Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-11
SHALL RIGHT PREVAIL?
Explanation of the Trouble in the
Balkans.

Explanation OF the trouble IN the
Balkans.
Montenegro has declared war on the
Ottoman Empire"
The above headline ina daily news
paper indicates that hostilities are in
progress between two nationalities and
that one of these people is the "Un-
speakable Turk"
But what of Montenegro?
Where is Montenegro?
Why should Montenegro wish to
fight Turkey?
Until the time of the treaty of Ber-
lin in 1878, Montenegro was small
principality embracing about 1710
square miles of area, lying in the
northwest Of Turkey and bounded by
Bosnia, Herzegovina, Dalmatia and the
Adriatic sea.
BY the treaty Of 1878 Montenegro's
size was increased to $3.50 square
miles. The country is made up Of
succession Of elevated ridges, with here
and there lofty mountain peaks rising
to heights Of from 5000 to 5000 feet,
interspersed by a few verdant and
beautiful plains and valleys. In these
intervales and surrounding table-lands
the soil is fairly fertile. The climate is
healthful and the invigorating atmos-
phere of these mountains has produc-
ed an industrious and liberty loving
people.
Montenegro is distinctively an agri-
cultural country and one in which al
most all Of it's available land Is thor
oughly utilized. There are no cities in
this land and the largest town is Pod
goritza with less than 10000 inhabi-
tants.
Cettigne, the capital is a village Of
about $500 people and has lived
through the experiences Of Turkish in
vasion, sacking and burning in the
years, 1888, 1714 and 1885.
The religion of the Montenegran is
Greek Catholic, and yet these people
have been forced to suffer Moslem
domination for centuries. Fifty thous-
and men to bear arms would probably
deplete Montenegro Of every male in
habitant between sixteen and sixty, for
it's total population Is less than 300,-
900. Add all of the able-bodied men
Of the other Balkan states and still
their number would be insignificant as
compared to the hordes Of trained
fighters that Turkey could mass
against them.
England, France, Germany, Austria,
Italy and Russia, all Of them great and
powerful nations, all Of their peoples
acknowledging the living God as their
King Of kings; and yet that the nice
themselves might not be disturbed,
they have permitted the Christians Of
the Balkans to suffer indignities, afro
cities, humiliations and tortures Of
mind, soul and body, that are unbe-
lievable, and If credited there would be
no language to describe.
Down to the south Of Turkey lies a
little country, rising up between the
Ionian and the Aegean seas; that,
should it occupy anything like the
space on the map, that its accomplish
ments of the past give to it in history.
there would be very little room in Eu-
rope to hold the great nations afore-
mentioned.
Greece too has felt the mailed hand
of the Turk. Wounds deep and rank
ling abide with them to keep in mem
ory the many wrongs Of the past, and
the Grecians stand ready and willing
to line up with Montenegro and the
other Balkan states, that they all may
obtain justice, and too they may be in
spired somewhat with the desire for
retribution.
Greece is in no sense a world power.
Almost like the Jew, has oppression
brought about wide scattering Of
the Greeks. But to even greater eX-
tent than the Zionist centers his hopes
in a restored Jerusalem, Is the breast
of the self-expatriated Greek filled with
the desire that his fatherland may
throw off the yoke Of the hated Turk.
Much comment is made on the char
acter Of the Greek-American citizen.
His thrift, his economy. his industry,
are noticed. and often Is 1t heard that
his competition is unfair to any one
with American rearing as they practice
an economy and mode Of life that is
impossible to a native-born American.
Greece needs money and men, and
Greeks with their money are answering
this call from all over the world in a
passion Of patriotism that is the Won
der of all people.
Montenegro has lighted the torch
and from this flame a bonfire will
soon illumine the Balkan hills. The
sympathy Of fellow suffering transmits
the fire to Greece.
''Watchman tells us Of the night
What it's words of promise are"
AS the pail Of smoke gathers over
these countries, and the din Of distant
battle-in fancy can almost be heard;
we naturally desire to known what
will be the attitude of the rest Of Eu-
rope toward these belligerents.
VIII England, france, Germany,
Austria, Italy and Russia, occupy the
monkeys place-as We have the story
of the monkey, the cat, the fire and
the chestnuts-and just let matters
shape themselves as they will, to use
whatever is the convenient medium to
pull for their own benefit, whatever
may be the chestnuts that this fire Of
war has roasted, and the burned hands
to Montenegro, Herzegovina, Bosnia,
Albania, Dalmatia and Greece?
When will the greatest powers Of
Europe cease to do that thing which
makes all Of their intelligent, right
thinking citizens blush to recall to
memory? They seem willing to sell a
future self respect for a mess Of pot
tage that may be critically and care
fully divided right now.-Greenville
Piedmont.