Nothing, it is believed, will happen in the Balkans at
present, though the unrest there would under other circum- stances produce complications. Bulgaria is simmering with discontent, partly produced by the financial situation, the expenses exceeding the revenue, while borrowing is most difficult, and the people are unwilling to pay more taxes. Macedonia is full of wandering bands who style themselves patriots, but whom the Government denounce as brigands and treat as such. Albania is the scene of constant battles, and its million and a half of people are just now suffering greatly from want alike of crops and trade, and also from the poverty of Turkey, where it is the Albanian .habit to seek a living. Nevertheless, nothing will occur unless the more violent Macedonians deliberately risk a massacre, in the hope of shocking Europe into interference. The three Great Powers concerned—Russia, Austria, and Italy—have warned the inhabitants, especially the Albanians, that it is no time for insurrection, and the Porte has officially issued in- structions that there must be no massacre like that of Armenia. The only ground for fear is the character of M. Sarafoff, the Macedonian leader, who is believed capable of provoking Turkey into atrocities in order to fill the European mind with horror, but it may be doubted if his countrymen will follow him in so desperate and evil a course while Macedonia is garrisoned as at present with nearly fifty thousand regular troops. The flagstone, in fact, is too heavy for the frogs.
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