The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-19

closed before the end of the school year.
The authorities vigorously enforced
the same order against the Bulgarian
priests, making every effort to paralyze
the development of religious and
educational work, and deprive the
Bulgarian exarch of all his privileges
and force the people to come under
the authority Of the Greek patriach.
Encouraged by the Ottoman authori-
ties, the Greek Bishops and Archi-
mandrites forced their way into the
Bulgarian churches and burned the
prayer books and menaced the people.
The Archimandrite of Salonica de-
clared in recent sermon that the
Sultan did not want Bulgarian ex-
arches in his empire, if they remained
they would be exterminated.
In addition to the decree banishing
the Bulgarian tradesmen from Con-
stantinople and Salonica the Porte
adopted measures to ruin the traders
elsewhere. The Governor of Monastir
issued an order of April %, forbidding
Bulgarians to go abroad, or even to
Constantinople. This order was inter-
preted to prevent Bulgarians going to
any large city and forcing them to
deal only with Turkish merchants, who
would gradually ruin and supplant
them. The provincial administration
employed every possible means to in
stall Mussulmans IN the Bulgarian vii
lagos. On the slightest pretext the
Buigarians we're forced to sell their
lands to the Turks at any price the
latter chose to pay. Burdened with
taxes, liable to perform statute labor
for the Turkish land owners, the
population is reduced to state of serf-
dom. This is one of the principal
causes of discomfort, and when are
added the exactions of the tax gather
ers, it is not difficult to understand
why the wretched people should revolt
from such despotic government and
servitude.
The memorandum has made strong
impression in diplomatic circles. The
Austrian diplomatic agent has already
called on the premier to express his
anxiety regarding the results that may
ensue from Its publication. The
French and Italian agents also ex-
pressed uneasiness, although they took
a less gloomy view.
TURKEY BUYS BATTERIES.
.Constantinople, Aug. 16.-The Otto
man Government has concluded
negotiations with the Krupp Works
for the supply of thirty-two batteries
Of quickfeld artillery, each consist.
ing Of six guns.
RUSSIA GOES IT ALONE.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 16.-The Rus
sian press does not lay emphasis on
the dispatch of division of the
Russian Black Sea feet to Turkish
waters, merely repeating the official
statement without comment. The
Novoe Vremya, in an outspoken
editorial, says:
Glitter experience has shown the
uselessness and disadvantage Of all
concreted measures. Now, since the
murder of M. Rostkowski does not con-
cern Europe, we are proceeding with
out any concert, and therefore we can
more confidently predict complete
satisfaction for our demands from
Turkey
A BRITISH WARNING.
Constantinople, Aug. 16.-The
British ambassador has called the at
tention of the Porte to the serious
situation in Macedonia. He points
out that grave consequences may at
tend fresh murders of consuls OF
foreign subjects.
The ambassador had an audience
with Tho Srltan on EriSaV
WHAT is SAID IN VIENNA.
Vienna, Aug. 1G.-It is reported on
good authority that the Russian de-
mands on Turkey were made after a
full understanding with the Austrian
Cabinet, but that the Austrian
authorities had no idea that Russia
intended to support her demands by
naval demonstration. In any case,
the situation today is considered tc
be more favorable to peace than before.
It is said here that Count Lamsdorf,
the Russian foreign minister, advised
Nine Rostkowski, the widow of the
murdered consul at Monastir, to &C.
cept the $4,000 indemnity offered hel
by the Porte, and which she refused,
declaring that she did not want
Turkish charity.
A Belgrade dispatch to the Neues
Wiener Tageblatt reports that Ser.
Wan priest is recruiting large numbers
of insurgents among the Serb ele.
ment in the villages of the Uskut
vilayet.
Turkish Side Of the Story.