New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-20
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
CONDITIONS IN MACEDONIA.
Abuses Could Be Readily Remedied Under
European Control

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: After vainly waiting than quarter
of a century for the six great powers Of Europe
redeem their solemn pledge that radical reforms
would be established in European Turkey, the peo-
pie of Macedonia were asked by the same powers
excepting Gerrnany-some two years ago 10 wait
just trife longer, for now they had agreed upon
a beautiful scheme which would speedily compel
the Sultan to establish order and mete out jus
tice to high and low in every corner Of the land
People in Europe and America marvelled that In
the face of such a positive assurance the revo-
lutionary committees continued their preparations
took the field and carried desperate guerilla
warfare with the Turkish troops. But to the for
eigners who resided there and studied the s1tua-
ton the insurrection not in the least mar
vellous The truth is no one had any faith In the
success of the reform scheme supposing the
two powers. Austria and Russia. to whom was in
trusted the carrying out of the scheme, had any
faith in it and would faithfully eDdeavor to carry
it out. 1t is noteworthy that thrs far the willy
Sultan has easily checkmated the two civil
agents of Austria and Russia at every important
move.
The world does well to applaud plrcky little
Japan for standing up and standing out against
a big boastIng empire and Americans shout
the loudest But here is this old sick man or
Constantinople chuckling over all the trained dip
lomats of Europe. I submit that he merits slap
on the back Honor TO whom hoHor.' And those
diplomats of Christian Europe deserve a slappins.
too. All the reform talk OF the great powers -
simply talk of the very windiest sort.
We would naturally sympathize more with the
Macedonians they working unitedly 20 secure
a toerable government. 1t is somewhat discon-
certing find that it is simply case Of help
less Christians being trampled on by hcugE{y i9L-
lowers of the false prophet, but Bulgarian pands'
Greek bands and Servian bands all OF them mrs rs
tan, while fighting the imperial troops ana tne
mounted police. are engaged in bloody encounters
with another. This condition is due howeEser
in large part to Turkish misrule. The Sultan Jos
this hatred. The more the better ne -
adept in manipulating it. Were score OF new
empire it would rejoice his heart PTesq IN 9,s ne
1t for all it is worth No European PotentaFei
votes more time in close attention to state aHdI
the actual Situation in beautiful misgoverned
Macedonia, and the ease with which IL couln o, us
government under F;uropean control I'm sure they
would be deeply interested and would give expires
sion to their views. especially now that we are o
veloped into great world power .sih,a For the
At this late day it is utterly impoSsphIe d0F I bs
corrupt officials to set abou[ 1t in gG0G Ii With a
European, Christian governor general. answer2Tpie
only to Christian Europe Thousands OF the Ma
hornetan subjects. even, would prefer sucn gov
eminent to the present state Of anarchy. 49, IT,.
Let me insert a few sample items OF a I9n5 !IS'
I'm the village Of Blatch Greek nsurgent band
had an encounter with Turkish troops; one 9IdieTs
was k bnS1v and G2d Tme IuThSn oii''o'
I'm g 9ebrishte a bulgarian band and servian
band met Five Servians, including their leaoel
Trenko Isko, were killed .,,. 80 Mo
turkish soldiers surrounded the village OF .+ No
gtla near Nonastir before dawn and shot tnTeg
unared peasants The next day the soaI t IN tbe
three of the villagers who were at work IN tile
fields The government subsequently IoTEg1 that
head men Of the village to sign declaratloII III III
fine six men were members Of a rebel PIANO anu
that they were all heavily armed when they were
"A Greek band of hundred entered 9T bIeJ
titled one man wounded three women ana 9u f
+iaiJa bouses because the village had turned from
tbe creek Patriarch the BulGar txarcn;; .,-.
"a Greek band burned the houses OF flVe Irdilo''
IN the village of Besvino -. ,,oF
III .oTvo Turks of Presochani murdered two mos mol
fensive villagers of Belchishta at hoo" II
blood" It'll. 4,t1- ~ the NOV
1nfe aTs being kept for months without even
hnowlis 80 easily brhe the authorities to bring
them to speedy trial and i the the os
is rather safer in Jail than in his prlva{e Td
But the ails are not capacious enoq IGN 10
.baI+er to the whole Christian popLlatlQn
PIainfeId n j. Oct. "A, 1905. h v hHDi'