THE EASTERN WAR.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Before discussing any question, it is a great thing to make sure of the meaning of your words. I would, therefore, ask those persons who deny that Servia and Montenegro deserve our sym- pathy, on the ground that they have gone to war for the sake of territorial aggrandisement, whether they are quite sure that they know what they are talking about. "Servia" can only mean the Servian Government, or the Servian people. With regard to the former, we know that Prince Milan resisted warlike counsels till it had near cost him his throne. As to the Servian people, what advantage would the Servian farmer gain from the fact that a certain number of Bosnian farmers were subject to the same Sovereign? For that is what it comes to. The position of Montenegro is a little different. Both Prince and people would undoubtedly be the better for a slice of the territory that is now Turkish, and considering that it would be only a re-entry into the possessions of their forefathers, the desire for an increase of borders is not unnatural. Englishmen, of all people, we would think, might make at least some excuse for those who desire "territorial aggrandisement."
It is useless, I suppose, to expect the party which at present has the majority to think, but one would have thought that even for Tory Members such a statement as Mr. Hanbury's (made, ap- parently, on the strength of a tour in Asia Minor), that the Slays in Austria were no better treated than those in Turkey, would be rather too strong. A remark like this shuts the speaker outside the pale of argument ; either he is so ignorant that one could not, or so unfair that one would not, meet him on any common terms. He should be paired with the gentleman on whose report of Montenegro Mr. Freeman commented to some purpose about half-a-year ago. To talk to him of the murder of children and the violation of women is useless. Mr. Baring's father-in-law has reported, or will report, if necessary, that there are no children or women in Bulgaria. " Credat Judmus."—I am, Sir, &c.,
' A. J. B.
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