3 AUGUST 1895, Page 2

The Macedonian revolt is apparently crushed. Even in Sofia it

is admitted by the Macedonian Committees that the insurrection has proved a failure. The Turkish troops seem to have acted with promptitude and vigour. They cut off all the sources of supply, and guarded the springs of water. That, very likely, was a legitimate act of war, but unless the Turk is a different person in Macedonia to what he is in Armenia, it is to be feared that the unfortunate peasantry must have suffered terribly. On the whole, those who desire to see the Christian subjects of the Turk freed from their torments, should be glad of the collapse of the revolt. It could not have been really successful, but while it continued, the Sultan had a good excuse for delaying reforms. He could argue with some show of justice that he could not adopt new schemes while a province was in insurrection. You can hardly expect a man to adopt a new drainage system while his house is on fire.