A band of brigands, eighteen in number, supposed to be
Macedonians from Bulgaria, but acting on Turkish territory, recently seized an Amezican missionary, Miss' Stone, "a lady of fifty, with a high repute in educational work, and carried her away to the hills. From there, they sent messages to Constantinople demanding a ransom of, £25,000. The American representatives refused to pay it, upon the sensible ground that if they did no missionary would be safe; but when the news reached New York public feeling awoke, and half the money was rapidly subscribed. The brigands granted an extension of time, and there is little doubt the whole sum will be forthcoming; bat meanvrhile graver persons have taken up the matter. 'Mr. Roosevelt and - his Cabinet maintain justly that the Sultan is respon- sible, as it is his misgovernment which provokes and protects brigandage, and they intend to demand " repara. tion" from the Porte, not limited, we imagine, to 225,000. The Porte will be requested to punish the authors of the out- rage, and as Turkey is sure to shuffle, and America is tired of being played with, a naval " demonstration " is quite upon the cards. The Sultan will, of course, yield to the first show of force ; but he is yielding also to the French claims, and these repeated humiliations must shake the authority of Abd-ul- Hamid, who has not recently been attended by his usual good fortune.
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