THE SERVIAN RETREAT.
SERVIA has been compelled to give up the struggle, and the great Skuptschina which has been called to ratify the con- ditions of peace accepted them without demur, and with, at all
trust, their military administration, soldiers in Eastern Europe. They did what they could,
We do not regret this termination of an effort which will and more than could have been asked of them, and their for ever illustrate the history of Servia, for it is unavoidable— failure ought to have been a sorrow to every Englishman who and in politics, necessities must be accepted without repining— believes in the virtue of self-sacrifice, or in the right of op. but we do extremely regret the feeling with which this episode in pressed nations to free themselves by the sword. That Eng- the great contest is generally viewed in this country. It looks lishmen, almost for the first time in their history, were indif- as if English sympathy with freedom had of late years died ferent to the fate of a State fighting for such a cause is due to away. There has been in modern history but one incident many circumstances, one at least being their inability to recognise which can compare with the uprising of Servia, and that is the what Asiatic rule in its decadence is, but is chiefly due, we fear, to invasion of Virginia by John Brown and his little band of a form of selfishness at present almost unprecedented in its in- followers' an invasion which ended immediately in his execu- fluence,—a dislike of those who raise trouble, for however good tion, and in four years afterwards in the complete success of reason, lest the trouble should grow so great that England the cause for which he suffered on the scaffold. No one can should be forced to irksome or protracted exertion. The read the Blue-book, or Mr. Stillman's little volume, or Dr. Servians are not disliked because of their cause, but because Sandwith's lectures, without seeing that the Servian revolt was they are ready to fight for it, and may, therefore, disturb that essentially a popular movement, produced by the horror and uneasy and immoral repose which, in the despatches and rage which the sufferings of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian speeches of so many English statesmen is misnamed the refugees had excited among their kinsmen in the only European "peace." They have disturbed "business," and State at once free and Slay. So far was Prince have not won, and their defeat, therefore, is regarded with Milan from fomenting it from motives of private ambi- little grief, or even with pleasure, as the fate of men who have tion, that he disliked and distrusted it, dreaded inter- only reaped what they sowed. The Turks, who would have ference from Austria, quarrelled with his Red Minister, exterminated the Servians without remorse, had it only been Ristich, and only gave way when warned that further resist- convenient, are praised for their "moderation," and the ance might end in the elevation of his daring and unscrupulous world is congratulated on the cessation of a "disturb- rival, the Karageorgevitch. Throughout the war he did as ance " which can only make the next disturbance far more little as possible ; he never appeared in the field, and he has formidable. The only consolation those who believe in their pressed his counsellors to accept the Turkish overtures for cause can offer to the Servians is, that though compelled to peace. As he would have been the agent employed by Russia, accept a peace which, but for the immense disparity of force, his reluctance disposes in great part of the stories of Russian would be humiliating, history may yet record that their enter- intrigue to which the friends of Turkey in England attribute prise was successful. They have, in all human probability, the Servian insurrection, and it is now known that Russia done as much to overthrow Ottoman rule as John Brown and would gladly have postponed the crisis for two years. That his associates did to overthrow slavery in the United States,—
the Servians hoped for assistance from Russia is tree, but they that is, they have produced a situation in which the oppressing had practically none from the Russian Government, and very caste must either resort to extreme measures, or perish.
little indeed from the Russian "Secret Societies," of which if the Ottoman re'gime ends, be it this year or three years the Premier makes so much. The Russian Government hence under Russian blows, or English abhorrence, or the rash- allowed one General of the second order to enter Servian ness born of the presumption engendered by victory, the credit
service, a few officers, none of whom attained distinction, of its overthrow will be mainly due to the million and a half were "seconded," and the Societies forwarded about 3,000 of shepherds and pigkeepers who, without an ally and with all volunteers, some of whom fought and died splendidly, but Europe coldly disapproving, dared to tell the owners of a great who probably diminished the energy of the Servians, by ex- Empire that at least they should maintain their right to mis- citing false hopes of more serious and formal aid, and by govern at the risk of their lives. insisting on too regular a system of warfare. The men under Colonel Horratovich, a native Servian, and as much of a guerilla leader as a General, fought better than the Servians RELIGIOUS "EQUALITY." brigaded with Russians, moved more rapidly, and were indeed
never defeated. Some money also was forwarded by the Societies THE meeting of the friends of "religious equality," held from Russia, but the total amount never reached a quarter of °Gwen, on Tuesday, appeared to assume that no one could be a million, and from the first the SerTian- Administration was properly termed a friend of religious equality who did not hampered by a want of cash. The movement was, in fact, a spon- wishto see Established Churches disestablished and disendowed. taneous one, and deserved as much sympathy in England as the In the same sense probably no one could be properly termed a insurrection of the Tyrolese against the French and Bavarians friend of political equality who does not wish, on the one hand,
events, apparent unanimity. The little State is too exhausted to in the last generation, or the aid given by Piedmont in our own continue the war alone ; it has no money to buy new cannon fit to to the Lombards or Neapolitans. Indeed, it deserved more
