The sun., 1904-06-17
RUMANI4 NOT A BALKAN STATE.

1t ia the usual practice Of geographers
and photographers to treat Humana az
one OF the Balkan States. In the best map
vet made of the Balkan peninsula, a map
| In four sheets, Rumania figures as part
| Of it. All the educated persons OF the king
, dom object to this inclusion OF their country
in the Balkans and base their protest not
on sentimental but on scientific grounds
They say that neither in geological struc-
ture, in race, nor in political condition Is
Rumania part OF the Balkan Peninsula
On March ls last, King Charles I. pre-
sided over a meeting Of the Rumanian
Geographical Society at Bucharest. Ihe
society listened TO very able ana
forceful presentation by Mr.. Alexander A.
sturdza Of the scientific reasons why Ru-
mania should no longer be included by
eeographers and photographers In the
Balkan Peninsula. The audience looked
at maps, published in France and else
where, in which their country is still included
under the general designation Of Turkey
in Europe" 1t was decided to take steps
to prevent as far as possible the inclusion
OF the country in future maps and aliases
az one OF the Balkan States.
The society has therefore sent memorial
to all geographical societies and to lead
ing geographers and map houses in every
part OF the world, in which 1t requests at
tenton to the purely scientific grounds
upon which Rumania bases its claim to
be a part of eastern Europe and not OF the
Balkan Peninsula. The memorial refers
to many precedents, showing that it is
not unusual to submit to geographical So
cieties questions OF general or merely
scientific interest on which 1t is desirable
that geographers should be in accord. 1t
presents a French translation OF MIR.
Sturdza's address and asks that the ques-
tion in its purely scientific aspects receive
consideration from foreign geographical
societies and photographic institutes. The
belief is expressed that this request will
be favorably received and that "a legitimate
and well founded desire Of the Rumanian
people will be gratifed."
The argument and the array OF scientific
data which accompany the memorial are
very detailed and comprehensive and only
brief resume need be given here
From a geological and geographical
point of view it ia shown that the Balkan
mountains existed long before the Car
pathian ranges, which form the back
ground of Rumania and dominate the
Rumanian plains. The Balkans formerly
we're a part Of the mountain system ex-
tending from the Crimea to the Caucasus;
but the Carpathians are part OF the oro-
graphic system OF the Alps. The relief Of
the country and the nature OF the soil also
diferentiate Rumania from the Balkan
lands. The Rumanan photographic sys-
tenn is essentially different in character
from that of the Balkans; and the forma-
ton Of the Danube valley by the disloca-
ton OF the rocks at the Iron Gates, about
the close Of the Tertiary epoch. gave birth
to distinct line Of geographic demarca-
ton between Rumania and the Balkans
On the north side OF the Danube are the
low plains OF Rumania, while on the south
side are the higher terraces OF Bulgaria.
The climatology Of Rumania is under
the influence Of the Carpathians and the
Danube, but is not affected in any way By
the Balkan ranges. Wallachia, the SOUTH
ern part Of the country. ia a geographic
unit, with an individuality we'll defined
and perfectly distinct from Bulgaria and
the other Balkan countries. From the large
mass of facts adduced, it Is argued that
either the Danube itself should be regarded
as the boundary between Rumania and the
Balkans or this boundary should he fixed
further south along the line OF the most
northern Of the Balkan ranges.
The chronological facts show that the
primal basis OF the Rumanian people, as
far az history discloses, WAS Pelasgtan-
Iranian -Thracian and later Roman and
Dacian There is absolutely no ethnic re-
semblance between the Rumanians. on the
one hand and the Turks. the Bulgarians and
the Servians on the other The Turks are
of Finnish -Mongolian origin, the Servians
are southern Slavs and the Bulgarians are
Mongol Savs. Excepting the Greeks and
the Albanians, the Balkan peoples belong
in their origin to the Mongol Asiatics, with
whom the Rumanians have absolutely no
point of ethnic contact There Is some ad-
mixture Of the northern Slav in the Ruman-
ian race, but not of the southern Slav, strong
ly Mongolized, which gave birth to the peo-
Piles of the central Balkans.
Anthropological tables Of measurements
and other data are given to show the strik-
ing physical differences between the Ru-
manian and Balkan peoples which establish
line of separation between them.
Many facts are also given to show that
the psychological tendencies and the men
tality OF the Rumanians strikingly diff
ferentiate them from the Balkan peoples.
Intellectual culture and civilization are
much further advanced in Rumanis than
in the Balkans, and in this respect the nation
north of the Danube more nearly ap-
proaches the western nations Of Europe.
The legislation Of Rumania and the man
ners and customs OF its society are western.
The State is independent. has its own vital
ity and constitutes in the civilized world
an element OF order and peace, OF progress
and liberty. The nation says that its coun-
try was the highway OF pagan Rome during
the barbarian invasions. the highway OF
Christian Rome in the Moslem invasions
and it believes that 1t will be the highway
OF European civilization in future genera
tions.
1t should be added that not all geogra.
pliers have included Rumania among the
Balkan States. DR.. Philipson, one Of the
most authoritative writer's on the Balkans
for example, calls Rumania a Danubian
State and diferentiates 1t from the Balkan
Peninsula to the south Of the Danube.
Texas Boycotters and Public School Teacher
To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-.Sir! wish 10 direct
yony attention In A pey and MALIGNANT outbreak