The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-12
TURKEY UNDER RUSSIA AND ENGLAND
ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

Blackwood foe October. Ii Is specimen OF
profound philosophical reasoning on politics. A
part of il is, however, exceptionablej II Is 100
eulogistc of the Greek Church. With this i'm
porlant exception, there could scarcely have
been more truthful or more eloquent exhIbi-
ton of the political tendencies and effects OF
Mahometanism. Ii is, to us, one among the
many proofs of what we have often said, that
great and fertile as England is in genius, Scot
land has produced more OF 1t, proporllonally TO
population, than Eng land itself.
The immediate political interest Of the arti-
Gle in question: is the indication 1t affords, IN
connexion with The first article OF the same Ma
gazine, and various other striking facts, OF the
preparation making by the British ministry and
the Northern powers, for the partition of the
Turkish empire. Whensoever for the last sixty
years, the British ministry began TO entertain de-
signs in relation to particular great, and impor-
tant object, they commenced by moulding public
opinion to suit their intended movements. This
has been true Oft, indeed for more than hundred
and fifty years past-although, as IN the case oil
the American war, they have snm@''"e' '"Aen
measures n.tery al variance with justice, and
in accordance with the principles OF Govern
ment which appeals only to despotic will. But
still more alphabetically, for the last sixty years,
have they been impressed with the importance
of public opinion coincident with their own
designs and plans. Hence it has never been
so lavish of rewards, as in that time, 10 the Ia
lent which could support such opinion when
existing, or form it when it was necessary to
enlighten, or humbug the British public, or the
world. Their efforts to carry public opinion
with them, are now as certain and systematic
and skilfully conducted as those Of an able COM
mander in his regular approaches against be-
seged city. For years they have seen the pros
trate condition of the Turkish empire, and OF
the Mahomelan countries generally, and for
years their periodicals have dwet upon this sub
ject. Not, however, ill very recently have they
seen the hopelessness of making that condition
long available TO the objects of their own policy
and the interests of their own country, and con-
sequenlly they have only limited at new arrange
ments of its affairs, and the tory journals have
usually expressed the belief that they could be
carried out by reforms in the Mahomelan sys-
tens. This, till some three or four years past,
has been the idea prevalent with the tory jour
nails, and most of the wing. As far back, how
ever, as 1886, perhaps somewhat earlier, the
Edinburg Review took the ground and insisted
on II with some earnestness and considerable
ability, that the Turkish system, by reason of
the nature of the Mahomelan religion, was re-
ally incapable of REFORM and that the Turkish
empire must itself fall to pieces. This idea has
at length entenched itself both with wing and
tory journals, and the latter with their accus-
TONED ability now sustain it with unPrecedent-
ed force and zeal.
The article Greece under the Romans" is
an example. Within the same compass there
could hardly be a more profound and phllosophi-
cal exposition of the subject in connexion with
politics. The moral views are pure and eleva-
ted the illustrations lively, appropriate, and
Just; the style earnest and flowing. The ri
nous state of Mahometan countries is faith
fully and eloquenty exposed the cause Of their
prostraton and inability of reform is truly and
perspicuously traced to their religion. 1t is
shown that the Turkish empire cannot stand OF
itself; that it is propped up by the colossal force
Of the Powers of Christendom and the infer
ence is plainly indicated to the reader in the
two articles, "The life Of diplomatist" and
"Greece under the Romans" that a partition
OF that empire is necessary, not only TO its own
welfare, but TO that of the other Northern Pow-
ers Of Europe, Great Britain included. Its
Mahometan Government is held up to odium
aud contempt, as uniformly cruel where 1t has
power, as weak, despicabe, and Inefficient
where it has decayed, and incapable of reform,
and therefore as demanding the interference OF
its neigbbors TO bring an end to its career Of OPP
preston and incapaciiy. This is the inference,
but slightly yelled, from the tenor of the two
articles.
There are other differences, weighty, mpor-
tant, and of vast proximate, prospective
interest The extreme discomfort of England
at the present position and designs of France,
is ebullient. 1t shows itself on almost every
page Of the first article, "The Life of Diplo-
matst" Some of the expressions are not only
strong, but bitter 1t is plainly declared that
the seizure of Algiers and the war on Morocco
were not necessary. The importance of nip
ping IN the bud all French designs to obtain
command upon the African shores of the Medi-
terranean is inexorably insisted on. 1t is obv-
Gus that this can be done in only one of two
ways: BY Great Britain and the Northern
Powers establishing themselves in perpetual
force on their own footing, on the terra irma of
the Turkish Empire or by oustng France from
her colonial foothold and further progress in
Africa, by direct hostility. Hostility seems Ill
timately inevitable, whatsoever plan is adopt
ed. But it may and probably will be thought
h.sf L., arniI In, IL nd I,rnct intnrfcrnncn