THE CONDITION OF MACEDONIA.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 SIB,—I am glad to see that " A Quondam Conservative" calls attention in your columns to the horrible condition of Macedonia. A friend of mine, who has lately spent several months in that province, writes to me as follows :— " The state of affairs in Macedonia now would justify any Power in intervening. Could yon have seen, as I did, those poor wretches .of Bulgarians who came to see me before I left, with the sweat of terror pouring down their white faces, from fear of being seen coming from my room by some zaptieh or other official, you would have felt that the time for action, and not diplomatic paltering, had arrived. An insurrection unaided is not to be looked for in Macedonia, for the Mussulmans are armed to the teeth, and the Christians are barely allowed to carry an ordinary knife to cut bread with. They are as helpless as sheep among wolves."
Surely the time has come when the Porte should be required to give some evidence of its intention to reform its administration in Macedonia. Thus far, the first step has yet to be taken to give effect to any of the recommendations of Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice and his colleagues of the European Commission.— I am, Sir, &e.,
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