The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-31 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

After an interval of four years, during which
Europe has not been without events of importance,
it seems likely that the European Powers will have
to turn their attention once more to the " Eastern
question," which the treaty of Paris failed to settle.
It is known that a modification of that treaty is the
earnest desire of Russia, and it is supposed that it is
with a view to give an opportunity of satisfying
that wish that efforts are making to assemble an-
other conference, and probably to carry out the ob-
jects contained in the written engagement between
France and Russia, half avowed by the latter, and
not disavowed by the former, Russia seems to be
casting once more a longing eye to the East. The
Emperor of the French has not concealed his opinion
of the decrepitude of the Ottoman Empire, and of
the hopelessness of restoring the " sick man."
A work which appeared some months ago, enti-
tled " Les Chretiens et les Tures," gives much valu-
able information on the internal condition of the
Turkish empire, and the consequences of its dis-
memberment. The author is M. E. Poujade, who
was for many years employed in the consular or
diplomatic service in various countries of the East ;
and few are more competent to speak on its present
and prospective history. He signalises the danger
which would accrue to the peace of Europe from
the overthrow of the Ottoman supremacy over the
divers races that really or nominally acknowledge
it, and at the same time the difficulty of maintain-
ing it. He points to the jealousies and the rivalries
which divide the Christian populations among
themselves, for their common servitude has not
effaced the memory of their bloody struggles before
their subjugation, and they prefer the yoke of the
infidel to the domination of any one sect over the
other. We know that the Greeks have the pre-
tension to become one day the rulers of the emp;re,
delivered
,from the Mussulman yoke and regene-
rated. Their intellectual superiority authorizes, in
a certain degree, these pretensions ; but their nu-
merical strength does not justify them, and M.
Poujade is of opinion that they would not easily .
be accepted.

The Serbs, the Bosniacs, and the Bulgarians
are Slaves ; but, though of a common origin, there
is no common understanding between them. The
Serbs, M. Poujade says, are an energetic, warlike
race, but they have no political bond with the Bul-
garians, who, laborious and peaceful, are looked
upon by the former as devoid of the more manly
qualities, and, if they keep up any relations with
them, it is with the view of some day turning them
to their own account. The Serbs have not only a
strong desire for independence, but cherish the
ambition of one day ruling over Bulgarians and.
Bosniacs, while the Greeks would meet with the
most formidable resistance if they sought to esta-
blish their domination in those countries of which
Belgrade is already looked upon as the future capi-
tal. The Bosniacs, though Slave in origin, have,
like the Albanians, embraced Islamism, and only a
very small number are Catholics.

Feudality still subsists in the Ottoman Empire
and particularly in Albania, Bosnia, and Syria, in
spite of the usurpations of the local tyrants, and
of its partial destruction, to the advantage of these,
by Sultan Mahmoud and his son. M. Poujade gives
at some length an account of the feudal.system as
it prevails in Albania and Albania, and of the im-
portance, the wealth, and the influence of the
families that have survived the murders perpe-
trated by Ali Pasha and the Turkish Pashas.
M. Poujade devotes a considerable portion of his
work to the Danubian Principalities, and the events
of which these have recently been the theatre. The
population of these countries are proud of their Latin
origin, and, while they approach the west of Europe
by their tastes and their sympathies, though at-
tached to the Oriental Greek Church, form a group
which divides the Slaves of the north from those of
the south, and present a barrier against the dangers
accompinving a gigantic development of Slavism.

The Armenians he looks upon as little more than
Christian Turks. They are of all the Christian races
that which more nearly resembles the Ottomans,
whose language they readily acquire, and whose
gravity of deportment they imitate, at least in ap-
pearance.

The Christian populations of Asia, such as the