The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-11-08
LANDSLIDE TO WILSON AND MARSHALL
CAUSES OF BALKAN WAR
TURKEY FAITHLESS TO Her PROMISES
TO PROTECT CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS.

The clearest and best statement
we have yet seen, of the causes lead
ing to the present Balkan War, was
sent by a correspondent from Con-
stantinople to the Baltimore Sun"
He shows how for years, Turkey mas
broken her promises made IN the
form Of sworn treaties to protect the
Christians in her dominions.
Turkey announced that she had
decided to apply the law OF 1880
| in Macedonia in conformity with
Article % Of the Treaty OF Berlin.
This treaty, to which Turkey was a
party (and the party who gained
most), selemnly pledged justice and
equitable treatment to the Christian
populations of European Turkey. AS
these Christian populations were be-
ing handed back to Turkey after they
had been emancipated by the Treaty
Of San Stefano, the powers and Tur-
key were assuming sacred oDnga-
ton. Turkey was receiving gift Oh
the promise Of good behavior. The
powers were mourning great risk
i'm putting back Christians under
Moslem rule, and it certainly has
been their responsibility to see that
these Christians did not suffer toe
much as, a result of their Jealousy
and selfishness.
This was "a years ago, and two
years later the law Of 1880" was
drawn up. Had Turkey enforced this
law, had the powers, successfully in
sisted upon it's enforcement, the
present war would not have been
fought and the Balkan States would
not have to be giving their blood fo1
the freedom Of their oppressed kins-
men in Macedonia.
Broken Promises.
When we study the history Of
Turkish promises to reform three
things are found That the promis.
es are numerous; that they are never
made except under circumstances
analogous to those at present, ant
that they are never kept.
There are just 100 of these "promis'
es" in the form of sworn treaties ex-
tending from 1774 to 1904. Not one
of them has ever been observed. This
could be proved by an examination o1
the treaties themselves. They re-
iterate khe same points for 125 years
The burden OF the last promise is the
same as that of the first, and asserts
that his Imperial Majesty the Sultan
will grant to his Christian subjects
in European Turkey liberty and
equality before the law with Mos
lens.
Prosecutions Always Increased.
Every edict of reform that has been
given out by the sublime Porte under
compulsion Of the powers has been
followed by an increase in persecu-
ton of the Christians. The Bulgar.
ians and Servians and Montenegrins
and Greeks know this. They live
next door to Macedonia, and It is their
own flesh and blood which is being
offered UP every year as the price o1
maintaining the Turk in Europe. AZ
! long as they were weak and disunited
they had to listen to the empty prom
ises of the Porte and the diplomatic
platitudes of Europe. Now, for the
moment at least, they are united, and
who could be credulous enough to
think that promise to apply the
law of 1880" would have held back
their hand The promise was hypO-
critical, as all Turkish promises have
been. 1t was mere blind to gain
time to complete military prepara-
tions and replenish an empty excheq-
uer.
During the past summer The Sun
correspondent has been through
Macedonia and seen with his OWE
eyes the unspeakable conditions there
\ 1t IL easy enough to talk OF peace
conferences and reference to The
/ Hague tribunal from a comfortable
London or New York chair. The
Turk knows only force in his dealings
with others. Only by opposing force
violence to violence, can his grip up
on the wretched Macedonian be loos-
ened. In Bulgaria and Servia and
Greece and everywhere one could
hear about this approaching war
The Balkan states risked everything
to aid their enslaved Macedonian
brethren They were fully aware
that Austria-Hungary would rob then
tof any material advantages which
they might have q right to realize
from victory. SO this war for then
was a crusade, and, having taken UT
their arms In holy cause, they were
determined not to lay them down"