Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-09

kumanla'S to learn all about
Leading Role n ,nosr who are .ns,'
Attention is specially directed to the
Balkan states, which are being dis
cussed in political circles as a possible
permanent union and best fitted to pre-
side over the Dardanelles, which it is
assumed In some circles must be inter-
nationalized. Rumania. having pre-
served the equilibrium Of the Balkan
states at Bucharest in 1913, is perhaps
the most fitting successor of the Turk
as the chief of the Balkan bloc.I
The liberty of the Dardanelles affects
In different degrees all the Balkan mic
states. even Serbia, to which the Danube
opens the way to the Black sea. Ru-
mania Is vitality interested because she
is bottled up effectively at Constantine.
But the Dardanelles is also of vast i'm.
portance for Greece, who along all the
coast of Point Eutin commerce has in
terests OF long date. The problem of
into new phase and even Russia II
Is assumed. does not aspire today to
govern at Constantinople as she did in
the eighteenth century, but recognizes
'ne importance OF international control.
humanla economical advantages, az
those Of Russia, Bulgaria and Greece.
are manifest. for their agricultures and
industrial products would find new out
lets to the Balkanic peninsula and to
the archipelago. 1t goes without say
ing that such union is only practi-
cable when the problem of nationalities
has been arranged for that part of
europe under conditions of equity and
OF sun1cient stability. At the present
hour the solution of national questions
, takes the lead of all others; II is the
first condition. The prosecutions direct
ed against the Ruma mans of Austria
Hungary during three-Quarters of
century by the Magyars have placed
the problem in a critical phase today.
The question of the Rumanians of
Austria Hungary is scarcely known in
Europe. and not at all
RumanlanS in America. In order to
:, A,.&r;. mark its extent and the
III Austria. legitimacy of national
Rumanian aspirations, it may suffice to
trace the historical evolution of the
Rumanian race.
The nation consists today in the
southeast of Europe of total of thir-
teen to fourteen millions, of which
twelve and half millions, united in
compact group, occupies, north of the
Danube, the region composed between
this river and the northern arc of the
Carpathian chain, the Tissa on the west
and the Dneister on the east. OF this
number. seven millions and a half con-
stitute the actual population of Ru-
mania. The kingdom of Rumania is
composed of the two ancient provinces
of Moldavia and Valachia, united IN
1859, and which formed Danub1an prln-
hA vnrn
Doubroudja, situated south OF the Dan
ube. The others are scattered over
adjacent territories: million Ruman-
ians inhabit Russian Bessarapia, the
remainder is subjected to the Austro-
Hungarian empire and inhabit the prov.
inces designated under the names or
Pennsylvania, Bukovina, Maramuresn,
Banat de Temesvar and Crishana.
A detached group which by historical
vicissitudes lost contact with the trans.
danubian Rumanians is disseminated
in Macedonia, in the mountains of Pin
dar and Albania. These are designated
CThe term "Vlah," or ''valach,'' is de-
rived from the word Welsch) From
the seventh century ancient writers
lachorum" (natio, Walachica: populus.
valachicus). The people give them
selves the name of Aromani. The num-
Der is about 100000.
There is in Serbia besides a certain
important Rumanian element in Timok.
estimated at 10000:
Under Other also another group in
Istria. There the Ru-
0oVeInments. manian language, in
contact with the Italian language, has
Italianized. and in losing its proper
character carries with it the donation
alization of the inhabitants. That is.
besides. a phenomenon of frequent &C.
currence. There exists between the
language of a nation and its specific
genius relations SO close that the modi-
fcation of one determines fatally a
variation of the other. 1t is remarkable
that in the vicissitudes of its evolution
the Rumanian nation has been able to
ma intain its characteristics and the
consciousness of its national unity. An
essential factor of this clinical re-
sistance has been the rigorous mainte-
nance of the Rumanian language among
the people in the provinces. The in
ha bitants of the cities have habitually
shown a tendency to submit to foreign
influence. and a glance at Rumania's
past proves this assertion.
Ancient Dacia was colonized by the
Romans under Trajan. Besides
these colonists there may be included
the Roman soldiers of the 5th and 18th
legions, also other Latin elements that
followed from Rome. Italy, Gaul and
Dalmatia: also some Greek colonists
from Asia Minor. notwithstanding
which Dacia was completely Romanized.
The Daces and the Getes. which oc-
cupied Dacia prior to the Trajan &C.
cupation, were people from Thrace.
who had passed from the south to the
north of the Danube about the time of
Alexander the Great of Macedonia.
Latin became the national language and
the customs and spirit OF that race
were implanted. The latinization Of all
when under Aurelian (271) the Romans
withdrew their legions from Dacia and.
falling back before the invasion of
the Cloths, transported their legions to
the right bank the Danube.
Dacia was thus in the commencement
of the barbaric invasion q compact ma
ton, Roman in language. and occupied
both banks Of the Danube. the country
which extends from the Carpathians to
the Balkans and from the Black sea to
the Adriatic. This nation is none other
than the Rumanians of today.
After the departure of the Roman
legions, the Goths, the Gepides and the
Huns successfully. invaded Dacia; the
Inhabitants of the country fell back
before the barbaric overflow and, aban-
doning the plains. found refuge in the
there. jealousy preserving their ma
tional language and their clinical in
dividuality.
In the sixth century the Avares came
from transcaspian regions in Asia and
pushed before them the slavs met in the