Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-04-22
From the London Times March %
The Turkish @, ucstlon.

The opinions we have expressed on the present con-
don and future prospects of the Ottoman Empire do
not coincide with the views entertained by Lord John
Russell, and communicated by him 10 the House of
Commons. They differ from the course of policy
which this country has pursued in former times and
several OCCASIONS and they entirely at variance
with the system which large numerical proportion
OF the London press is attempting, not very brilliantly
successfully, to defend The of this differ
of opinion is very simple one. We look at this
case with no prepossessonS, and no predsposon TO
delude ourselves and readers 10 the real state
of it, 1t may be very well to argue that the Ottoman
Empire ought 10 be involabe and independents that
it is great State, whose disappearance must cause
formidable perturbation in Europe and that it is pro-
badly not nearer utte ruin at this moment than it was
after the battle of Nezib in 1889. But we have TO
deal with the facts they are. We have no power
TO alter them; we have art TO convert impotence
into vlgor or decrepltue into youth Diplomacy may
suspend the blow from without which will one day
shatter the hollow trunk, but it is already saplcss
eahess, and decayed. And we must venture to say
that 1t implies some penury OF resources in modern
statesmen that. when they have to deal with a ques
ton which involves the civilization of great PROVINCES
the restoration of Christianity itself to that supremacy
which it once enjoyed in all parts of Europe, and the
progressive welfare of millions of human beings the
only expedent on which they agree is TO dress
up Turks head in turban and agree to treat it as
if it were still symbol of force and empire.
The danger does not now arise from the ag-
gfessive propenses of the northern courts half as
much as from the defenceess condition of State
which would hardly be able to resist with effect any
resoute antagonist. At this mo nen the ships of war
which constitute the Turkish fleet are laid up in win
ter quarters and unnamed. Between Constantinope
and Moldavia there is Turkish force that could re-
sist with success the march of hostile column, and
the slender military resources of the Turkish Govern
ment have just been wasted and impaired by the abb
surd campaign against Montenegro. For years pas:
the Turkish Ministers have employed their precarous
tenure OF office in enrichng themselves by the plum
der of the State The last great reformer-lhe Grand
ViZier Redschid Pasha-was dismissed from office for
peculaon, and the examination which has taken place
in his affairs dlscloses amount of corruption and
robbery unequalled even in the annals of Turkey
AS the natural result of such maladminisration, the
treasury is empty and the present advisers of the Sui
tan have eectuay destroyed the possibility of an ap
peal to foreign credit. These circumstances, and many
more OF the same kind, of course we'll known a
ST. Petersburgh and Vienna and if the northern courts
were disposed to press their advantage the facilities
at their disposal are complete. But, though we arr
satisfied that nothing exceed the weakness of thu
Turkish power we still believe that it is not the wish
either OF the Emperor of Russia or the Emperor o
Austria to urge matters to extremities.
Mrs. Rich. of Kirkland, Ohio, was taken in som,
Kind OF fit recently. and the "sprs'' decided tina
she was In tor trance of two weeks. Her friend
refused 10 give her any food or medicine notvith