New-York tribune., 1903-07-29
ONE BALKAN SETTLEMENT.

There are few more pressing problems IN
Europe than the settlement of Balkan affairs.
The condition Of things there, not only in Mace
donia and Albania, but also in Bulgaria and
Servia, is a mOnstrous scandal to civilization.
Law and order are f1outed. Life and property
are nowhere safe OF real progress there is
practically none. Turks murder Christians
and Christians murder Turks Christian Bull
garians kidnap and menace with death Chris
tian missionaries. and assassinate other fellow
Christians, for the sake of the suffering Chris
tans of Macedonia. Servian statesmen and
soldiers butcher their King and Queen, and the
whole populace goes into ecstasies of delight
over the savage work. What is to be done
with such communities?
For the last quarter of a century an i'm
preSsive object lesson, which might at least
give hints at an answer to this question, has
been perceptible right here in the Balkans-a
lesson which mas just been called to mind by
the death of Benjamin de Kallay. Thirty years
ago the very worst provinces in all that region
were Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not even in
Albania was brgandage so rampant. 1t was
madness to try to travel even a few miles in
those provinces without strong military
guard Good roads, hotels schools and the
other appurtenances of civilization were un-
known. Morals were nil. Murder was a daily
pastime. The country was the political and
social plague spot of Europe. In 1878 the two
provinces were placed by the concerted powers
under Austro- Hungarian administration. What
has been the result?
Austria Hungary has had a hard Job, no
doubt That fact is notorious. But 1t has per-
formed it through the genius of Benjamin de
Kallay, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have dis
appeared from the scene of wholesale crimi-
nalty Under NJ de Kallays wise and strong
administration brgandage has been suppressed.
Law and order have been established and main
tanned Crime has been punished and made
scarce Morals have been created and devel-
oped Schools have been built and education
| has been promoted. Roads and bridges have
| been built and hotels opened and the country
| has been made as safe and delightful to
travel in as it was formerly perilous and disa-
greeable Instead of being the worst Of all the
Balkan provinces, those are now the best-the
| best governed, the most civilized.
We do not know that this has been done with
! the consent Of the governed. We rather sus-
! pect not We do not think the brigands were
asked whether they were willing to be sup
| pressed, and we have no doubt that they
! strongly objected to and resisted the process of
suppression. But the process was persevered
in, with results creditable to the doers of the
work and gratifying and benefcent to the
| whole world 1t might be a little awkward to
put Servia and Bulgaria under such administra-
ton. since they have been erected into tnde-
pendent States There would probably be a
lot of clamor against thus disposing of Mace
donia and Albania. But who can question that
it would be greatly for the good Of the people
of those countries, and Of all who have any
thing to do with them, to have them dealt with
as Bosnia and Herzegovina have been? Beyond
doubt men have a right to life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness. But not even Bulgar
or an Arnaut has the right TO murder, oppres-
sion and the pursuit Of pillage.