The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-07
THE HuLGAnIAN INCIDENT

THE HULGAHtAN INCIDENT,
 In spite of all the peace conferences at Tho Hague, Europe is now quite as mach of an armed camp as ever 1t was, This is shown by the present sudden developments in Bulgaria Within the course of a very few days Europe has changed from quiescenee 10 such fev- erish excitement that the stock mar kets of tho world are seriously affect ed in consequence. The balance of European diplomatic relationships is, indeed, a delicate one. In spite of all their secret agreements and counter agreements, tho diplomats of the so- called powers are at no time absolutely certain what the morrow may bring forth. Like brokers, when disturb anco comes they hasten to "cover' their interests, no knowing what may happen next At no time in the his- tory of Europe nave the beginnings of war, even among the smallest states, been more dreaded than today That the diplomats realize thIs Is shown clearly by the way in which they have hastened to bring their influence to bear against an actual outbreak in the present instance in Bulgaria, but in any event to secure for their various states every "compensating advantage" which may be available.
 Events have moved swiftly within the year In southeastern Europe. Prob ably there were few in Turkey a year ago who expected that the so-called Young Turks movement would culmn- ate as early as 1t did, but contributary events so came that the uprising was | greatly hastened The Turkish uprs- i ing, in lts turn, has hastened the pres- ent Bulgarian revolt, which has been quite as long In brewing The Turkish army, during the sovereignty of Abdul Hamld, has bcen so honey-comhed that 1t Is weaker today than for twenty-five years. on the other hand Bulgaria is far better prepared for an actual con Inlet than may be generally supposed. Its military system has been developed 50 that its lighting force is today even more comprehensive than that of Ger many Bulgaria ls in position Q put one fourth of its population of i,OooOo Iln the field under arms at any moment, For a decade past sll,oooooo a year has been spent in organizing the Bulgarian army, sum Of money comparatively very large The Bulgarians are ma ton of fighters who are not lightly to be reckoned with by Turkey, especially in the laticrs present weakened con. dition
 That Bulgaria has repudated dc pondence upon Turkey which since lsi has been only nominal, Is not In itscl the main issue with Turkey We're thai the end Of the trouble which may now easily be expected, tho Turks might complacently accept the present turn oi affairs with the best grace at thell command. But the results are apt tC be much farther reaching Alread! Austria, backed up by Germany ha, declared lts intentions of annexlnl Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have both been under its proteetorate foI thirty years II is not difficult 10 fore see other cncroachments upon Turkisl authority in Crete. in Arabia and II Rumela, which since 1885 has been hel, by Bulgaria but has continued to pa! tribute 10 Turkey Just the same
 The complexion of tho map of Europ is in danger one change is the fathe of another and affairs become comple, with an alarming rapldity. Could caci sove be thought out independent of al others, 1t would be far simpler and bet ter but that cannot be, The presen prospects are that European diplomat may have good reason to burn the mid night oil in the next few months, If tn
 fever of revolt begins to rage in south eastern Europe.