War A Struggle Between Old And New.

New York Times 100 years ago today, February 23, 1913:
Roger W. Babson Points Out That the Struggle Was Inevitable and He Is a Strong Sympathizer with the Balkans.By Roger W. Babson.
Geneva, Switzerland.
    AFTER two months of investigation and study in Europe concerning the Turkish-Balkan War, I have entirely changed my opinions regarding this conflict. When The New York Times asked me to carefully seek for some reasons which were not then apparent, I felt that there were none. In other words, I believed that the conflict was one only between the Balkan States and Turkey, whose yoke of oppression the former were endeavoring to throw off and, at the same time, secure control of that portion of greater Turkey inhabited by Christians.
    Of course, all of the above is true; but I am also convinced that underneath all of this is a greater reason which the Ambassadors at London well understand, although they will not admit it. I am convinced that this war is simply the climax of a great change which has been going on in Europe for fifty years.

What Austria Stands For.
    One hundred years ago Austria was the greatest nation in Europe. It controlled the larger part of Italy, Germany and other territory which it has since lost. With the help of England it was then (1813) just at the point of defeating Napoleon and dictating to France and all her allies. Vienna was the leading city in Europe after Napoleon's fall; and the Court of Vienna determined the policy of the world.
    Moreover, Austria's method of control was of the old school. Francis I. (1792-1835) and his leading statesman, Metternich, believed that the people were unable and never would be able to rule themselves. Like some of our ultra conservative leaders of to-day, Metternich was constantly at war with human nature. His system rested upon police supervision of everything, an elaborate espionage and a vigilant censorship of ideas. The fixed purpose of the Austrian Government for the first fifty year of the nineteenth century was to maintain things as they were. Of course this resulted in intellectual stagnation and even temporarily benefited only those who then had land, money, and power.
    At the time, however, that Austria was in her glory and stood for this absolutism and suppression, the Balkan States were practically unknown, excepting as a body of "wild and ignorant men" fighting for freedom. Austria stood for the highest in art, music, and luxury, while the Balkan States stood for the plainest, roughest and most uneducated people of Europe. Vienna, Munich, and Leipsic were the centres of civilization and power, while Belgrade, Bucharest, and Sophia were small wild hamlets, containing only a few mountaineers. In other words, during the past one hundred years, Austria has been declining in power and influence, while the Balkan States have been increasing in wealth and manhood until both have to-day reached the parting of the ways. The time has come when the two opposite influences — the old represented by Austria and the new by the Balkan States — can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak. Bulgaria stands for progress, freedom, and growth, while Austria stands for conservatism, monarchism, and restraint.
    But that is not all. The only way that Austria can continue to hold any place in European councils with her policy of maintaining things as they are, is to extend the same system to other countries and fight freedom of press, pulpit and people. Now the surprising thing to me is that Austria has been partly able to do this. During my studies here in Europe the past two months, I have met many men who honestly believe in this policy to-day.  Many of the great diplomats and cabinet members of Europe even now consider that "the main purpose of government is to maintain things as they are, if not as they were." Therefore Austria has a much greater following in her present endeavor to prevent the development and expansion of the Balkan States than most Americans imagine.

For What Bulgaria Stands.
    All the states of Europe are slowly but surely rallying around one of these interests, Austria or Bulgaria. The nations friendly to Turkey are indirectly allied with Austria and the old dynasties; while those friendly to the Balkan States are indirectly allied with Bulgaria and the newer nations.
    Some people criticise me for placing Russia on the progressive side; but I know certain facts about this country which have never appeared in print. I know its persecutions, its Siberia, and its Grand Dukes; but never mind, these are not Russia!
    Another fact must be remembered, namely, that Austria is the greatest stronghold of the Roman Church today and stands for Jesuitism, white Russia is the greatest stronghold of the Greek Church, and stands for the same in religion that the Balkans profess. This church relationship has greatly tended to unite Russia with the Balkans in their fight for freedom, education, and progress.
    The rise of Bulgaria, since the Conference in Berlin, (1878,) which robbed her of what she, with Russia's help, had honestly won, is one of the wonders of political history. If Bulgaria continues at her present rate to produce men, crops, and ideas, she will become a second Japan; and this is at the bottom of the present difficulties.
    Austria knows this, and she and the other nations which don't want a Japan in Europe, are secretively backing Turkey to-day.
    Therefore, this is not simply a war between Turkey and the Balkan States, but rather a war between the old and the new; between oppression and freedom; between the laissez faire doctrine and progress.
    Every lover of freedom in Europe is praying for the success of Bulgaria. Meetings are being held nightly in every great and small city in aid of he Balkan States. As I am writing these words, here in Switzerland, the women of this city are gathered in public sewing and working for the Bulgarian soldiers and their families.
    Coming out of 500 years of the greatest misrule the world has ever seen, Bulgaria has been a real power in Europe through the development of temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude. Surrounded on all sides by great powers who really do not want her to succeed she has attained a position where to-day they dare not publicly unite to crush her.
    The Bulgarians are really the Americans of Europe. They have our system of universal education; they resemble us in their mercantile pursuits, while they are far in advance of us in gardening.
    Readers of The New York Times know that I believe that one of the greatest opportunities which we Americans have to reduce our cost of living, is the "back yard." I therefore urge on all occasions the planting of back-yard gardens. If I could only take you to Bulgaria and show you some real back-yard gardens! These people are simply to-day fighting for their back-yard gardens.
    The men who have been directing the affairs of Bulgaria for the past thirty years are practically all graduates of Roberts College which, was established and has long been maintained by Americans. Most all of the teachers in this college have been Americans and our ways and ideas have permeated Bulgaria from one end to the other. The men who have directed this new nation from the first have been graduates of this American college and most of the wives of these men are graduates from the American School for Girls in Constantinople. These men and women even speak with an American accent. Their houses, libraries and clothes are American. In fact, I could introduce one of these Bulgarians into New York society without any one suspecting he was not a United States citizen. I truly believe there is not a nobler race anywhere than these people.
    Of course, the other Balkan States are not as advanced as the Bulgarians; but they are as fully advanced as their opportunity warrants. In other words, the people of all of these nations, including Greece, Montenegro, and Servia, have made the best of their opportunities. They should now be encouraged instead of discouraged. For Austria to attempt to bottle up Servia is a disgrace. For Italy to attempt to steal from Greece the islands of the Aegean Sea is contemptible. For France and England to stand by and allow this carving up of nationalities and permit this smothering of freedom is likewise not creditable.

