RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND BULGARIA. 8 1 



Roumelia, and in Bulgaria he had virtually forestalled an under-hand 

 arrangement between Austria and Russia, agreed upon at the Imperial 

 Conference at Kremsier, whereby the political reconstruction of these 

 two States would have been carried out, at their own time, and in 

 their own way, at one blow. 



The blow had unexpectedly been struck by the popular will, without 

 the assistance of Russia and Austria, Prince Alexander had become 

 the hero of the day, and Russian diplomacy, and Austrian duplicity 

 were checkmated, and the pride of the two Emperors humbled. 



Stirring events followed in quick succession this coup tPetat, events 

 which placed Bulgaria and its Ruler in a most trying and painful 

 position, and never, in the records of modern diplomacy, has a- Ruler 

 and his people so nobly and bravely done their duty, and deserved 

 well of Europe. 



Just imagine for one moment his embarrassed position. Called to 

 occupy the responsible position of Prince and Ruler of Bulgaria, by 

 the unanimous voice and vote of a people that had but recently won 

 by cruel sacrifices their political freedom, he early found himself 

 plunged in constant struggles of rival ambitions, and intriguing factions 

 within Bulgaria, and without, surrounded by enemies on every 

 frontier, who watched him with vigilance and cunning. 



For no sooner had Roumelia proclaimed her Union with Bulgaria, 

 and become one kingdom, and invited him by one voice to accept the 

 Rulership, than on every hand he was assailed by foes without, and 

 factions within, and the cry seemed to be, all along the line. Compen- 

 sation ! Compensation ! 



On the north-eastern frontier, Servia, and her restless, ambitious 

 people, who are ever dreaming of the olden times, when their 

 kingdom extended to the Egean Sea, and who seem ever intent on 

 securing Salonica, for the outlet of their commerce and the develop- 

 ment of their power, raised the cry of Compensation, and when 

 all hope from every quarter vanished for securing some extension of 

 territory, Servia blindly and criminally, rushed into war against Bulgaria, 



No greater or more unprovoked wrong to an unoffending neighbour 

 was ever wrought, by an Alaric or a Buonaparte, and what was the 

 result ? Precisely what was anticipated. 



The armies of Servia crossed the frontier at four points, and were 

 elated with temporary successes, when Prince Alexander advanced to 

 meet them at the head of his little army of 50,000 men, fighting for 

 freedom, and to drive back the Servian invasion, for the dismember- 

 ment of the new-born State of Bulgaria. 



G 



