A report has been circulated in the papers that Sadyk
Pasha said at Livadia that the Sultan would be willing to sell his rights over East Roumelia for an adequate sum of money. The assertion has been denied by the Porte, but it may very well have been true. As the province of East Roumelia emerges from the chaos around it, it becomes more and more evident that it is in all but name a Christian State. Prince Vogorides wore the kalpak at his reception in Philippopolis, and has hitherto declined to hoist the Turkish flag upon the pub- lic buildings. He has nominated a Ministry entirely com- posed of Christians, and he is about, it is said, to give the command of the militia to a Roumelian officer. The Sultan, it is publicly stated—though the statement may be intended only for his subjects' benefit—is extremely irritated by these pro- ceedings, and has even sent in a protest to the Powers ; but finless he is prepared for another war, his irritation will be of little avail. Prince Vogorides cannot be removed for five years, without the consent of the Powers ; and long before the expira- tion of that time the other States of the Balkan will be ready to protect the South Bulgarians. Under these circumstances, as the Sultan obtains nothing from the province except his right to send his troops into it at the hazard of a war, he may be willing to sell that right at a moderate price. It is a pity the East Roume- lians cannot buy it, as the liability to an invasion of Bashi Bazouks will always check their prosperity.
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