All Nations Are Divided.
    But this conflict between the old and the new, between oppression and progress, is not restricted to the struggle between Austria and Bulgaria with her allies. As I travel about Europe, talking with the leading bankers and merchants, I find all the old nations divided into two factions. The conservatives, or the descendants of the old aristocratic families which democratic government has put out of power, favor Austria in this, her last struggle. The Church, which has been bereft of much property through the granting of suffrage, favors Austria, and is opposed to the Balkans. The older vested interests, which have their money invested in Turkey, Austria, Italy, and similar countries, don't want anything done which will make these older nations appear weaker — in contrast with newer and stronger nations.
    Therefore, I believe this fight is not against the Balkans alone, but against all progress and freedom. If Bulgaria does not get Adrianople, or is not permitted to keep it, freedom throughout the world is insulted. Bulgaria is fighting our fight and the fight of every free people on the face of the earth.
    The conservatives and the reactionists of Europe are alive to this fact, which is the underlying cause of the present conditions in the Far East.
    In fact, I find a consensus of opinion that all the conservative and aristocratic interests in every one of the European nations is rallying to the aid of Austria in what they themselves believe may be the last great struggle in battles for supremacy between the old and the new. I go further and say that if it were not for the aid of these scattered conservative interests throughout all Europe the war would have been definitely settled last December.
    Austria has no strength of herself to keep up a fight. Her record does not even entitle her to a right at the conference table of the "great" powers. To my mind, the very thought of Austria "advising" Bulgaria is like a tribe of North American Indians advising our own Government at Washington — simply because they — the Indians — have a longer history and were first on our soil! Moreover, most every one, over here knows and admits this. It is only the secret aid which the old conservative and rich interests of Europe is giving to Turkey, Austria and the other enemies of the Balkan States that has permitted affairs to develop as they have.
    The present state of affairs has been caused by the great powers — or, rather, by the conservative interests influencing their Ambassadors. The conference of the Ambassadors at London, like every previous conference, was called in the interests of aristocracy and vested wealth and contrary to the interests of freedom and progress.
    Before the powers commenced to interfere, the Balkans had the Turks whipped; and if left alone, could have forced a real and economic peace. The interference of the powers simply delayed matters and encouraged Turkey to continue along the road to destruction.
    Therefore, I say, that the declaring of war between Turkey and the Balkans was simply the climax of a great struggle which has been going on in Europe for fifty years; and that underlying this struggle there is a very deep-seated sore — the ever present fight between freedom and oppression,
    I am so glad that the war was recommenced Monday evening, Feb. 3, that I cannot sufficiently express my joy. I suppose that my readers in America feel that to again bombard Adrianople was a shame, and that the powers should have prevented the reopening of hostilities. If, however, you could be over here on the ground and appreciate the real underlying causes, you would think differently.
    War, of course, is a terrible thing; it causes great suffering and distress; it causes great loss of property and wealth. It should, however, be remembered that the relief and progress which fallow wars far exceed in a very short time the sufferings and losses on the fields of battle. Everything worth while comes only through struggle. Forbidding young nations to fight is like preventing young children from exercising. War with armies and battleships will some day cease; but I hope that the struggles among different nations and within the same nation will continue. Instead of using battleships, the nations will fight with facts, figures and brains.
    Progress comes only through education and agitation. Therefore, whether the fight is on battlefields or in politics, let us encourage those who are fighting for progress and freedom. Let us aid those who are working to equalize opportunity and more evenly distribute the comforts of life.
    No one realizes better than I, that we cannot make men rich by passing laws; neither can we make a people free by signing treaties. We can, however, work for an equalization of opportunity — that is, we can give every man an equal chance to work and do business, and every nation an equal chance to become free and develop. In fact, should not this be the fundamental purpose of all governments — both national and international?