The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-08

erected into Independent and semi
independent states, right up to the
time when their alliance was mace
known. a few short weeks ago. they
suffered from mutual rivairies ana
jeaIousies, which prevented any one or
them from assuming an authoritative
voice in European affairs. and made
1t easy for Turkey to hold them In
check by playing off one against the
other, just as she did for ten years In
Macedonia, prior to the oyerturning
OF the old government of Abdul
Hamid by the Young Turks. Torn
and bleeding from Entertainment at the
hands of brutal soldiery and rapacious
officials, Macedonia rose in revolt
And what happened? Instead of
presenting united front, which
might have given them some chance
to throw Off the yoke, the Greeks
fought for themselves, and the Bull
gars fought for themselves. the Serbs
fought for themselves, and half the
time, instead of fighting the Turks.
they fought each other. There could
be but one result to such a revolution,
which soon degenerated from revo-
luton to anarchy
wen, by this and many similar les
sons, not only at the hands of Turk
ey. but of Russia and Austria--yes,
and Britain, too--the Balkan peoples
learned that, standing alone, they
were helpless to do anything, but how
mutely to the orders of their big
neighbors. They determined to bury
the animosites of the past, and sim
ply remember that one and ali of
them, when everything had been said.
had exactly the same interests.
Look at the result In one short
~ ha patb
federation lifted their countries from
the level of barrier States and local
tiles for comic-opera sceneries to
position equal with that of any of the
great powers. Instead of being told,
do this or do that, they win be adj
dressed as equals and their advice and
counsel sought. They have found
union, and in union lies power-a mot
to directly contrary to that which
was the watchword OF Turkish di-
piomacy this past century.
Counting in the territories which
nave been conquered in the recent
lighting, and others which will GER
tainiy accrue to them by any treaty
they Will sign, the allies may reckon
upon d combined population of more
than 100000 with other millions of
| their kindred in Austria and Hungary,
| Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rouman-
| Ia, not to speak of more than 2,00O,0
In the United States, who have amply
| proved their readiness to rally to the
| support of their fatherlands. They
car at present put at least 1000, 900
armed men in the field. who have
| proved themselves the equal of any
troops in Europe.
So much for the last question ask
| ed. For the others, we'll, the pre-
dominance of Bulgaria in the group
| has always been SO marked that the
A.! neighboring countries have become
| more or less accustomed to seeing
her favored. She has the largest pop
ulation. the biggest army, and, in the
long run, the biggest resources. Furth-
ermore, her ruler Is generally recog-
I nlZed to be the ablest Of the Balkan
/ kings. Also his coronation as en-
peror would not necessarily mean an
hereditary tenure of the imperial
crown by HIS family.
The throne might be held only for
life, with the provision that, after his
death, the kings might elect his sue
cessor from among themselves, and
so on.
How better than by a military en-
pire, similar to the solid ring oil
Teutonic states which we're welded
together for exactly the same pur-
poses. and which have clearly vindi-
Gated their builders perceptions? Fer
dinand Of Bulgaria, crowned emperor
of the Balkans, in the Church of ST
Sophia, with his capital---who knows
in Constantinople, might revive al
the giories of the eastern emperors
and as the logical successor through
them of the Roman Caesars wouIt
perhaps be able to build up a state ir
southeastern Europe second to mons
on the continent
Would the European powers permit
such a step? Why not? Is there 8
ruler at once sufficiently selfish and
sufficiently daring enough to forbid
it, What reason has Europe to fear
a. prosperous, civilized nation, or COM
munity of nations, in place of &
group Of tiny states and a rottenly
corrupt empire? And If Europe objects
to the allies Selling Constantnopie
what is he going to do with it? Tur-
keys day in Europe is manifestly al
an end: she must go. There is nc
getting away FROM this.
Look at ii how you may. Con
stantinople Is the logical capital OF
the new empire of the Balkans, just
as Car Ferdinand is it's logical en-
} peror.