The Express.
London, England, 1858-11-17 00:00:00

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LORD 817.ATPOZD DZ RADCLITII has been making
a very able and interesting speech at Smyrna, on
the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the
Smyrna and Aidie Railway Terminus. So much
misapprehension has of late prevailed, and such
random assertions have been hazarded on the policy
of our late Ambassador at the Porte, that it is
on all grounds desirable to have an authoritative
statement of his views on the Eastern Quer
tion in the present phase of its develop.
went. Before considering the address itaelt
it may be as well to say a word or two all to the
enterprise in connexion with which it was delivered.
The Smyrna and Aidin Railway, when completed,
will be about 70 miles in length. It is divided into
three portions: the first runs from Smyrna to the
mountains which separate the classic valleys of the
Kayster and the Meander ; then comes the tunnel
through this mountain mass; the rest of the line
ascends the valley of the Meander to Aidin. A vast
traffic, principally in fruit and tobacco, is carried on
between Aidin and Smyrna. In the busy months no,
leas than 8,000 camels ernes daily at the port from
the interior. This mode of transit is at present very
costly. To transport a ton of tobacco from Aidin to the
coast now oasts about 4s.—when the railway is at
work it can be carried for 4d. The expense of con-
structing the line is calculated to be from 10,0001. to
12,0001. a mile. The Oriental navvies work with
• will; they've of all tribes, nations, and languages;
and about 2,400 are constantly at work on different
parted the lies. Saab is the work which Lord STZAI6
YOZD DI R•Dcune was called on to inaugurate.

There can be no necessity to dwell as these por-
tions of his Lordship's address devoted to the MOM
general and obvious considerations arising out of the
nature of such an enterprise as this. Its probable
effect on the social and political future of the
Turkish dominions is more Important. If Turkey
is to be regenerated at all, it must be by works like
these ; if European capital can in any shape benefit
the Goverment of the SCLTAN, it MUSS be when
applied to the derelernent of industrial enterprise
generally, hot more especially to new lines of inland
eamnranisaties. It le not only the direct influence
emit nadartakinge in promoting the production of
material wealth that is so valuable; their indirect
beerings as the whole social system an in the
highest degree benallsial. Such works, se Lord
STILAITORD truly says, can hardly be car-
ried out "without essameasurate improvements
"in all the leading branches of Turkish ed."
ministration—without a progressive diminution of
" abuses, prejudices, and national animosities—with-
" out a signal advancement in the ideas and Dom-
" forte of the whole population. The property t►us
" created would call for securities in matters of police,
" of bonne*, and of the admioistration of justice."
The justness of three observations will commend
them to all unprejudiced thinkers, even apart from
the authority they may dekve from the profound
sad intimate knowledge possessed by the speaker of
the subject with which he wee dealing. From them
views the transition was easy to more general specu-
lations= the political present and future of the
Turkish Empire; and it is this portion of Lord
STRATFORD'S address which at the present moment
is more peculiarly calculated to excite the attention
of Europe.

The veteran diplomatist speaks plainly sad
frankly. He does not attempt to ignore the feeble-
ness and the fatuity, the calamities and the blunders'
which still retard, and have so long retarded, the
development of Turkish prosperity ; but he is deeply
convinced and firmly maintains that the elements
of that prosperity exist in abundance. "No one," he
affirms, " can dispute the richness of the resources
" of Turkey—those neglected elements of power
" which its wide circumference embraces, and which
" only require to be explored in order to supply its
" wants and secure its independence." Lord
STRATFORD strongly, nay, vehemently, deprecates
the tone of despondency and disparagement that
has of late been too common in many quarters
in connexion with the future of Turkey. To
indulge in idle lamentation and impatient abuse
is not the statesmanlike mode of dealing with
the Turkish difficulty. That difficulty mist be met
and dealt with by active deeds, not by desponding
words. It is a difficulty, and a great one. But
England is too deeply interested in the regeneration
of Turkey to succumb to a mere setae of the difficulty
of its seeomplishment. It Western civilisation is
not introduced into Turkey by peaceful means,
it will mese in with the strong hand. That
which Europe has spent so much blood and treasure
in seeking to avert, will be accomplahod ; and in-
stead of a peaceable solution of the " Eastern
"question," we shall have the deice and internecine
struggle to, its partition. "It is dna," says Lord
STRATFOID in weighty words, which will Bnd their
way to the convictions of dispassionate men--" it is
" due to las honour and welfare of Europe that
" promises solemnly promulgated and recorded in
" formal treaties should not remain a dead letter—
" that the treasure and blood expended in her name
l• for the vindication ofTurki,h rights should not be an
" idle escrifice, and that the declared admission of Tar-