New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-27
6O-62 West 23d Street.
M4CEDONI4N PROBLEM.
Does Uprising Mean Effort for
Bulgarian Conquest

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Having read your editorial in The Tribuno
Of the 18th inst. about "Bulgaria's Dream % Con-
quest" have been trying ever since to persuade
myself that the special Washington correspondence
referred 20 therein can be justly considered or Ge-
scribed "one OF the most complete and correct
accounts Of the origin and nature Of the outbreak
IN Macedonia regret to say have failed ant
an unable TO see (even with all my Greek SYM
pathies) how the statements published In The
Tribune OF the nth OF that Greek official at Wash
iugton-I presume he is a Greek, rather than
Turk-osn be regarded anything but the utter
ances OF a rabid anti Bulgarian, whose Judgment
has been clouded by passion; conglomeTation OF
half-truths where correct. and Of absurd accusa-
tons where otherwise in short. what might oe
called a gross Misrepresentation on the whole
Starting with the gratuitous assertion that the
present uprising IN Macedonia does not aim at re-
form or autonomy Independence, but only az
the annexation OF that country to Bulgaria your
contributor goes to state that there are no 1e"er
than eight countries, Greece included aspiring 10
parts or the whole OF Macedonia "a well known
fact,. that Of the smaller natonalities the Bull
Earians have been pursuing that object the most
actively during the last twenty years through the
Macedonian committees. which are composed o.
Bulgarians and Observation-Disclosures exclusively
also a well known facD. and as such not 10 be
considered as representati OF the whole Mace
DOMAIN population. IN which the Greek element OUT
numbers the Bulgarian by nearly two TO one 'tSs'
Greeks as aganst $4,000 Bulgars); that the inter-
O.
BIZ their number they being engaged in commerce
and trade while the Bulgarians are merely agri-
culturists and cattle raisers; that incidentally the
Jews Of Salonca although not more than 5o""' al
toId) are also a very important element oelns
wealthy: that the Greeks maintain their own
scbools while the Bulgars depend outside AID
for thei- education. that Bulgaria. not satsheo
with being politically independent OF Turkey has
also made herself enthusiastically Independent OF
the Greek Orthodox Church. and that TINS inde-
re,dant Bulearian Church. becoming aggressive.
has tried 10 wrest Macedonia from the creek
Church but falling Of that. has Yet succeeded Ia
establishing an exarchats in Constantinople. eth
jurisdiction over the Bulgarian element In turkey
in spite Of vehement Greek opposition
Now. IL your contributor had confined himself to
an enumeration Of these facts more or less correct
with The addondum Of his personal opinion as to me
real object OF the instruction ito winch ne Is wei
GOMEZ he would have simply confirmed Us n our
o-fron 81 the BulCariau- the most vir1!e active
energetic possibly aggressive. race in the Balkan
re-i-s,,Ia: with passion FOR absolute independence
rnra-,ent alike Of either Turkish political or Greek
-esissticsl interference: ters Of the SOIL mostly
,g-,~a-t brt courageous and patriotic-With enough
common sense TO make up for VIVA: they lack IN
mental polish The fact that they are mere farmers
would rot the least prejudice against them the
people % this country. which prides Itself on us
r,-,s-se agricultural resources; and it would take
--o-a than a Greek official st Washington. mag
ire 10 convince the millions ot the great West tha-
the merchants the tradesmen Of the country. have
hotter title 10 its soil than the agrcultUrsts who
ovr II The fact that the Bulgarian Church has de-
rs-es itself 10 Dc independent OF the Greek. which
seems 70 have been more Of political machine IN
r--L,s,- Than ANYTHING else and such inimcal 10
The national interests q the Bugars. would Ger
.aiD1, recommend them the favor Or at least one
r-eat- church fn this country-if not 70 the whole
American nation The fact that Bulgaria maintains
shoots "a Macedonia for the benefit 81 the tax
ridden and consequently poverty stricken Bulgar
farmers OF that country would enlist the sympathy
OF all American patriotic. benevolent and mission
AIRY societies-
Ard we n7ieht turn round 20 that Greek Wash
s-r-on Official and ask him why. II the Greeks II
nra-Aso-ia are good. dociIe. wise, or eau
tfo,s or ANYTHING enough be satisfied with their
,-ese-t condition under the Turks. or 70 have re-
NAMED inactive during tire Greek campaign %
lso- ana ever since. 10 take no steps either 70
se.-,.-e their independence or 10 annex part. al
least. OF their country 20 Greece; why. II Greece
h7s done. is doing or is able 10 DO nothing 70 aid
.be Greek Macedo-ians 70 realize their political
ssrf-ati5.,s d. ;hsy have any. and incidentally
grstifv Ter ambitions while Bulgaria is doing
-trb Tor the Bulgarian element In the sane re-
rfo- vyorEr. indefstigably. 4 Is alleged. tow
ard their emancipation and her own sggrandize-
r,.-t Al the same time. why. IN the name % Zeus
and % the other heather rascals q Olympus. can
30. r-eera and the Greeks leave ne Bulgarian
Nrs~eso-I,rs alone 10 arttate fight sacrifice their
-.,sssssfous thar homes and their lives Il they
chr-ea 70 do 50. g. order 20 secure what they
consider 10 be the most elementary human rights
for themselves and incidentally FOR all their COM
patriots-the ndoent OF the wise or the otherwise
but must oppose them. spy on them. prosecute
chem betray and abuse and torture them with TIE