of
the idea Of making the Kutso- wallachians
JOIN Rounania. and against the Turks. from