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The National Geographic Magazine 



and was the Prime Minister of Bulgaria 

 under Prince Alexander and Prince 

 Ferdinand until the latter adopted a 

 pro-Russian policy, when he retired 

 and was succeeded by a man of Russian 

 sympathies. He became the leader of 

 a formidable anti-Russian party, until 

 removed from the whirl of Bulgarian 

 politics by assassination in July, 1895. 

 The assassin was recognized as Michael 

 Stavreff, a pro-Russian politician who 

 was also accused of the murder in 1892 

 of Mr Vulkovich, a diplomatic agent 

 of Bulgaria at Constantinople, second 

 to Stambuloff in influence among the 

 anti-Russian party. Until October last 

 Stavreff was allowed to go unpunished, 

 and was a familiar figure about the 

 cafes of Sofia. He was pointed out to 

 me and to every one as Stambuloff's 

 assassin, and appeared to be proud of 

 that notoriety. 



In October, 1902, he was arrested, 

 tried, convicted, sentenced to death for 

 the two murders by order of Mr Lud- 

 -skanoff, Minister of Interior and leader 

 of the Russian sympathizers, who was 

 banished by Stambuloff for treason. 

 Immediately after the sentence of Stav- 

 reff, there appeared upon the streets 

 facsimile copies of letters showing that 

 Ludskanoff had employed him to com- 

 mit the two murders, and similar fac- 

 similes of other letters have appeared 

 at frequent intervals since. It is the 

 popular belief that Ludskanoff, fearing 

 Stavreff's reckless tongue, attempted 

 to put him out of the way, and that the 

 latter' s friends have disclosed the cor- 

 respondence to . involve the minister in 

 the crime. 



Stavreff has not been executed ; the 

 Prime Minister, Mr Karachoff, still per- 

 mits Ludskanoff to remain in the cabi- 

 net ; the government ignores the situa- 

 tion, and the friends of the minister 

 claim that the general amnesty granted 

 political exiles after Stambuloff's assas- 

 sination was a full pardon for any crime 

 in which he might have been involved 

 before that date. 



Stambuloff lacked polish and educa- 

 tion; he was arbitrary and despotic, but 

 his entire career is an example of unsel- 

 fish integrity and patriotism. He lived 

 and died for the independence of Bul- 

 garia, and had the full confidence of 

 Prince Alexander. Had those two men 

 been permitted to carry out their plans, 

 the country would have had peace, prog- 

 ress, and prosperity; but conspiracy tri- 

 umphed, patriotism was repressed, and 

 but for the strong hand of Russia its 

 condition might have been worse than it 

 is. The treasury is empty, the national 

 credit is exhausted, and the hysterical 

 emotions of sympathy that are stirred 

 by the sufferings of their kinsmen across 

 the border keep the people in continu- 

 ous turmoil. 



MACEDONIA 



The Bulgarian atrocities have been 

 repeated in Macedonia for over twenty- 

 five years, and have grown worse and 

 worse, until the country has been almost 

 depopulated. Human life and property 

 are held as worthless by the Turkish offi- 

 cials. No woman has been safe from 

 their lust; no man has been allowed to 

 save money or produce more than 

 enough to supply his own wants. The 

 Christian population have no standing 

 in the courts, no remedy for injustice 

 and extortion, and the world would be 

 shocked if the truth were known ; yet 

 year after year the jealous}^ of the pow- 

 ers of Europe permit these conditions 

 to continue. 



An occasional insurrection or lawless 

 incident in which a foreigner has been 

 the victim, like the kidnapping of Miss 

 Stone, has attracted public attention, 

 and remonstrances are frequently filed 

 at the Sublime Porte by the European 

 ambassadors, in which the Sultan is 

 warned that anarchy and barbarit}^ will 

 not be tolerated longer and admonished 

 to repent and reform. It must amuse 

 His Majesty to read the signature of the 

 German ambassador at the bottom of 

 these notes, and we can imagine his 



