The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-16
Russia and the Turks.


In connection with reports Of the
Russia-Japanese war one hears much
of what is called "Tbe Balkan Situa-
tion." In all OF these foreign affairs
1here is considerable that perplexes
the average American reader, and yet:
in order to be accurately informed as
to the old world situation one should
understand the Balkan affair. An in
teresting article on this point is pre-
sented by a writer in the Chicago
Tribune. This writer explains: The
Balkans are known variously as the
cockpit, the powder magazine, and
the dirty risingS Of Europe. They
seem once again about to justify these
epithets. Politically, the Balkans
fcom prise the four nominally indepen-
dent Kingdoms and princedoms Of
Seryia, Bulgaria, Roumania, and Mon
tenegro; the northern part Of Euro
pean Turkey (Macedonia and Alba2ia),
and the Austrian provinces Of Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Ethnicaly there is
no BIlkan people. The Inhabitants
of these territories are the heteroge-
neous remnants Of many races who at
different times have dwelt in OF passed
over the southeastern corner Of Eu-
rope. There are Slaves, Greeks, Gyp-
sizes, Serbs, Bulgars, Jews, Turks, Al
banians. These various races do not
occupy different, well defined sections
of the Balkans, but are scattered
broadcast over the whole region. Next
to a Bulgarian village will lie Greek
one, on the other side town OF Mus
selmans, while the Roumanian gypsy
begs and steals indiscriminately from
all" According to this authority
the Turks have been miSruling Mace
donia most shockingly. The misrule
caused rebellion of the Bulgars in
Macedonia, who constitute a large
and perhaps predominant element of
the population. The rebellion was al
most openly fostered by Bulgaria.
The Turk would have liked to reply
by making war on that kingdom,
which is nominally a Yassal state, but
the European powers, and especially
Russia, told him to do no such thing.
The powers were afraid to trust any
one of their number to quiet Mace.
donia, so the task was intrusted to
Russia and Austria jointly. They
were to reorganize the police in the
disturbed Turkish provinces and thus
remove the cause Of the rebellion.
This was last summer. At this point
the Sultan managed to prevent Rus
sian and Austrian commissioners from
accomplishing material results and as
a consequence reform in Macedonia
did not make great progress, but the
Tribune writer says: Now come
the japanese war and Russia's preoc-
cupation in Manchuria. The sultan
becomes defiant, practically announces
be will chastise Bulgaria for its inso-
lence and treachery, and mobilizes bis
troops on it's frontiers. Bulgaria re-
spends byea counter mobilization on
the other side Of the frontier. Such
is the present situation. II the pow
ers kept their hands off Turkey would
undoubtedly, after war OF atrocities
unparalleled in Europe for centuries,
defeat Bulgaria and occupy that
country. But the only certain thing
in the whole chaotic situation is that
the powers won't keep their hands or.
They will not permit the Turk to ex-
tend his system in Europe. 1t may
be that all four Of the little Balkan
independencies will be drawn into the
struggle. In that case they are likely
to wind up as dependencies or prov
inces Of some bigger nation, which
would not be a world calamity, since
Servia. Bulgaria, Roumania, and Mon
tenecro are no better than they ought
TO be. Austria is now administering
two former Turkish provinces-Bosnia
and Herzegovinia-and administering
them well. They were formerly given
over to slaughter, pillage and perse-
cution, but they are now lands of
plenty and peace. II Austria is as
signed the task Of deodorizing and
diSinfecting another slice Of the Bal
kan territory her past performances
warrant the hope that she will do it
well. Broadly speaking, any settle
ment that leaves the Turk in Europe
will be but temporary, for as long as
be remains west Of the Bosphorus the
Balkan question will live"
The naval board at Washington