The Roumeliane Rvolution

It is among tho beliefs of Christians that nothlng wa made without pnrposo. Turkey, ïor iustauce, wasmado ' to bo carved. Although tho Turks, not being Christians, may not karbor this comforlablo belief, the history of European politics during imich moro than half a century estabüshcsconclusivoly its verity. l'etor and Frederiek carved and denouncod poor l'oland without inviting to tho feast any of their neighbors, aad perhaps it was the oompleteneM of their suecess that caused the former to try liis skill as , hoad carvcr upon Turkey. In that oxperimcni, however, he was not sniFerod ! lo proceed without assistanco. and ever sinoe then, at not very long intervals, the business of oarving Turkey has occnpied the attention of all the j "great powers" of Europe. Naturali ly, thcro havo been quarrels, bloody and savage quarrels, aiuonjr tliu carvers for tho savory cuts and succulent joints, and the hcad carver has not always had his way, but the outoonio of every quarrel has bcon for Turkey onl.v i new dismomberiuent. The modern kingdom of Greece, Albania, Servia, Bosnia, Roumania, Bulgaria, are amona: the dissovered fragmeuts of what was, a century ago, tho great Turkish empire. Egypl, also, is a fragment in another continent that has been virtually severed in the long process of extinguishini; tho Mosleui power. Advices from the cast point very plainly to the probability that the worid is about to witness a further oarving of Turkoy. The revolntion in the Balkan región means, and ■ ly proposes, the complete excisión of the great province of Eastern Koumelia. But it is not alone the loss of Kastern Roumelia that now threatens tli- "unHpoaknblo ïurk." Jt i-; uU volted province- or, ratluv, torecover his right ander tlio of Berlin to extort nioney from it, which is about the extent of his practical dominion over it,- by forco of arnis. But if he is preparing to earry war to the north for the recovery of Eastern Koumelia, th o Macedonians are preparing to i niako war in the wost for tlo sover: anee of that great proviuco. Thessal}', al.so, is more than willing to secede, and Greece is more than willing to repeat the oxploit of the priuce of Bulgaria by seoouding the secession frota I'urkey of all the Hcllenic provinces. ; At Athens a popular denionstration has taken place in favor of Greek j torvention in Macedonia, and the primo : minister of King George declared to a depiitation that "if events threatened interferenoe with the expansión of Hellcnic dominion, Greoce is ready to intervene"- a declaration that nuay j mean niuch, or uothing. Austria has conwmeni. Vundsiï1 tiöpunuencies, ' and King Milan of Servia excitediy declares that "Unless we are all going to be kept quiet together, I must be one of the lirst to move!" Tho question is: Are they "all gomo; to bo kept quiet together?" To that question Turkey bas already answered: "No! The porte has issued a circular to the signatory powers, protesting that tho conduct of Bulgaria in aunexing Eastern Roiimclia is a violation of the treaty of Berlin,--a fact asplain to all the world as is the existence of that treaty,- and making known that the sultan has resolved to maintain its stipulations in relation to Eastern Roumelia by force of arms. VVhich means that Turker is not going to keep quiet undor the carving-knifo of Prince Aiexander of , Bulgaria. Very well; the evident nrobability is that the march of a 1 will be asignalthat will light the torch , of revolución in Macedonia, ynd set in I motion at the opposito extremity of the Turklsh empire anarmy of Greeks, an army of Sorvians, and heaven only knows how many more European armies. It would seem that only a prompt , and decisivo attitude by the signatory powors can restrain a movement of Turkey that almost certaiuly would start not rnerely a revolution but a ' contlagration from Thermopylee to i the Danube; from the Adriatio to tho Dardanelles - a conllagnuion tliat in its outeonio would reduce the "mili! tary camp of the Turk in Europa" to ' tho limiled compass that evontually will precedo bis predestinated retirement to tho Asiatic sido of the Bosphorus. Will the signatory powers ; take the step that the conditions of a I paoiflc seltlemcnt of tho disturbance i roquiiv? Tho question involvea ! other one: Can they do ftï The re are oonflloting interests, ambitions, ; projects, to bo hannonized, amoug which how to obtain harmony may vet presont the most diffloult quostion of I all. One thing, howerer, is extremely probable. AVhether-tho problem bei of poace or of war, it is probable that Eastern Koumolia is lost to Turkey. Bulgaria has taken it, and tho chances are, whother tnè question takes the course of diplomacy or of arms, that Bultraria will keep it. In the outcome of all uncertainties, the one certainty is that it is in the destiny of