New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-01
Emancipation of the Christians.


The Turkish Government under the direction OF Reschid
Pasba and with the support OF the foreign Ambassadors
has proceeded to prepare for war with ali the means at ITS
disposal Bot while il has appealed. ns without some
,uccess 10 the marital srdo Of its Aussensn subjects who
still exclusively constitute the military pp~er of the EN-
pre the Dvsn has orudenty considered tina; the allegiance
and conenment Of It's Christian populr1n l. matter OF
at east equal consequence La this emergency therefore,
have to believe that the Turkish Government
oontempstes the PRONUNCIATION Of most important act
fer the protection ana extension OF all the religious
liberties esioyed by every sect of Christians within
rs dominons. This instrument, It IS saio, Will De IN
the form of public sct addressed II the P,trlarchs
If the Churches in the Eat. but including IN ITS
provisions all the Christian Churches, Greek Latin,
Armenian and Protestant As far, therefore ~ nat
ter enti,y affecting the relations of the Porte with is
own Christian subjects b. the subject Of sn engage
ment 10 Foreign Powers il will embrace ths interests ot
al the Christian States in coDnectoo with their respective
fellow Christians in the East and ~ll remove every prs.
tense for the separate Interference of Russia IN defsns OF
the Greek clergy Such an edct recognizing ana con
rng at and without restriction the rights ami I'M
muniies enjoyed and Of old by the Christian sdpecs
Of the empire would be charter OF religious toeraon
and charter Of absolute religious liberation in Turkey
is the door to civil equality and the pledge o. nation IN
dependence II annihates at blow the pretenHo 81 nus
sa rel gious supremacy in the East and places the
rights of the Christian population on their natural basS-
namely the growing power ssd Intelligence OF M Chr sAn
themselves sancsned by ths 'ppova ana support
Of all the foreign Christian Powers - mat on tne one
hand il would ent,le the Churches of TIE Eat To se-k
protection from the Government Of the Porte and rs SIN
,ters rather than from interference Of suy foreign
State and the other hand it may gradually prep ire
the country for the time when liberalization aud t- fuh
Of Europe and of Christ shall more regain their -
cerdancy in the capital Of the ancient emrrs OF the Eat
The possibility Of pacific revolution OF hs nature 70
veals one the most extraordinary changes ms sge
messed For upwards Of century Russia has looked upon
herself the II heir q the and ths territories
which were evidently slipping gradually from hs hands
of the Suans, and che awaited without Impotence tne
gradual dissolution Of an empire mat scanned
falling into her lap. But tbs policy Of the larkish Gov
ert and the rapii progress OF the Christian Popq
ton SavOnian, Greek and Armenian, have shoW1 maj
nothing is less certain than this eslculHon me ue
indeed past when handful of Turks ould hold IN abso
lutte objection millions Of degraded Christians whose only
hone of protection and Justice lay IN the inerpoNuon ot
oregn Consuls and Ministers 20 VII I'M they Appealed
But there is 10 reason to suppose that such Chri'an
population exits would look 10 Russis for an ane-
lioTation IN m condition. In word in place OF that W.
lent dissolution ii the Ottoman empire which has long
been the bugbear Of st''emer, it might be Transformed
into State capable e good government Of NATIONAL
independence and Of sefde'ense The coniuot OF the
clergy in the East of the Christian merchant ana or he
population, far their opinions are known in MS
Emergency certainly shows no disposition To side Win
Russia against the authority Of the Sulan and, AZ The
very moment when ufimqfu1a from ST. Prterburgh Ia
msnds specific convention from Turkey on this san-c
il is probable that the intention OF the ltm will
be proclaimed to grant Of hi. own rec viii .nd
mere motion, more general edict ct liberation than
Russia herself has proposed or required IL ths IN
teution be realized. it not only opms prospect ct
future Improvement and stability among the Christian
popustons Of Turkey, but affords the Emperor ~ Rus
sia last opportunity OF withdra wing without discrei,
from the position he has assumed What more cas he ~
{ ct 10 ak than fall and entire recognition Of ina
rigbts Of the Chan Churches in the face OF the world
The fuence Of Ru ia in the East has hitherto rested
her support Of the Christians but VIII She nov prst ~
herself A. the snemy Of the power 10 which the Christians
owe their emancipation The pretense would be too shs
low the injustice too startling Ia be defended by the d
pomacy OF any civilized nation and if Russia appeals %
arms after the oppression Of all that gave color 70 her
demand such action could only be regarded 80 ua
provoked and unjustiabe outrage in which every pre-
rse Of legal cause had been s-pated before a soldier
crossed the Pru'h or shot had been tired Ii this
question we're be decided by the laws Of policy,
justice, nothing would be wanting to the maintenance
Of peace But it cannot he forgotten that other wrrs
are at work-the powers Of ambition, resentment, and
pride Therefore, the complete the OF Turkey
snd Of Europe becomes the less confidence f-l
that the Emf ersr Nicholas will yield argument and
everything would to presage different solution,
less he obtained victory not over Turkey but over him
ceC