RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND BULGARIA. 69 



the integrity and independence of the Empire in danger, in order 

 to try to secure its prosperity ? " 



The Ottoman Government, failing to obtain the peaceful interven- 

 tion of Europe against the war which threatened Turkey, issued a still 

 stronger declaration against Russian intrigue and diplomacy, of 

 which the following are the more important passages : — 



" Russia, after vainly endeavouring to weaken and humiliate the 

 Ottoman Empire by inflicting foreign tutelage upon it, now 

 seeks by arms to satisfy her political ambition. 



" She will meet in her path a united people armed for the 

 defence of its soil, for the protection of its homes, for the main- 

 tenance of its own and its Sovereign's rights, and for the inde- 

 pendence of its Fatherland." 



It placed on high record the following solemn responsibility : — 



" The Ottoman Government feels itself bound to declare that the 

 Christian population of Herzegovina, and Bosnia, and of Bul- 

 garia, rose in insurrection solely at the instigation of Panslavist 

 Committees, organised and paid by Russia ; that Servia and 

 Montenegro only took up arms against the Sovereign Power 

 through the direct intervention of Russia ; that they never could 

 have sustained the struggle without aid from Russia ; that, in 

 fact, all the ills which for the last two years have scourged their 

 portion of the Empire are due to the action, open or hidden, 

 but always present, of Russia." 



In burning language this remarkable dispatch thus concludes : — 



"History will record this unheard-of act, that in our age of 

 enlightenment, of civilization, and of justice, a Great Power 

 carried fire and sword into a neighbouring Empire, because 

 this Empire was of opinion that the same observance should 

 be paid with respect to it, as to others, of international engage- 

 ments, the eternal rules of public law, the independence of its 

 domestic administration, and, above all, the honour and dignity 

 of its people and Sovereign. 



"It is to defend those sacred principles, and to beat back the 

 most hateful and the most criminal of aggressions, that the 

 Ottoman Army is about to march to meet its assailants, with 

 the whole nation marshalled round its august head, confident 

 in the triumph of the justest of all causes, prepared for any 

 sacrifice, resigned to all kinds of suffering, and ready to fight 

 and die for its independence. 

 May the Most High protect the right." 



