Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-02-25

poses, whatever they were in theory,
Bosnia and Herzegovina were prov
inces of Austria Hungary, and Bull
garia was an independent principally.
Undoubtedly the irresistible racial am
billions of the peoples, referred to in
a previous paragraph, are the most
potent influences that have been at
work. These instincts are finding
frank and open expression at this
juncture.
Bulgaria has been a powerful en-
pire in the past, possessing something
of glorious history. Many of the
greatest victories and conquests of
Turkey were due to the devotions and
reckless courage of her Bulgarian sol
diers, worthy descendants of the msu
who, fighting in the phalanx of Ale-
ander the Great, conquered the world.
The revolt of the Bulgarians and the
Bulgarian massacres following them,
brought on the last Russo-Turkish
war; which was closed Professionally
by the treaty of San Stefano. That
treaty created Greater Bulgaria, to in
clude Rumelia and Macedonia, those
parts of Turkey in which Bulgarians
formed the majority of the inhabit-
ants. The treaty of San Stefano was
revised by the powers at the congress
of Berlin and Bulgaria had the two
sub-territories taken away from her.
She regained Rumelia, but not Mace.
donia. The Bulgarians are the strong
est element among the inhabitants of
Macedonia, and Bulgaria has been in
tent upon regaining the province. The
recent Turkish revolution, and es-
pecially the intention of the Young
Turk party to Immediately reform and
strengthen the neglected army, ap-
peared to stimulate Bulgaria to action.
Great Powers Involved.
Bulgaria has two mighty neighbors,
and to conquer and hold Macedonia
she had to have the backing of first
class power. For that support she
turned to Austria-Hungary, having lost
the support of Russia when she re-
Russianize her army and to convert
Bulgaria into a Russian protectorate.
There are those who believe that a
Turko-BulgGrian quarrel would be only
one act in a great European struggle
for the control of Constantinople. 1t
is for Constantinople that Russia has
fought nearly all her greatest wars
since the time of Peter the Great and
Catherine H., and some critics fore
see a combination of Russia and Tur.
key, supported by Great Britain,
against Bulgarian aggression, which
they say, would be supported by Aus
tria and Germany. Great Britain is
concerned for her control of the Bos-
phorus and the Dardanelles, and
France has her border interests as
well as her entente with Great Britain
to consider.
The sovereign houses of the Balkan
states have furnished the melodrama,
II not the tragedy, of present-day his
tory. The most powerful and most
universally respected OF the Balkan
rulers to-day is King Charles of Ru-
mania. He is nearly 20 years old, and
in poor health. In his 40 years reign
he has developed the country into the
most prosperous and powerful of the
Balkan states. His wife is Carmen
SYLVIA" The melodrama OF this royal
house was furnished by Prince Couza
the present kings predecessor whose
L.. 81
much that they compelled him to ali
dictate. King Charles was German
prince and did not take the title CO
king until after the Russo-Turkish WI
OF 1877, when he aided the Muscovite
forces.
Three Monarchs Interested.
Greece comes into the present mix
up on account of her Macedonian in
terests, and also because the declara-