The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-09
TURKEY AND BULGARIA.


TURKEY AND BULGARIA.
The condition of Turkey Is hapless
one. Distrusted by the great powers who
have assumed sort Of guardianship
over It, dscredlted by finnnciers, distross-
( ed BY the Macedonian revolt and race 70
face almost with war with its vassa1
Bulgaria., It knows not w,ither TO turn
for help and sympathy. 1t has no real
friends and doesn't deserve any, II IS
a blot upon the age and times.
II was d sorry admission that 1t mad
to make when 1t said 1t could not guar
nntec the safety of the embassies In Con-
stantinople, and when 1t virtually invited
tho nations to land marines to proteot
the lives and property Of their represent
& tatiyes there. And this some have already
Y DONE But with It's accustomed Willingness.
Turkey IS believed to have done this with
a view to casting doubt upon the good IN
tentions OF tho Macedonians and bul-
garlans resident in Constantinope On the
other hand those very same residents are
covering with fear and dread lest they
Should be mnssacred In an outbreak which
is liable to occur at any moment within
: sight of the palace Of the Sublime Porte.
But no matter what was the Interior
purpose Of the Sultan in warning the le-
cations to take care of themselves, It
waa humliating thing to DO
If the Sultan Is not confident that no
can hold in check the Macedonians and
Bulgarlans who arc residents OF Cons
stantinople. heaven only knows how no
can manage them elsewhere
The Pope secs in the Macedonian situa-
ton SO grave danger that he has urged
his friend the Emperor of Austria. to So
cure an agreement of the great powers
to intervene. From all accounts the blood
shed must be terrible. The Sultan pro-
ceeds upon the theory that tho more
Macedonians he kills the less trouble no
will have In that country. Meanwhile
quiet and respectable residents are be-
tween the upper and neither milestone be
tween rowing and uncomfortable bands OF
their own countrymen and the soldiers sent
there by tho Sultan to preserve order
Our sympathics quite naturally go out
to the Macedonians. but statements wo
have seen from persons who must he con-
sdercd reliable make us doubt whether
the Macedopiahs are carrying on war;
fare which can be justified from the
standpoint OF the highest civilization.
X However, they have been keeping bad
Z company 80 long. and have been tho
victims OF so much oppression and cruelty
much must bo pardoned them. AS matters
stand honest and quiet folk do not care
to fall into the hands either of the Sui
tans soldiers or the Maccdonians bands.
What the Sultan wants the great powers
to do Is to hold hands off until no can put
down the Macedonian revolt. What Bull
earia promises to do is to be neutral,
but what she really is doing is preparing
for war. Meanwhile tho Macedonians
are secretly receiving sympathy and holp,
money and men. from tho Bulgarian poo
pie.
The principally Of Bulgaria IS under the
tho treaty OF Berlin, 18th of July, 1878,
and Is governed" by Prince Ferdinand
OF Sake Coburg, The estimated population
of United Bulgaria is a,7S3,lS7. or these
2,GO57S6 are orthidoX Greeks 6i3.253 are
Mohammedans, and the rest are israelites
Roman Catholics. Professionals, etc
1t would seem that Russia and Austria
wanted the powers to Intervene With the
view OF seyering the relation now OK
listing between Bulgaria and the Mace
DOMAIN insurgents. 10 this Germany as
sen,ed but the other powers have OBJ
jected, and the proposition which came
from Russia, therefore, has fallen
through That the Bulgarians arc backing
up the Insurgents seems to be conceded
by everybody except by the Bulgarian
authorities themselves.
From a letter written to the Bostor
Transcript BY Vladimir Andref Tsanott
it appears that the Turks "dd not suffa,
such heavy casualties during the wholt
course Of the Greeco-Turliish war a.
the Macedonian insurgents inflicted upo,
them in tho Two battles already fought.
According to that writer, the 'rebel" ~
gan!zation Is of the most formidable char
aster. He states that it has existed 10
the last seven years, and that 1, Is entire
~ independent of the Sofia Committee.
z According to his account the Srltan'
troops rule over Macedonia by day, Will
the insurgents roam the country by nigh
The latter hold meetings In the Chris
tan villages calling out the peasants I
drill and lending them their rifles &c
that purpose. Later on the villagers az
secretly supplied with arms. The tot'