cope with the Krupp guns obtained by the Turks before the attack than the Tyrolese movement, for the Servians were themselves on Alexinatz, and it has no security that Russia will advance the suffering no oppression, and were only stirred by the hope necessary means. Russia does not need Servian aid, and may of rescuing their kinsmen, and of ending an oppression of not be disinclined to place a belt of neutral territory between her which they knew from the first, as Englishmen know now, army and the province, Bosnia, in which the Austrian Empire is the terrible reality. To save their fellow-Christians, they directly interested, and has from the opening of the negotia- compelled their Prince to declare war, formed an army tions left Belgrade to act entirely on its own discretion. There containing at one time half the able-bodied men of is no help therefore to be looked for from Europe, and the the State, and deliberately braved the wrath of a Power Servian Government, if it renewed the struggle, would have but whose army, on paper at least, outnumbered their entire a small army of defeated men with which to protect Belgrade male population of all ages. That there may have been itself from capture. On the other hand, the Turks are desirous excessive self-confidence, a belief that one Servian was a to leave the insurgents in Bosnia without help, to release the match for many Turks is true but it does not lie in the army watching West Berth, and to pose before Europe as mouths of the race which in India faces tenfold odds—even most moderate in victory. In these excellent designs, moreover, when their opponents are Sikhs, at least as good soldiers as the they are supported by Lord Derby, who wants before all things Turks—to make of that self-confidence a reproach. The to see actual war concluded. The terms offered therefore Servians did not know how great were the new resources which are sufficient to tempt an exhausted people, being in fact an Turkey had derived from the plunder of her bondholders, or assurance of oblivion of the whole affair, and a restoration of understand how completely science has declared herself on the the old situation, with this difference, that Prince Milan is side of Governments, and against the efforts of any populace, reappointed by firman, without a previous popular election. however wronged, to liberate itself by war. They fought as well That might mean much in other days, but it means very little as undrilled men could be expected to fight, bore the suffer- now in presence of the coming war and of the growing ings of a losing campaign with perfect patience, and it was disorder in Constantinople. Prince Milan's throne, if in danger, not till they found themselves abandoned by Europe, and is in danger from his own subjects, and not from the Turks, face to face with guns carrying twice the distance of their own, who do not prefer one Infidel to another, or if they do, prefer that they declined to be any longer mowed down without a a man like Prince Milan, of little ambition and no soldiership, hope either of victory or revenge. They did not show them- and of ordinary capacity. The peace will, therefore, we have selves men up to the Spartan standard, but they did show little doubt, be finally ratified, and the Servians left to recover themselves good material for an army, patient, obedient, and themselves, to rebuild their villages, and to reorganise, we whenever they believed they had a chance, as brave as any
trust, their military administration, soldiers in Eastern Europe. They did what they could,
We do not regret this termination of an effort which will and more than could have been asked of them, and their for ever illustrate the history of Servia, for it is unavoidable— failure ought to have been a sorrow to every Englishman who and in politics, necessities must be accepted without repining— believes in the virtue of self-sacrifice, or in the right of op. but we do extremely regret the feeling with which this episode in pressed nations to free themselves by the sword. That Eng- the great contest is generally viewed in this country. It looks lishmen, almost for the first time in their history, were indif- as if English sympathy with freedom had of late years died ferent to the fate of a State fighting for such a cause is due to away. There has been in modern history but one incident many circumstances, one at least being their inability to recognise which can compare with the uprising of Servia, and that is the what Asiatic rule in its decadence is, but is chiefly due, we fear, to invasion of Virginia by John Brown and his little band of a form of selfishness at present almost unprecedented in its in- followers' an invasion which ended immediately in his execu- fluence,—a dislike of those who raise trouble, for however good tion, and in four years afterwards in the complete success of reason, lest the trouble should grow so great that England the cause for which he suffered on the scaffold. No one can should be forced to irksome or protracted exertion. The read the Blue-book, or Mr. Stillman's little volume, or Dr. Servians are not disliked because of their cause, but because Sandwith's lectures, without seeing that the Servian revolt was they are ready to fight for it, and may, therefore, disturb that essentially a popular movement, produced by the horror and uneasy and immoral repose which, in the despatches and rage which the sufferings of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian speeches of so many English statesmen is misnamed the refugees had excited among their kinsmen in the only European "peace." They have disturbed "business," and State at once free and Slay. So far was Prince have not won, and their defeat, therefore, is regarded with Milan from fomenting it from motives of private ambi- little grief, or even with pleasure, as the fate of men who have tion, that he disliked and distrusted it, dreaded inter- only reaped what they sowed. The Turks, who would have ference from Austria, quarrelled with his Red Minister, exterminated the Servians without remorse, had it only been Ristich, and only gave way when warned that further resist- convenient, are praised for their "moderation," and the ance might end in the elevation of his daring and unscrupulous world is congratulated on the cessation of a "disturb- rival, the Karageorgevitch. Throughout the war he did as ance " which can only make the next disturbance far more little as possible ; he never appeared in the field, and he has formidable. The only consolation those who believe in their pressed his counsellors to accept the Turkish overtures for cause can offer to the Servians is, that though compelled to peace. As he would have been the agent employed by Russia, accept a peace which, but for the immense disparity of force, his reluctance disposes in great part of the stories of Russian would be humiliating, history may yet record that their enter- intrigue to which the friends of Turkey in England attribute prise was successful. They have, in all human probability, the Servian insurrection, and it is now known that Russia done as much to overthrow Ottoman rule as John Brown and would gladly have postponed the crisis for two years. That his associates did to overthrow slavery in the United States,—
the Servians hoped for assistance from Russia is tree, but they that is, they have produced a situation in which the oppressing had practically none from the Russian Government, and very caste must either resort to extreme measures, or perish.
little indeed from the Russian "Secret Societies," of which if the Ottoman re'gime ends, be it this year or three years the Premier makes so much. The Russian Government hence under Russian blows, or English abhorrence, or the rash- allowed one General of the second order to enter Servian ness born of the presumption engendered by victory, the credit
Previous page
