Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-12

years are practically all graduates of !
Roberts college which was established .
and has long been maintained By
Americans. Most all of the teachers .
in this college have been Americans
and our ways and ideas have permeat-
ed Bulgaria from one end 10 the other.
The men who have directed this new
nation from the first have been gradu-
ates of this American college and most
Of the wives of these men are gradu-
ates from the American school for
girls in Constantinople. These men
and women even speak with an Ameri-
can accent. Their houses, libraries
and clothes are American. In fact. I
could introduce one of these Bulgari-
ans into New York society without
any one suspecting he was not a United
States citizen. / truly believe there is
not a nobler race anywhere than these
people.
OF course, the other Balkan states
are not as advanced as the BuIgarians;
but they are as fully advanced as their
opportunity warrants. In other words
/ the people of all of these nations, in
Guiding Greece, Montenegro and Ser
via. have made the best of their oppor-
tunities. They should now be encour-
aged instead Of discouraged. For Aus
tria 10 attempt to bottle up Servia is
a disgrace. For Italy to attempt 10
steal from Greece the islands of the
Aegean sea is contemplate. For
France and England 10 stand by and
allow this carving up of nationalities
and permit this smothering of freedom
is likewise not creditable.
But this conflict between the old and
the new. between oppression and pro-
gress, is not restricted TO the struggle
between Austria and Bulgaria with her
allies. As I travel about Europe talk
ing with the leading bankers and mer-
chants. ! find all the old nations divid-
ed into TWO factions. The conservatives
or the descendants of the old arisJo-
cratic families which democratic gov
eminent has put out Of power. favor
Austria in this. her last struggle. The
church. which has been bereft OF much
property through the granting Of suf-
frage favors Austria, and is opposed 10
. the Balkans The older vested inter
ests. which have their money invested
in Turkey. Austria, Italy and similar
countries. don't want anything done
o. which will make these older nations
o. appear weaker-in contrast with new
er and stronger nations.
Therefore. believe this fight is not
/ against the Balkans alone. but against
all progress and freedom. If Bulgaria
p does not get Adrianople or is not pei
, mitted to keep it, freedom throughout
+ the world is insulted Bulgaria is
be- fighting our fight and the fight of ever!
: free people on the face Of the earth.
. The conservatives and the reaction
? lists OF Europe are alive to this fact
y which is the underlying cause OF thu
2 present conditions in the far east.
In fact. find a conceusus OF opinion
= that all the conservative and aristc
!. cratic interests in every one Of tn
d European nations is railyiug to the All
p Of Austria in what they themselves b.
P lieve may be the last great struggi
in battles for supremacy between II
Q old and the new. go further and sa
4. tina # il were not for the aid Of thes
y scattered conservative interest
. throughout all Europe the war woul
70 have been settled definitely last De
n cember
S Auctria bae M e-ra,,y+l ,F Lareo1
n TO keen up a fight. Her record doe
not even entitle her to a right at tn
e conference table OF the great power
IT To my mind, the very thought of Au:
r tria advising" Bulgaria is like 2 RIB
81 of North American Indians advisin
r our own government AT Washington
" simply because tney-the Indians
ut have a longer history and were frs
O on our soil, Moreover most every on
D. over here knows and admits his. II
only the secret aid which the old Co
r. sentative and rich interests of F.
s rope is giving to Turkey. Austria an
o the other enemies Of the Balkan state
s that has permitted affairs to develc
IN as they have
The present state Of affairs has bee
d. caused by the great powers-or. rat
IN er by the conservative interests i
81 tiuenciug their ambassadors. The co
= ference Of the ambassadors at 10
~ don. like every previous confererc
ny was called in the interests OF artist
ou Cracy and vested wealth and contral
Sc to the interests OF freedom and pr
OF gress.
Before the powers commenced TO
as terfere. the Balkans had the Turl
. whipped: and, if left alon could har
forced a real and economic eace. tt
interference OF the powers simply 4
layed matters and encouraged Turk
10 continue 2 IOng tho rOad ~ das-r,