The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-10-31
EUROPEAN WAR.

The prospect of war over the proclamation OF
Bugara's independence seems rather remote at
this time, though there is telling just when the
condition will be reversed and the prospect of peace
become remote possibility Politically, morally
and religiousy the Turks have long been regarded
by the other powers of Europe an inferior and
deficient race of people, and nation to be cut
up and parceled out among themselves-lf they only
could agree on the apportionment Russia would
like to have seaport on the Mediterranean, her
southern outlet on the Black sea being impeded
with difficulties in the Bosphorus and the Darda-
nelles which prevent that free passage to the open
sea which she would like. Therefore Russia has
looked with longing eyes the possessions of the
Turkish empire and wished she had piece which
would make her southern ports seaports in fact.
1t is plain there is inner circle working
among the powers of Europe which has for Its deli
mite and permanent object the division and the
spoliation of the Turkish empire, only it must be
done in a large and benevolent way, without any OF
the discredtable things which sometimes accompany
the partition of territory among the mighty. Bull
garia's declaration of independence is not the sole
cause of the trouble; indeed that may be consid-
cred as merely an incident. She probably had the
of Berlin, as she probably had the consent of the
same powers when she seized Eastern Rumea some
twenty-odd years ago
In the situation in southern Europe there is
plainly the intention to finally cut up the Turkish
empire, and all the powers of Europe want is to
a fair division of the territory
The New York Tribune says the revolution in
Turkey was hailed by most of the world with pro-
found and sincere qualification 1t was placed upon
what appeared to be secure basis assuring to all
peoples in the empire a free and enlightened gov
eminent and to the empire itself rehabilitation
among the powers of the world. 1t was welcomed,
we say, by most of the world. But there were those
who regarded it with dsmay and with malicious OPP
position. They were those who had been sorddly
profiting from Turkeys weakness and degradation
and who looked for further profit in her future de-
cline and ultimate collapse. Bulgaria saw in re-
formed and rehabilitated Turkey menace to her
scheme of grabbing Macedonia, and Austria Hun
gary saw in it an end of her title to occupancy of
Bosnia and Herzegovina What then? Why, to
jump in and do the grabbing before Turkey in her
became too strong for them, and at the
same time deal her rising rehabilitation fatal
blow.
IHG PoWOAo dllaJSu against 1uIheS may De so
many and so strong that she will not venture to re-
sst, and the dread of a general European cata-
clysm may restrain from interference those pow
ers which are not parties to the deed and which
disapprove it. But if it does prevail
and seems to succeed shall be surprised if on the
whole it does not cause those who are responsible
for it loss rather than gain. 1t will not be an aus
picious page of history on which it is recorded
that the Moslem Turks sought to do justice and
righteousness and to enter paths of enlightened
progress, and instead of being encouraged and aid
ed were opposed and thrust back again into dark
ness and oppression by a league of Christian
powers.