The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-03-26
MACENDONIA AN
ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM

I1NOGNtAE G14S IVA ~ ~ AVA
Wherein Macedonia best represents
all the elements in Balkan politics
which go to make them the most un-
certain of all possible politics and the
most prohpet-confusing of all things
in the world, is shown in a communi-
cation to the National Geographic So
ciety by Luigi Nillari, concerning the
races and religions OF Macedonia. Be
sides rejecting in an intensified way
the conditions which have made devel-
opment difficult throughout all the
history of the Balkans, this former
Turkish strip of territory in the heart
of the peninsula, today is largely re-
sponsible for the preoccupation with
neutrality of Greece, of Albania and
of Bulgaria. Describing Macedonia S
peculiarly Balkan nature, Mr.. Villari
says:
Macedonia has for 1000 years
been the dumping ground of different
peoples and forms; indeed it is per-
feet photographic museum. The
mountainous nature of the interior
made it difficult country to conquer,
and the various invaders were never
able completely to absorb the diff
ferent peoples whom they found in
it. While the greater part of dis
trict was occupied by the invader, the
aboriginal inhabitants retired into the
mountain Businesses and there main
tain their existences; one race estab-
lished itself on the seacoast and ano-
Their held the interior"
Thus succeeding waves of immigra-
ton and conquest overlaid this coun-
try with various strata of peoples, cul-
tural systems, anti-cultural systems
and religions; and established it with
mass of contradictory relationships
to the remaining lands of the Balk-
ans and to the remaining races OF
Europe. For example, a large Bull
garian population looked to Bulgaria
for their future political develop
ment, while large Greek population
looked to Greece. Then, there were
Servians, Albanians, Roumanians
Vlachs, and Turks to complicate the
racial and national expression Of the
country, Heterogeneous in races
| languages, customs, histories, ideals
religions and in everything else, the
writer points out. Macedonia was ar
easy problem through centuries for
the Turks.
Macedonia, Mr.. Villari explains
formed neither a racial, linguistic
nor a political unit under Turkis
dominion. 1t was the first land in Eu
rope colonized by the Turks. Geo.
graphically, it is a unit, lying just
above Thessaly, at the head of ancient
Greece, and at a remote period of its
history it formed a kingdom Since
the war of the Balkan allies with tn,
Turk. Macedonia has been incorpor
ated with the modern Kingdom o.
Greece. However, the Bulgarian
government still makes the cares o
the several hundred thousands of Bull
garans there its own, which increase,
the delicacy of Grecian- Bulgarian re
lations. The Albanians have an in
terest similar to the Bulgarians in tn,
Macedonian administration.
The languages spoken in this stril
Of land are many, the writer continue!
while the various religions have beef
in a state of more or less bitter con
hict for centuries. Most of the Chris
tian population of Macedonia, h,
says, belong to the Greek Orthodo'
church and these, whether Greek
Bulgarian, Roumanian or Servian, ar,
counted by the Greeks as Greek pop
ulation. The majority of the Bull
garians, however, belong to the Bull
garian church, the Bulgarian Exarch
ate, former members who severe
their connections with the Greel
Orthodox fold. There is much bitter
ness between these two missionar.
denominations of Protestant faiths
slam and Rome and various mission
airy denominations of Protestan
faiths divide the remaining popula
} ton.
Thus. Macedonia is a complete pic
ture of the Balkan difficulties wher
aims, ideals, and nationalities are S
diverse, mixed and irreconcilable a
to make progress, concerted effort, al
most impossible.