Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-28

CfyIIIzAT1oN m TURKEY AND RUSSIA The apollo
gists for the of Russia in the Eastern difficult
ty maintain that the subugation of Turkey by that
power would tend to the advancementof civilization
and consequently, that such result should be de-
sired by all friends to the progress of the human
race Russia they say, is moving on rapidly in en-
Ightennent while Turkey is either retrogradingin
this respect or at best standing STILL This is not
So clearly shown by the following article from
Paris Constitutional
Turkey has no manufactures, and has no need
of any; but she is rich enough in materials to
suffice for all the tradewhich she keeps up with 9th
er countries. She has, beside, adopted in her COM
mercial relations most liberal SYSTEM all her ports
being open and all impediments to trade being re-
moved. This is striking exemphfcation OF that
generous Mussulman hospitality which receives with
kindness and things of the West, and thus gives
to the impenetrable empire of Russia an example OF
confidence and straightforward conduct which that
power will take good not to initiate. This last
consideration brings us naturally to examine the
moral situation of the two nations and we sorry
for it, since it is, above all, here that the Ottoman
superiority is manifest. The liberty which
Turkey exhibits in her commercial transactions serves
the characteristic of her public tendencies and
legislation and is perhaps the secret of her strength
While the Car subjects to his iron rule, soul as well
body, the Sultan with equal protection all
creeds and eaces the of the past by the most
admirable tolerance. While Russia isolates herself
from the West by an absolute Chincsc-wall, Turkey
borlows from it her generals, engineers, saU09s and
produce of every kind, and thus becomes permeatcd
with healthy spirit, which must, after time lead
to her complete transformation.
All her institutions, beside have their basis in the
principles of the civilized world; and at CONSTANT
nople right justice, equality, publicity and progress
in all things aimed at Who will venture to say
that the spirit presdeS the mysterious pro-
cecdings of Russia? There is a press in each en-
pire but is free, and the other subject to the
knout tells the truth, to the Sultan, while
the other disgures history, and informs the Musco
vite peasants that it is they who the battle of
the Muscowa. We might carry this comparison much
further, but what we have said is sufficient for our
purpose. We shall merely mention, pGsSant,
the result of statistical table lately published rela
tive to the state of public instruction in both coun
tries. There is in Turkey pupil for every thirty
Christian inhabitants whereas there is only one for
six hundred in Russia When it is, borne in mind,
beside that the nobles even the 6oyaras, and own
of scrS, have less real liberty than the rayas
subject to the Porte, it is impossible not to come to
the conclusion that for the Ottoman Empire as for
the kingdom of Poland, MuScovite invasion would
be the signal for retrograde march. One word
more.
Much has been said of the three great plaques of
Islamsm- fatalism, slavery, and polygamy. No
dcporcs than these three negations of moral
responsibility, human dignity, and the rights of wo
But it is certain that if the letter of the Koran
flvors Them the completely Christian Interpretation
given to them at present must later cause
them to disappear Slave markets abolished in 1916,
and poygamy has become in practice really
ccpton. The generous efforts of the whole people
to raise themselves from their abascmcnt show clear
atalist ideas On the other hand their calm and COL
leccd attitude in the face of events, their confidence
in their right and in the justice Of God their perfect
good faith in all their public and private relations
the living proofs of their moral value, and Of the
deStinieS which in store for them"