The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-10-26
THE TURKISH WAR.

|, A formal declaration Of war
was made last week between Tur-
key and the Balkan Provinces of
Servia, Bulgaria and Montenegro.
Efforts were made to prevail upon
Greece not to take part in the
conflict, but she took sides against
Turkey. Already number of
battles have taken place along the
Turkish frontier in which, accord
ing to the most reliable press re-
ports, the allies were victorious.
What the final outcome of the
struggle will be, it is too early to
predict.
The situation in the Balkan
Peninsula is a peculiar one. The
country is made up of a number
of independent provinces and
others more or less autonomous.
Prior to the year 1878 these pro-
vinces were all under the DONNA
ton of the Turkish Government
at Constantinople. A large pro-
portion of the population is Chris
tian and, consequently, they were
made to feel their subsection, for
the Turk has always been noted
for his fanatical hatred of Chris
tians. His treatment Of the
Christians living in the Balkan
Provinces has been most cruel and
barbarous. Not only had they
nothing to say in the government
of the country, but they were sub
jected to the most terrible perse-
cution. The indescribable out
RACES inflicted upon them by their
masters prove the Turk to be the
worlds most inhuman butcher.
Under such circumstances it is
not to be wondered at that these
provinces revolted against Turk
ish rule in an effort to secure
their independence. When Tur-
key became embroiled in a war
with Russia in 1877 the Balkan
states realized that their OPP
portunity had come and they took
advantage Of it and rose in re-
bellion against their oppressors.
In 1878 Turkey was forced to
grant independence to Servia, Bull
garia, Rumania and Montenegro,
while Bosnia and Herzegovina be-
came crown provinces Of Austro-
Hungary. Albania and Macedonia
remained under Turkish rule and
during intervening years they
have been the theatre Of most in
human prosecutions in which thou
sands of their citizens have been
massacred by the Turkish arms
It seems strange to us that such
atrocities should be permitted by
the civilized countries Of Europe.
Tt is true that the indignities in
ficted upon the Christians in the
Balkan Provinces have stirred the
hearts Of Christian nations, but
nothing has been done to relieve
the situation owing to the jealousy
among the powers of Europe who
cannot decide what to do with
Constantinbple in the event Of the
subjugation Of Turkey. Tt may
be that the present war will bring
about a situation in which protec-
ton will be guaranteed to the
Christians of the Balkan PENN
sula. They constitute a large pro-
portion of the population and
nearly three-quarters Of a million
of them are Catholics.
In this war, therefore, the sym
pathy of all Christians should go
out to the Balkan provinces in
their struggle to- throw off entire
ly the Turkish yoke. Nothing
less than entire liberation from
the domination Of the Moslem will
give the Christians that peace and
security to which they are en-
titled. As long as they remain
under Turkish rule they need not
look for entire liberty, either
political or religious. The Turks
do not know how to grant liberty
of conscience to their Christian
subjects. History shows that
they have been most fanatical in
their hatred Of Christianity
throughout the ages and no mat
ter how well-disposed the Gov
eminent may profess itself to be,
it is impossible for it to do any
thing to render the situation of
the Christians secure. Fanatacism
is bred in the hone of the Turks