The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-15
Who Will InterveneY


Novoe Vremya Of that city, which reflects
the mind ofsthe government when 1t has
a mind. and puts forth feelers for Euro
pean contemplation, demands active inter
vention In Macedonia, but intervention
toned down to attaching officers Of all
the foreign powers to Turkish repressive
expeditions, authorized to restrain the bar
Albanians and secure some recognition of
the rules of modern warfare in the sup
preston of the Macedonian revolt.
At the same time Russia and Austria
have issued a note declaring that, II
Turkey and Bulgaria come to blows. they
will not support either, but will hold both
responsible. The Bulgarians in their note
announce that they are firm in their pur
pose Of mobilizing against Turkey, If the
powers do not intervene. The British
government has been appealed to by the
bishops Of the established church to full
fl its Christian duty and stop the deadly
work Of the Turks in Macedonia. Neither
the Russo-Austriap note, nor the PROPOSE
ton Of the Novoe vremya, nor the APP
peals OF the English bishops, nor the
warnings Of the Bulgarians are likely to
have any pacific effect.
It may be recalled that twenty seven
years ago. when the Turks were butcher
ing the Bulgarians with hideous ferocity,
at the instance Of England a conference
of the powers was held at Constantinople
and demands were made upon the sultan
for administrative reform and he refused
stated afterward in the house Of lords that
the conference failed because the powers
utterly failed to .'instil any common
sense into the heads Of the Turks Rus
STA then asked the powers: What are
you going to do about it?'' The powers
did nothing, and Russia alone demanded
reforms Of the Turk and the latter de-
flying her, the czar's troops invaded
Turkey in April, 1877, and in ten months
crossed the Balkans and stood in sight
Of Censtantinople, debating terms to- the
sultan which included the independence Of
autonomy for Bosnia and Herzegovina and
for Crete and Turkeys Greek provinces,
and Bulgaria was made a semi -independ-
ent principality, including Macedonia and
it's Bulgarian population. This treaty,
England using her, influence with other
powers, succeeded in annulling, so fore
ing the Macedonians back into slavery and
oppression Of the Turk. This reversal
was dueto the jealousy Of Russia, chiefly
inherent in England who is consentient
to the policy Of prodding the sultan to
crush the instruction as soon as posi-
BILE and by all available means.
The Russian proposal to send army Of
ficers from each nation to see that the
Turks conform with the rules Of modern
warfare when they are wrought up to
fanatical bloodthirstiness, is an absurd
proposition. The threat that Russia an6
Austria will hold Turks and Bulgarians
responsible for their actions. If they en-
gage in war, amounts to little unless Rus
STA is ready to repeat her program Of
1877. Just now she wants free hand
to insure her grip upon Manchuria, where
it is necessary to keep a large humble,
Of troops, altho she has again promised
evacuation next month after fashion
which means no evacuation whatever, ant
is now facing manifest opposition Of thu
Anglo-Japanese alliance to the acceptance
by China Of the latest Russian bull-doz
| ing.
| This menaclng situation Is hardly yer.
encouraging to Russia to deliberately en-
1 gage in another half-a-billion war will
| Turkey with a prospect Of engaging in tn
inevitable rough and tumble fight Of tn,
concert Of Europe" over the effects o
| the ''sick man.
Every plan for amelioration Of tn
Christian population Of Turkey by tn
| powers has failed because each power lla
been more interested in promoting an,
guarding it's own interests than in help
| ing these people, their mutual jealousie
making them consentient to the enormou
expressions and diabolfcal cruelties in
| ficted upon these wretched populations
Not a province Of European Turkey ha
| ever been liberated from the espresso
except thru bloody war, and it Is NOR
| than probable that, only thru the sam
tragical method, will what territor
which remains to the Turk in Europe b
freed from the. shadow Of the crescen
flag.
n