The National tribune., 1908-10-15

ever, brilliantly administered these two
provinces, bringing thrift and good or
der where only lawlessness reigned be-
fore. They have now been incorporated
into Austria, and possibly the success
of the Germans in this respect leads
them to believe they could handle the
rest of the Slavs in the Balkan Peninsti-
Ia with the same success. Possibly Ger
many and Austria see in Russia's pros
tration a chance to extend Austria's
rule over the turbulent, worthless Bal
kan States, which would make for the
peace Of Europe. Every year for CEN
turies there has been a war scare over
these, and certainly everybody, except
Russia, is heartily tired of the danger
Gus unrest. Great Britain and France
would doubtless be glad to Sc Austrian
rule extended clear to the Bosphorus.
At present we are assured that there
will be no war, in spite of the noisy
manifestations. Servia Is aruring and
demanding more territory, but she is
too insignificant to be considered unless
there is some larger power behind her.
It Is the same with Bulgaria, whose act
in assuming entire independence is a
mere technical proceeding. 1t means
simply that she TO longer recognizes
the Sultan as an sYerlord, and will pay
him no more tribute. Unless Russia is
bent upon war 1t does not seem as II
any general disturbance can follow.
What Austria Has Done for Bosnia.
When about 80 years ago the powers
of Europe decided that Bosnia had
stood quite enough from Turkey, and
that it was high time to call halt to
the expressions and cruelties which the
Ottoman Empire had heaped upon her
helpless subject, they appointed Austria
q sort Of big brother to the province to
look after its well-being, and see that
the Turks behaved themselves. So the
Austrians packed up and moved down,
and the Turks picked up the Star and
Crescent and got cut. and the newcom-
ers set up the tents they had brought
down with them, and looked around to
see what they should do first
Bosnia at that time was about as un-
desirable country TO live in as could
be found on the wide globe The Bos-
mans had been SO down-trodden and
tll-ueated by the Turks that they had
found 1t a waste of time to attempt to
get an honest living, and had taken to
brigandage as far more satisfactory in
every way. The hills around Bosnia
were full of these picturesque gentle-
men. and the man who left one town
without a military escort and arrived
safely at another had every reason to
congratulate himself When the Aus
fri2ns came along these brigands face
tously cut off the soldiers hands and
ears, and sent them to the commandant
OF the nearest post, telling him he was
perfectly welcome to what YVES left
Nothing possible could have delighted
these merry bands more than the start
ing Of a diligence line by the Austrians
thru part of the country particularly
infested Dy them. Every brigand chief
tried to excel in his collection of ears
etc, culled as mementoes from drivers
and guards. The people of the world
shuddered as they took up the morning
paper and read of the awful doings by
these brigands in far-away Bosnia. The
very mention of the name suggested
horrors unspeakable. Travellers for
tunate enough to escape its dangers
spoke OF II as comparable only to the
wilds Of Kurdistan, which few white
men had possessed sufficient courage to
penetrate.
But Austria did not propose to SUBJ
NIT quietly to this sort OF thing, and
she went after these outlaws with So
much energy and persistence that be-
fore very long all the brigand chiefs
had either been captured or driven out
Of the country. Then she set to work
TO develop Bosnia and help the people
She opened salt, iron and copper mines
swing honest employment to thousands
OF natives. She established stock farms
In different sections, and on a great
plain where the Turkish moguls had
been wont to hunt with their falcons
and picturesque sight II must have
been-she started a chicken farm
where now any peasant can get a set.
ting Of eggs of any domestic or game
fowl by the simple asking. She planted
orchards to show the natives how tC
grow fruit, and she turned stony waste.
into vineyards.
Before the coming OF the Austrian.
there was not road in the whole coun.
Try over which a wheeled vehicle could
uayel. Now there are good roads con.
Meeting all the villages, while the high.
ways are like city boulevards, fine, hard
splendidly built roads that any country
might be proud of. When Turkey was
running things public inn was un.
known. Naturally, with the travelling sc
bad people stayed at home. Now, how
ever, there are good hotels in every
sown, while at the mineral springs In
the mountains fine up-to-date Summer
hotels have been built. where from all