New-York tribune., 1905-01-31
RELLICOSE BULGARIA.

The renewed predictions of trouble in the
Balkans appear to be based not so much upon
expectation of Macedonian revolt as upon that
Of Bulgarian intervention. There is probably
almost as much cause for a Macedonian upris
ing as there has been at any time for years
The promised reforms have not been fulfilled
The old abuses are still largely practised. Per
haps there has been some Improvement, espe
cially in the organization and control of the
police. but it has strengthened Turkish control
of the country at least as much as it has allie
waited the burdens of the people. Moreover
there is much reason for doubling if the revO-
lutionists are as strong to-day as they were
year ago. Thus the danger of an actual upris
ing of the Macedonian people is somewhat less
imminent than it was.
Bulgaria, however, is no less bellcOse than
she was, and her belligerent efficiency is proba-
bly, greater than it was a year ago. She has re-
Gently addressed to the Porte pretty stiff
series of complaints and demands, with an init
nation that either Turkey must or Bulgaria will
do something pretty strenuous at an early date.
The complaints are, In the main, that Turkey
has not fulfilled the engagements of April last
and that the evils then so odiOus are still in
unabated existence. The demands are, natu-
rally, for the fulfment of those engagements
and the abatement Of those evils, with little
more added by way of penalty for the delay.
If the most trustworthy reports are true, Bui-
garia has much provOcation TO this action Eye
witnesses describe the situation In Macedonia
as very bad:
Even the so-caled work of 'paciflcation" has
not been properly carried out-the villages
burned last year have not been rebuilt; the
spoiled farms have not been restocked The
doles allotted by the Turkish government to the
ruined peasantry have been distributed for one
or two months only, and not, as was promised
continuously. Many of the released prisoners
ha haan or
Of the Temissions necessitated by last year s
devastation, the oppression Of the tax gatherer
which is not far removed from legalized brigand-
age, is again in operation. The country Is still
burdened by ubiquitous soldiery under purely
nominal control. the cost of whose maintenance
is In the remoter districts, perhaps the least OF
the evils their presence involves. In the Adria-
uople viIayet the conduct of the troops is a con-
stant theme of consular complaint, and the out
rage at Gumendja shows that in Macedonia
proper a skirmish with insurgents is still made
the excuse for the indiscriminate destruction
of a Christian village Nothing has been done
TO reform the law courts and the system OF ad-
ministering justice throughout the western prov
inces. Albanian freebooters still plunder and
blackmail the peasants, while the authorities
fear to send expeditions against them lest their
own undisciplined troops should again devastate
the country. That minimum of reform which
Lord Lansdowne demanded has not been put in
TO effect.
That is a most unsatisfactory showing for q
region in which drastic reforms were supposed TO
have been put into effect nearly year ago. 1t is
not to be wondered at that Bulgaria is irri-
tated and is developing a belllcose disposition.
Doubtless, too, she reckons that Russia's en-
barrassment in the Far East is Bulgaria's op-
portunity IN the Near East. The trouble is,
however, that Bulgaria cannot settle the mat.
ter alone. If she could, the world might with
equanimity stand aside and let her do it. But
there is every reason to expect that In a simple
duel Turkey would quickly whip and crush Bull
garia. Then the European powers would have
either to permit Christian nation to be crushed
by Moslem nation, which would probably be
deemed intolerable or TO take hand in the
war themselves which would be a procedure of
ominous potentialties. From whatever point
II Is viewed therefore, the situation is calcu-
lated to arouse grave anxiety The forebeding
of trouble in the Balkans Is. we know. much
like the oft repeated cry OF 'Wolfv' In the
fable But we also know that in the fable the
wolf did come, at last.