THE NEW ERA. IN MACEDONIA.
MEN who have displayed the patience, self-control, and far-seeing patriotism of the Young Turks can hardly have expected that the almost miraculous trans- formation of July 24th would not require many strenuoini months of labour before a real reform of the Turkish Empire could be consummated. As was apparent from our article last week, their present largo measure of success is due to two reasons : first, that plans and preparations had been so carefully made beforehand ; and secondly, that so largo a proportion of the population had been indoctrinated with the views of the Committee of Union and Progress. But although the prieciple of reform is indelibly established, the serious work of detailed organisa- tion and remodelling is presenting some of the difficulties which might have been expected from the history of all previous revolutions. The roses of the first triumphal arches are now fading, and the work of cleaning out or destroying the plague-spots which they concealed has begun in order to make room for the fresh and seemly edifices of the future. It is dirty work and dangerous work, as the reformers are now fast beginning to realise, and, as plague officers in India know, work which may sometimes air up a riot among the victims whom they seek to benefit. But in spite of the stern measures and hard problems still before the Turks, that spontaneous burst of enthusiasm, that demonstration of brotherly love among all races and creeds of the Empire, which astonished the world last month, was all pure gain. One good moment of stieh generous feeling stimulates and braces a, nation, even when the anicuri aliptid appears, nor is it wasted in the dark days of labottr and misunderstanding which must inevitably follow.
The difficulties have shown themselves in various ways. Some of the Governors in outlying parts of the Empire lia,ve refused to recognise the Constitution, and have required coercion to bring them to an understanding of the facts. Strikes have occurred, and disorderly members in certain provinces have thought the moment opportune for an exhibition of their permanent hostility to the good order of society. But these outbreaks have been remarkably few, and have all been suppressed with an ease and rapidity which are a striking testimony to the wisdom, efficiency, and strength of the reformers. But the situation in Macedonia is more disquieting. The long years of misrule and oppression have not had the effect here of killing the spirit, of the people, and making them apathetically thankful for the smallest mercies. Cruelly treated as they have been, they have never despaired, and, though it has been in a most inefficient maueer, they have been constantly seeking a remedy for themselves; and they have kept themselves alive. The causes for this difference front other no• less unhappy portions of the Empire, such as Armenia, are fairly obvious. The Macedonians have always felt that they have civilised Europe at their gates, profuse in sympathy, and to some extent active in assist- ance. Little as foreign gendarmerie officers and the Financial Commission may have accomplished owing to the obstacles thrust in their way, they have at any rate kept some fear of European opinion in the Sultan's instruments, and have always suggested the hope that their hands might be strengthened. The Macedonians have also had the example of the success attained by men of their own race in Servitt, Bulgaria, and Greece in throwing off the tyranny of the Turk and in carving out their own destinies to console them. The very discord of nationalities in Macedonia ittelf has been an element in keeping alive the traditions and pride of race of the warring elements. Each rate, se far from acquiescing with sombre fatalism in Turkish mis- government, has even had dreams of some day ruling over the Turks and the other rival races also. And now that the Committee of Union and Progress have done more to secure justice and reasonable liberty for Macedonia than for any other oat of the Ettipire, fee these reasons it is perhaps hardly surprisilig to findthiti province the least grateful and the most troublesome. It is ttue that Albanians, Greeks, Serbs, Belpre, Vlachs, and: Turks all gave one another the kiss Of peace in the first few weeks of enthusiasm, and that the bands have nearly all ostentatiously surrendered,—Hilmi Pasha reported: recently that a hundred and twelve bands representing twelve hundred and seventy-nine men had come in. But it is a significant fact that feW, if any, arms have been given up, that the separate national organisations are gill very active, and that even the bands have not been entirely inoperative.
