The southern press., 1851-05-03

gave the following picture Of the very crafty
ing progress made by the Osmanlees during the
year 1850, under the wise and benefcent rule OF
the Sultan. Although the date of the article is
not recent, yet it contains much information
which has not been made public previously -
Two days more, and we shall arrive at the end
of this year, 1860, of which the commencement,
so full Of clouds and grave complications, made
rs fear fatal events. Thank God the clouds
have disappeared, the political horizon is bright,
and, in spite of our anticipati0ns, we have seen
the government continue with perseverance its
work of reformation and progress, notwithstand-
ing the numerous difficulties created by the dis
orders which, for two years, agitated Europe.
Thus, we see that many social and political
questions, which divide nearly all the western
nations of Europe, have been solved without
noise, and modestly put in practice at Constan-i
tinople.
When Sultan Mahnoud, and, lately, H. s. NJ.
Sultan Abdul LMedjid, undertook to introduce in
the Ottoman Empire reformations inspired by
the spirit of the western people. there where in
Europe many persons who refused to believe in
the good result of this attempt. But il one
examines the social position of Turkey, he will
see that many of these new laws have for a long
time, taken deep root and are now in full ef.
feet there. So far, it is true, that the time aid
ing, firm desire, with q respected will, reason
is always the strongest; for it is not in an hour,
II is not in day, that great projects may be ac-
complished. The public opinion which to-day
governs the world, which oyerturns and breaks
the most solidly constituted powers, first hos
tile, has become favorable to the empire, and
Turkey has conquered now, in all countries,
sympathies that she had never previously had
If we look, now, behind, upon the principal
facts accomplished during the last year, we will
see that the government has not failed in it's
mission of civilization and progress, and TINT it
has not been unworthy of the approval of pub
lie opinion. We desire to speak of a measure
which seems to US one of the wisest and most
favored the country If il obtains the success
to which it il entitled-and every thing makes
US believe that it must-it will be, in contempo-
rary history, one of the best acts of the reign of
the Sultan, and which does the greatest honor
to the ministry. Is there, indeed, in an empire,
greater evil to extirpate than that of stealing
and wasting the public money? These are the
two great enemies of authority that the Sultan
engaged himself to pursue in all ranks and oil
classes of society. This engagement was SOL
emn, for II was sworn on the Koran, in presence
of all the ministers, and he obliged all the pub
lie functionaries, great and small, to engage
themselves, by oath, never to give or receive any
present without the authorization of the sover
eign; never to squander, or let be wasted by
others, the public money, and not to engage en-
ployees, the service of whom would not be use-
ful, or indispensably necessary to the admins
tration of public affairs.
This measure, completed by the reform of
the many abuses by the public functionaries, is,
we repeat it, a decisive event, and the beginning
of a new era. Nevertheless, all these fruitful
principles are contained in Haiti -Cherf Of Gull
Hane, and IL is only necessary, at favorable
time, to make their application. Without aston
ishment, We remark the important modi6catiov
which have taken place in the jurisdiction of the
tribunals. These benefcent laws, of which we
have already stated the happy results, are not
circumscribed to the capital, but they begin to
apply them in the provinces. We have recently
seen established in Cairo, Alexandria. and
Smyrna, mixed tribunals-the same as that Of
Constantinople-and we hope TO see, very soon,
all the important cities of the empire favored
with such useful institution, giving to CON-
merce solid guarantees and encouragements.
Between the ameliorations which every year
enriched Turkey, there was one, above all, which
we demanded with all our sympathies. This
want, at last, has been granted, and soon the
tniulctcfo VI puUhC WOfhs anu COutUtTCt VIII DE
able TO open, fer public accommodation, large
road from Trebizande to Erzerouns. The crea-
ton Of this large way Of commerce will offer TO
trade immense advantages, which make us hope
that the government will follow out project
the necessity of which is deeply felt, and that IL
will devote. every year, sufficient sum Of mo-
ney in order TO keep in repair the roads already
existing and 10 establish new ones.
T,ha ooyarn,,oot bo. rot fo~cntto, Co. Il
gle moment, that instruction is the basis Of civ
ilization; II follows with the greatest interest
the intellectual movement diffused with rapidity
in the interior Of different provinces Of the en-
pire. Never had public instruction received be-
fore greater impulse than during the closing
year. Constantinople counts actually 403
schools, ofdfferent degrees; 396 primary schools,
attended by 22,s00 pupils, Of both sexes. In
order to complete work which dates back for
few years, and which has already given extra
ordinary results III. NJ, the Sultan, has sent 10
Europe Kemal Efebd, in order to study in
France, England, Belgium, and Germany, the
organization Of public instruction, and the best
methods there pursued, in order TO adopt them
in Turkey.
Important ameliorations have taken place in
the army and navy the active forces Of the EN-
pire are powerful, and the minister Of war can,
in case Of war; raise an army Of reserve 10 the
amount Of 100000 men. The steam nayiga.
ton continues to take great extension; the
steam and sailing frigates visit, at this moment,
the military ports of France and England and
although we greatly regret the terrible catas-
trophe which has deprived the Turkish marine
Of a part Of its best sailors, and Of one Of its
most beautiful ships, we will not the less render
justice to the imperial government, which has
made such exertions to raise the Ottoman ma
rine 10 the rank occupied by il as naval power.
When power has under its hands such con-
siderable forces, It is possible for Il 10 begin.
with resolution wise and prudent reforms and
II selfish ambition--if corrupted men, instigated
by cupidity to old abuses--raise the flag Of re-
volt. whatever be the resources upon which they
count, power will no doubt crush them. II Is
thus tbat--thanks to the devotion Of the army
Ito the valor and ability Of the chiefs who
command it--order has been restored in Bosnia,
Aleppo, and Damascus. Such facts are TO be
regretted; but they bring with them important
lessons AThey bring to light the firm and ener-
getic will Of the sovereign, who will never quail
before any obstacle to make the principles Of