The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-21
WILL THEY LEARN FROM HISTORY?

the history of Europe began. The refusal OF
the European powers to recognize Justice la
their dealings with these little buffer states
has cost the lives of thousands of nearly every
nation of Europe in war. and the lives of thou
sands of Christians in Turkey by massacre.
The congress of Vienna established modern
vivendi by talk; by war it was smashed. BY
talk the congress of Berlin established
modus vivendi; by war it was smashed. Now
the congress OF London is in session, with rep
resentatives from the Balkan states and from
Turkey present Should peace negotiations
fail will there be another conference OF the
powers of Europe and, If SO, will they pro-
coed on the old lines, cast the crumbs to
those who and live in the peninsula and
attempt to establish another temporary ar
rangement to last until it is again smashed
at the price Of wholesale murder? Or will
the medieval spirit with which the servants of
kings we're imbued at Vienna and Berlin be
lacking, and the void filed by desire to do
justice and by knowledge of the fact that q
status quo Is the name for an impossibility?
Jealousy and ignorance have caused ths
world untold woes. Which is responsible for
more trouble is a difficult question, but when
the two are combined great is the misfor-
tune that follows in their wake The congress
of Vienna was notable for the presence of both
The powers were jealous of each other and
traded and bargained without reference to ary-
thing but the maintenance of another old mar
of the sea to Europe-"the balance of power"
| Ignorance OF the onward march Of progress;
ignorance of the fact that people who live in
a country have some rights and in the course
of time will exercise them, led them into the
foolish belief that temporary arrangement
was the only arrangement that could be made.
Independence of the Balkan states, under pro-
lection OF one of the powers. If necessary, was
the right and the best thing to be done. but
they were ignorant of the fact. To give the
Balkan territory to Austria or Russia or both
was the best thing to be done according to
their lights, but jealousy of these two nations
prohibited 1t. The result was modus vivend
giving Europe time to prepare for war
which could result only in another modus
vivend
! So what was not divided into pieces was
given to Turkey The war came-seVerai OF
them. Greece threw off the Turkish yoke.
Roumania won It's independence. With the
help of Russia Bulgaria won her freedom The
status quo was smashed TO smithereens, and
the congress of Berlin was held Again ignor'
ance and jealousy played their parts and the
same old farce was enacted. Again the terri
tory was divided, and again the Balkan coun-
tries played the old Nick with the arrange
ment The artificial nations did not stand the
test of time, and fell before the onward march
of progress. The Bulgars, the Serbs, the
Greeks, the Roumanans and the Montene-
grins. the latter having maintained their in
dependence throughout all the farcical med
ding OF Europe. did pretty much as they
pleased and when they considered the time
ripe they joined together, moved down upon
Constantinople, and did what Europe long
since could and should have done, put an END
to the ill-health of the Sick Man of Europe, &C
cording to the approved method of quack ply
sicians. That is to say they killed him.
The European powers have learned much
since 1878, with the help OF the Balkan states,
and ignorance should have little part in any
congress of the powers that may be held. but
will jealousy and greed be eliminated? Aus
tria alone appears to have learned nothing,
and Austria's greed seems Unsuitable 1t was
Austrias greed which forced the congress Of
Berlin. after Russia had forced Turkey to agree
TO the treaty of San stefano. which dealt with
the Balkan question with some degree OF en-
lightenment Austria wanted then what she
wants nova port on the Adriatic She did
not get 1t and was unsatisfed. but for that
matter SO we're all the other powers, and SO
were the Balkan states. but modus viyendi
had been established, and the plenipotentiar,es
returned home still ignorant OF their iguor-
ance. but we'll aware OF their greed
Later Austria thought she saw her chance
and grabbed Bosnia and Herzegovina. The
result was to strike fear into the hearts OF the
rulers of the Balkan states, and to make pos
sibie the Balkan alliance. Old enmities were
forgotten in the presence of new dangers Blu,
Austria has not forgotten that Adriatic pc
and threatens the peace of Europe to get IL.
Her cabinet coup" following the treaty of
Berlin, by bringing the Balkan states closer
together. defeated it's own purpose for ii
time: her announcement that Salonika must
be her part OF the booty won by others may
rfyat the bonds of that alliance and hold Ser