The Ulna and the Tentps in some notable articles froth correspondents at Constantinople, Salonika, Sofia, and elsewhere have given a lucid picture of the difficulties and warring interests to be dealt with by the reformers in Macedonia. From these emerge the following main points of controversy. The Young Turks are naturally anxious that nothing beyotrid methods of administration should be changed until the Parliament meets next November. Any reorganisation of the provinces or alteration in the system of government must be fully considered and decided upon by this body, which will be representative of the whole of the Sultan's dominions.' It is true they have adumbrated a programme of certain necessary reforms, such as that of education and of some points in the Constitution, but that is left for the consideration of the Legislature. On the other hand, the Bulgarian organisation in Macedonia, the strongest and most effective of all the racial organisa- tions, have Made demands entirely incompatible with this Constitutional method of proceeding. They are not content with the small proportion of represen- tation which they will obtain in the Parliament, but require that Macedonia should be treated as an almost autonomous province with special regulations, and an Assembly and Administration of its own. Previously no Christians had been enrolled in the Turkish Army ; for the future they are to be liable to serve; but Whereas the Young Turks not unnaturally say that the Macedonian' Christian soldiers should be liable for service throughout the Empire, the Bulgarian Committee wish to confine their duty to Militia service in Macedonia itself. And apparently the malcontents. go further, for they require that their stipulations should be conceded even before the assembly of Parliament. Such demands, of course, cut at the root of the Young Turks' policy, and incidentally explain their otherwise unaccountable friendliness to that notorious rascal Sandansky, since, in opposition to the rest of his nation, he has adopted the cry of Centralism as opposed to Federalism. One of the reformers' most effective motives for action was disgust at the gradual disruption of the Empire, especially as exemplified by the interference of the Powers in Macedonia ; and one of their principal aims is to strengthen its seuse of solidarity. The loose federalism, therefore, claimed by these Macedonians is entirely at variance with their views. They are no doubt willing to make certain concessions to Macedonian senti- ment. They are not uncompromising on the question of ' a uniform system of edecation for the Empire, or on the present method of representation in Parliameet, which might bear hardly on the comparatively advanced European province, and they would probably even Make Berne con- cessions with regard to military enrolment. But they lay down the very reasonable condition that nothing can be definitely settled until the Parliament meets. Otherwise their whole policy of popular govern ineut is nullified, and the disruption which they feared only accentuated.
In England special sympathy has been long felt for the Bulgarian inhabitants of Macedonia. forming the largest proportion of the population, they have been particelarly singled out for oppression. We have also 'bellied to respect the Bulgarian State, which, on the whole, ha S shown wisdom and self-restraint by no means due to coescioue weakness. Bet at the present monied, when by the action of their MuSsulmite felloW-subjects the Belgarian Macedonians have been relieved of the tyranny against which they had themselves lung been vainly contending, they would justly alienate sympathy by extravagant at inopportune demands on their liberators. No doubt some of their requirements are reasonable ; but the proper method of presenting them is to the Turkish Parliament, which must necessarily take stock of all the aspects of the question, and do even-handed justice to all parts of Turkey in Europe and Asia. An inability to see the altered circumstances would show them wanting in political instinct, while any renewed activity on the part of the bands would lead European observers to suspect that neither justice nor liberty was their aim, but that they were tainted with incurable lawlessness requiring a strong hand to repress them.
One last word as to our own action. It is not unex- petted, but none the less pleasing, to find that the quiet and solid work of our representatives in Macedonia is bringing the tribute of gratitude and respect from the Macedonians which it deserves. Perhaps at no time more than the present are the qualities of tact and self- effacement of which they have given proof in the past more needed. Some of the other foreign officers have been granted extended leave in view of the more smiling con- dition of Macedonia. On the whole, unless the reasons for acting in exact accord with our colleagues in the Concert are paramount, we would hope that our officers should for the present remain on the spot. Their functions are rather advisory than executive, and so need give no offence to the national susceptibilities of Turkey, while their close observation of events would be a useful guide to Sir Edward Grey in continuing his sympathetic policy.
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