Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-09
Evidences of Procress.

"
LEWIS JONES, Pink Hill P. O., Lenoir county
Evidences OF Progress.
Turkey has been generally regarded as failing
State-dropping to pieces from its own weight and
the gradual decay OF IFS vitality; and such certainly
had been the course of during the century pre-
vous to 1880 Since that time efforts have been made
by It's rulers and leading men to arrest this downward
tendency by the reformation of abuses, and the assim
laon of its military and financial system to the more
advanced model required by the state of the world at
large. Indeed, the first step in this direction, and
bloody one had been taken some time before IN the
destruction of the celebrated corps of Janizares,
sort OF Pretoran guards, who, from having been the
most jealous and efficient servants OF the Empire, had
become its terror and curse. 1t is more than proba-
bic that Sultan Mahmoud the predecessor of Abdul
Medjid the present ruler, attempted to carry forward
his changes and reomations too rapidly and without
sufficient regard to the existing state OF the country
and the deepIy-rooed preudces of the people Atany
rate, the nation its transition state, was certainly
weakened rather than strengthened The old system al
ready grown comparatively worthless, had received
fatal blow while the had not yet had time to
adapt itself to the people The result was general
disorder and dissatisfaction. Refractory Pachas set
at naught the authority of the Sultan, and the
trail power, menaced on all hands, and receiving
cordial support upon none, was forced to yield in
almost every instance, and indeed, nothing but the
interpostion of the European powers saved it from
destruction by the forces of Mahomet Ali, Pacha Of
Egypt, who finally retained for himself and family
the hereditary authority and nearly independent
power. Within the last few years, however.
the improvements introduced by Mahmoud, have
tJ,o;r oiaI off nd
others have gradually been brought about
by his successor, quite as fast as they could
be adopted by the nation. The Pachas no long
er feudal governors of hereditary and almost indie
pendent States but in truth and in fact deputies of
the Sultan For the spirit of fanatical domination
on the part of the Moslems, which required the
constant nterpostion of the Western powers for the
protection of the Christians has been substituted
q liberation as liberal, almost, that existing IN
this country, certainly quite that of Great Britain
Turkish commerce has revived and some order has
been introduced into it's finances, while the naval
and military power has been placed on a footing far
superior to what it ever has been within century
The results of the contest with Russia, so far, at
least, 90 to show that the Turkish army Of to-day
is very different from that whipped by Deibitch in
1929, or even by Abrahim Pacha, Mahomet Ais
General, in 1910. Instead of loose rabble, 1t is an
efficient army-more So indeed than It's best
friends had calculated The spirit of the nation
too, is evidently different; it is united, more
devoted to the common cause, and the support OF
the Sultan It's resources, as evinced by the arma-
ments set on foot, have evidently been largely de-
veloped.
What may be the effects of this war it would be
difficult to say. 1t can hardly be advantageous to
Turkey, result as it may for even should she sue
coed in driving the invader from her SOIL it must be
at the cost of an immense expenditure, and the ex-
haustion of energies-al required for the peaceful
Development of her resources. But, be that us it
may, thing we look upon as demonstrated-that
Turkey has made progress and that too, at rate
that would do credit boastul nations. it is
deeply to be regretted that the ambition of an I'M
scrupulous neghbor should jeopardize the Of
an experiment, such that made by Turkey fol
working out her regeneration, under circum
stances of unparalleled difficulty.
VENp