The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-04-07
TROUBLE IN THE BALKANS.


be wished by the cable whether the
Moslems of Albania are preparing for
an uprising against the Turks. but If
they are, and If the Sultan cannot quell
them, and armed Intervention on the
part OF Russia, Austria and England
results. then 1t may be said with reas-
enable certainty that the end Of the
For the Albanians, known in old times
as the Arnauts. and in still older times
as the people of that great general,
Pyrrhus king of Epirus. have never
been much more than nominal subjects
OF the Porte.
scanderbeg held their independence
from the rule OF the Sultans as a
Christian. and Ali Pasha did the same
thing as a Moslen, but the religion Of
the Albanians has always been more
OF political question than a matter
OF faith. 1t frequently happens that
the. women of an Albanian family are
Christians, and the men followers Of
the Prophet. With people like that,
religion sets but lightly-and war with
the Turk would not be in any sense a
religious war unless the political neces-
cities OF the Albanians should give the !
political color-and then they would
color it according to circumstances.
The people of Bosnia and Herzegov-
ina, an allied race. have the same
characteristics and regulate their con-
duct in the same way. 1t will be re-
membered that at the close of the
Turkish war. Austria was given
these two Danubian provinces, ION
condition of their pacifcation," but
really to secure the assent of the Aus
against the San stefano convention.
which the pro-Russian sentiments of
Franz Joseph led him to favor.
Bosnia and Herzegovina were paci-
fed. at an enormous cost of blood and
treasure. but the pacihcation left
wounds that the Bosnians would like
to open again-and a religious hatred
that was intense because OF the polit-
zeal aspects of it. The Bosnians are
the better Mohammedans because their
new masters are Christians, and not
because they pray to Mecca. They
pray with arms in their hands. and
they turn in their praying southwark
to the house of their Albanian brethren
because they see in the south the ris-
ing Of a war cloud that may hold in
its dark folds their chance of VEN o
geance.
Naturally. Austria. but a congeries s.
II unevenly yoked states in condition n
II chronic hostility, one with the other.
IS uneasy at this indication Of revolt
N its southern provinces. Naturally p'
England holds up the hands of Austria. pr
5he has always done that And of di
.ourse no action can be taken in the p1
balkan peninsula, by any nation. with di
'ut the assent of Russia. For the D.
szar is the heir Of the Turk by self en-
lection. 81,
when the troops OF these three pow ms
rs enter upon Turkish soil. that is the
nd Just what share of the patrimony
be Car win allot to his new partners
a the division is not clear in the light -,
Z this newest alignment. Russia al =,
eady owns Roumania and Bulgaria. ~,
a effect. and must have Constants -,
ople. whatever tides. Austria owns ~,
BOSNIA and Herzegovina with sort of
aversion to Servia, and Albania will
{ better with her domain than with
nat Of the Gear. although there is
to be reckoned with. Mon va
.negro adjoins Albania, too. and WV
loves Russia and hates II
ustria- Nobody knows what Eng ar
nd's share is to be. and perhaps no. are
ody in Europe cares. England is a ma
lctor. now. more on the commercial
an the political side. II
Also, there is the Turk 1t is true. VIII
at with Albania and Macedonia gone, son
ere win be little left of European II
lrkey. but there are the drilled hordes Ne'
Asia. and the Turk is a fighter, Ha
herever he halls from. In fact, when Tin
comes to the death throes. the Turk
omises to be about as difficult for his G
ayers to handle as a dying whale. des
iere VIII be profit in his cutting up. ant
Il 1t will be advisable to do the first apr
tting from a safe distance. pub
-$- ocrs