Year: 1879

ern Lirhts'' has many charms. Thus ends the first
part MacGahans activity in his capacity of news
THE EASTERN QUESTION.


The struggle of the Slavs to throw of Turkish
rule awakened ardent sympathy in MacGahan He
wished to be sent OUT as correspondent with the
Slav insurgents. The London Daily Neacs proposed
TO him to 80 to the Turkish army aud, receiving
leave of absence from the HERALD, he accepted the
Offer in his ardent longing to get to the of the
struggle. lie could not bear the thought of watch
ing the of events from the far away West of
Europe. His sympathies with the Slavonic
very strong and he sincerely believed in their
future mission. when the whole of Eastern Europe
would belong to them. He lett Paris at the end OF
June, 1876 never to return On his arrival at Con-
stantinope no was not in hurry to join the Turkish
camp, but stayed some time in the capital trying
to become acquainted with the state of things
there and with public opinion concerning the war.
In the meantime some accounts OF Turkish mlsdeeds
against the Bulgarians reached MacGahans ears and
he eagerly seized the opportunity go to the place
where the disturbances reported to have taken
place. The manner in which he accomplished the
difficult task imposed upon him has not been for
gotten as yet, and his laundering missiyes to the
London journal have been published in separate
Never did the writings of q Journalist produce
such a worldwide and decisive effect. 1t
those Bulgarian letters Of MacCiahan which
gave Turkish rule the most powerful shock 1t
was to create in few weeks complete and utter
reversal OF policy which had been the traditional
policy of all English statesmen and OF the over
whemng majority of the English people for gener-
ations. For generations the defence OF the integrity
and independence of Turkey. necessary to the in
terests OF England. was accepted a dogma which
could more be questioned. even argued. than
that the daily rises. 1t in defence Of this
policy that England had passed through the terrible
sufferings and the enormous expenditure OF the
Crimean war but twenty years before. Through this
thrice-strong stronghold OF national prejudces the
pen of MacGahan pierced. Tho agitation which his
letters produced in England can only be imagined
by those who lived through 1t. There was scarcely
a single town throughout the whole country in
which enthusiastic meetings were not held. and in
each of these the resolution condemnatory OF Turk
ish rule followed by another resolution return
ing thanks to MacGahan for having helped to
pose its horrors. But all these sympathics evoked
in the West did not last long: Russia alone was
getting ready to draw her sword in defence OF the
oppressed Bulgarians.


WITH RUSSIANS.


In February. 1877 MacGahan received orders to 60
to Petersburg and follow there preparations for
the war. He waited with the greatest patience
'crossing of the Rubicon" and he accompanied our
army to the war. His old friendship with Skobelef
streng and he appreciated the heroic bravery
that General all the because of his being de-
voted to the great cause which occasioned our war;
MacGahan's heart ached and bed continually for
faults and mshaps; but he reoced with successes
and dcspaired OF our final success. But
during the long winters campaign MacGahan's
strong physical nature undermined by fever,
and the general bad state of his health during tho
campaign showed him the necessity of seeking re-
pose and recovery at home. But he would not con-
go away before the definite settlement Of the
fate OF the nation whose rights he had defended for
such long time. And besides. after the treaty. OF
San Stephano the conclusion seemed to be 30 near
at hand and satisfactory that it would have been


pity. indeed. to have denied himself the pleasure
of assisting at the forming of united Bulgaria.
But the formation of Bulgarian principaty did not
appear to MacGahan to be the final solution of the
problem of the Slav nationalities. He profoundly
believed in the vital forces of the Slavs. and fire.
quently asserted, that whatever the obstacles
which were put in the way by those on the outside.
the Slavonic nations would be united in one COM
pact whole. When and by what means that could be
accomplished it would be premature to decide be-
forehand. but he never doubted that great future
much he loved the Bulgarians and believed in them
can be judged by MacGahans own correspondence
from Bulgaria.


And every mention he made of the Russians was
always full Of such hearty sympathy toward them
that his criticism regarding the action OF the
Russians during the campaign tended to raise
the anger nor the Indignation of any one of u.s.
which do not always dare to acknowledge to our
selves and that he did not tell it because he judged
our suns to be signs OF premature decay OF Of four our
nched to see how great was our strDgth and yet to
how little profit used 1t. how little faith had
in ourselves, and how great is our inclination to
leave all 10 mercy time and accident What
have here stated have taken entirely from the
accounts of the intimate friends and near relatives
MacCiahan. and they derived from many con-
versations with him the subject regret to say
that was unable to obtain MacGahan's private
letters to his friends and relatives in America writ
ten during the period OF his efforts for the OF
the Slavs. Those letters remain yet unedited in
America


END USEFUL LIPR.


In April, 1878, the proposition OF the meeting Of
an International Congress was raised and MacGahan
desired to attend it. After the Congress he intended
to go to England and apply himself to the writing OF
great work. the idea OF which had long been cher
ishcd by him. He wanted to write up the complete
history of the Eastern question in connection with
the history OF tho separate naonalities whose fate
depended upon its solution and detailed review OF
the events OF tho last war. Luckily he did not fore
what the joint resolution of the civilized
powers in the world would be. Hctook to the grave
with him his most iSndly cherished III Illusions con
mined to return to America after the termination of
that work. which to be the great task of his life.
and to settle down to quiet life taking up the pro-


ession Of advocate for which he had studied before
beginning his career journalist. 1t is very much
to be doubted whether his now career would have
satisfied his lively, active nature, but whom those
plans were being formed he was already so tired so
broken down with fatigue that he ardently longed
for some tranquility and repose. Notwithstanding
his advancing illness he always at his post. He
visited the Russian position at the 'front.' and con-
tinued to send detailed reports to England On the
4th of June last the long expected order
joining AIacGahan to get ready and start soon as
possible for Berlin where the Congress was to meet
But his preparations for departure were impeded by
a serious illness that terminated in typhus. which
brought him to On untmely end in Constantinople.


rHwARTED.


He died previous the meeting the Congress- not
at all imagining that half the fruits of glorious
victories would be taken from us. Though Mac
Gahan knew already. to his own sorrow. how rapidly
the public feeling had cooled down regarding the
Bulgarian atrocities, yet he would never credit the
European Areopaeo with courage enough to lend
a hand for such purpose achieved at Berlin.
We Russians did not OF course, share the happy in
credulity of MacGahan concerning the possibility of
the advent of tho state of things which
created by tho great affair at Berlin.
In first hearing that our treaty of peace
was TO be submitted to the Congress with its
eminent "crouper" at the head OF the table, were
prepared for all and did not wonder at anything.
But had MacGahan lived long enough for the meet-
ing OF the Congress and his mistake, il quite
certain that he would never have shown In that
affair the indifference which subsequently, dis
played by many among u.s. That old civilized world.
which so zealously endeavored TO crush whole ma
ton just rising OH the scene OF history calls to mind
the words of St. Matthew xvii 66 and itself appears
to unprcjudiced mind like "newly rest ored
tomb" All that il very painful for those who
do not refuse TO look the matter in the faco They
know that revived nation cannot DO confined to its
grave by stone sentry.


MEMORY.


But let us be guided by the example of that
stranger. so dear to and 50 untimely lost to our
cause-that stranger with his unshakcn faith in the
future of our people.