Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS

THE TURK AND HIS LOST PROVINCES: Greece.
Bulgaria. Servia, BOSNIA. By William Eieroy
Curtis author Of The True Thomas JEFFERSON,
etc. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company.
Washington: Brentanos.
Mr.. Curtis went to Turkey as correspond
ent Of the Chicago Record-Herald while
Miss Ellen Stone, the American missionary,
was in the hands of Bulgarian "brigands,"
in order to report the progress OF the eff
forts for her release. While waiting for
the negotia lions for her ransom to culmi-
nate he travelled through the Balkan states
and carefully noted the conditions there,
partly to understand the circumstances of
Miss Stones abduction and partly out of
that general curiosity which is the news
paper correspondents chief source of In
spiration. The result was a series of most
interesting and instructive letters to his
paper, the substance of which have been
edited into the present volume. 1t has
striking timeliness. for following the Stone
case the Balkan provinces are now in
state of unrest which once more threatens
the outbreak Of the long postponed war be-
tween the powers for the privilege Of ad-
ministering upon the effects Of the Sick
Man of Europe"
latter name is known that province which
on the maps is officially styled Rumelia or
Eastern Turkey-in a constant state OF I'M
rest to the end on the one hand that the
Macedonians may be liberated from Turk
ish rule and on the other that the Turk
may preserve the status quo and prevent
the annexation of Macedonia by Bulgaria.
there is always danger of an outbreak
which will warrant, If 1t does not necess!-
tate, Intervention by the allied powers. Mr..
Curtis does not incline to the opinion that
such an allied Intervention is possible, ow-
ing to the present friendliness OF Germany
R~,~ CO tAx ~nfy h q rryNY rNy{ft
a quotation of Won Moltkes prediction that
a universal war would be fought under the
walls of Constantinople, and proceeds TO
modify that forecast by pointing out the
factors which seem at present to make
Impossible a sincere coalition on the part of
all the powers for the Turks subjugation.
The authors description of life in Con-
stantinople is entertaining and fllum1na-
tive. He paints as accurate portrait OF
Abdul Hamid as the exclusiveness and ap-
prehensions Of that monarch will permit.
He shows the absolute lack OF honesty in
the administration of the officials under
him, the total want Of good faith toward
the Christian powers. the deplorable condi-
ton of the public mind and the hopeless
ness Of the Christians under the Turks
rule.
Servia with the freshness of an American
newspaper observer. indicating the ramih-
cations of the intrgues which keep those
states in constant turmoil. Closely allied
10 the record OIL nOueTu bulgaria ~ SitS
history of the ''brigandage" to which Miss
Stone fell victim. Mr.. Curtis does not
hesitate to express the opinion that she
was kidnapped by agents of the Macedonian
garians whose chief desire is to foment the
movement for Macedonian freedom-by
which is meant the annexation OF that
province to Bulgaria and the absolute sep
aration Of the two thus united from Turk
ish dominion. He shows that they not
only need money, but wish to attract the
attention of the civilized Christian world to
the deplorable conditions in the Balkans
resulting from the cruelties of the Turks
Mr.. Curtis draws a distinction between the
present officials Of this revolutionary body
and those who a few months ago were de-
posed from their positions, the latter being
ers in the Stone affair. But whether
old committee or new. he thinks
and gives facts to prove his argument,
that the "brigands'' who abducted Miss
Stone and Madam TsiIka were citizens Of
Bulgaria, who returned to their homes af-
ter the affair was over.
One of the most interesting and instruct
i've portions of the book is the chapter on
Bosnia, which Mr.. Curtis styles "a re-
markable example Of administration" COM
mending 1t to the attention Of the United
States as a type of what might be accom-
plished by it in the Philippines. Bosnia
was until 1878 a province of Turkey, under
the direct dominion Of the sultan and the
scene of the most shocking cruelttes. Thlr-
ty years ago, the author says, Bosnia was
in the same condition that Macedonia Is
today perhaps worse to the extent that 1t
had a much larger proportion of Moham-
medans and Turkish outlaws. The popu-
1ation was not fit for liberty, and had II
been granted by the Berlin conference. as
the people demanded, it would have been
a curse instead Of a blessing. But instead
of autonomy the conference gave Bosnia
Austrian supervision, which has Drought
order out of chaos and transformed Bosnia
49, f,,I n
country, where sects live together In har-
mony the population Is increasing, crime
is reducing, murder is almost unknown ana
enlightenment is rapidly spreading. rms
is all due to the methods adopted by Count
Won HALEY the Hungarian statesman who
has been practically the dictator of Bosnia
since 1873.
Here MT. Curtis found striking example
of what can be done in the way of govern
ing an alien people. a people Of diverse re-
Hgious views and former race hatreds,
deeply degraded and almost hopeless or ad-
vancement. So wise has been the admins
tration so careful the innovations, so
steady the advancement, so honest the con-
duct of affairs, that today the Bosnians re-
gard the Austrians as their best friends
The ties binding the alien governors to the
people are being made stronger year by
year Thus, the Bosnian soldiers. enlisted
under system Of compulsory service, are
sent into Austria for training ana outy,
while Bosnia Is guarded by Austrian SOL
the two countries acquire mutual knoWi-
edge Of life and customs. Intermarriage is
encouraged by the grant of special privl-
leges to those soldiers who take wives in
the country of the other side, so that
new generation is displaying characteristics
of both peoples, and Bosnia Is speedily be-
coming identified with Austria. Neverthe-
less Bosnia pays an annual tribute to
Turkey, being nominally province OF the
sultan, who, however, has no word to say
in it's administration.
Austria has tried several interesting eX-
periments in the line of paternal admin1s-
tration in Bosnia, establishing hotels and
manufactures and conducting certain mo-
nopolies, such as that in tobacco The peo-
pie have accepted these conditions and
thrive under it so that there are today no
paupers in the province and the wealth OF
the people is annually increasing. The
population, which, in 1879. one year after
Turkish rule was ended was only ZIG,
has since that time increased to 1,S79,97S,
according to the census of 1900.
This chapter on Bosnia is all that
is now in English print on the subject
of the Austrian administration of the af-
fairs of this province. which is practically
unheard of in the United States. 1t shows
what could be done with the whole series
of Balkan states If European jealousy
would permit an extension of the system,
provided the guardian powers given charge