New-York daily tribune., 1854-03-27
TURYEY AND TIE TURKS.

which there Is every reason for the belief that all the
povt1s of Europe must become involved. In this
contest "a far az il has yet been developed, the sym
pathies of the greater part of Christendom have
been bestowed On the Turks and that for obvious rea
sons In the first place they are not only the weaker
of the two but the party attacked and for the at
tack no beerpre,ens cen be found than that which the
wolf alleged against the lamb when he fell upon him
for troubling the brook where both were drinking,
! though the lamb was further down stream and could
Lot possibly have disturbed the water where his
enemy stood The Gar assals the Sultan in order TO
secure guarantee for the rights Of the Greek Catho
lies among the atters subjects but refuses to accept
guarantee Of the same rights for all the Christlns Of
Turkey the Greek Catholics included. This naturally
draws toward the Turks the good wishes of all who
love fair psy aud honest dealing, AMI this general
current Of sympathy still further increased by the
belief that since the time when Mahmoud IL boldly
struck out into the path of reform, Turkey has gridu
ally been going through process Of regeneration and
assimilation 70 the civilized and progressive States Of
Europe II has been thought possible that tile Turks
brought into Europe BY barbarian conquest aad
invasion, and undenaby possessed Of many manly aud
excellent qualities, such wont to belong to war
IKE people, might come into the family Of cultivated
and Industrious nations without losing anything of those
good points and while laying aside others not much
TO their credit Thus they have had the sympathy of
the world as beginners in ne and interesting ca
reer whom it would be treason to humanity to de-
prize Of fair chance to accomplish all that might be
hoped from them. And in the third place most lib
eral have been their eide, because they
have Represented not merely the balance of
power, but what is much more dear TO
feelings, the revolutionary cause in Europe. Apart
from their generous and brave behavior in the protec
ton of the Hungarian refugees the fact that they
invaded by Russia the buwaIk Of divine right aud
traditional order, the guardian of despOsm aud tle
stronghold OF darkness aud oppression with the proba
bilty that the revolutionary elements of southern and
western Europe would be called In to serve on their
side lave seemed TO render the interests of liberty
identical with theirs Not only do the triumph of the
Gar and the transfer Of Museovte power TO Constant
nople appear 10 nyolSe that conversion of Europe into
one vast Cossack camp, which Napoleon so absurdly
prcphesied but on the other hand for the M0sems TO
succeed in repelliDg the invader il thought to be
equivalent to The downfall of the Austrian Empire and
the emancipation OF Italy and Hungary to say the least
From al these causes the hope for Turkish victory has
been almost unanimous in this country had the Turks
energy their cause could not have warmly enlist
ed the interest Of the American and English public.
Recently this aspect OF matters has changed. The
partial accession of Austria TO the league of the west
powers ard the Jealousy which the latter feel to-
ward the revolutioniss Of Italy aud Hungary reider
it probable that he war will be scrupuou.ly carried
witfo aordiDg the least opportunity for the over
throw Of Austria and that in fact its close viii the
cause of Europesn freedom in about the condi-
ton as at present, if indeed the impovershment and
degradation Of the Masses consequent upon long aud
sarguinary war, do not postpone it for bali century
This charge renders it not impossible that the reyou
tonists disappointed by France and England, should
even seek to ally themselves with the Gar His
mics and theirs have become tie same in the west OF
Europe, and il will depend him whether to un-
chain the revolution, TO leave Austria and France
undsturbed at home while fighting lin abroad The
turns Of pc tcs have rarely offered more sudden and
complete transformation than that in the relative posi-
on of the Autocrat and the reyouonists 10 regard 70
this TuIkiEh controversy.
Behind all these varying movements and modhca-
ons ofrteIest and sympathy there remains the grand
question of all touching the moral right OF the Turks
now to hold power in Europe and the possibility Of
tleir rising to the level of free, selFgoyerned and
weral nation plsyiog IT'S full part in the advancing
drama Of civilized ard social history This is the ques
lien which, sn local aud temporary prejuices aud
hopes apsrt dominates the present contest and must
finally decide It's issue and which only be solved
appeal permanent andessentsl facts distinguished
from those which merely superficial and phencme-
nal First among those facts we must notice the numer-
zeal inferoriy ofhs Turks in Europe compared with
tie other population of the Empire Oat of fifteen
millions and half less than onsseventh are Otomans
the rest being composed OF Slavons, ROmSnisns Greeks
and AlbaniaIs. And this small minority are no more
intelligent, 10 more susceptible of culture, not
superior in any quality of mind, except in the
habit Of governing and of regarding themselves
a. privileged race, meriiDg and enjoying
TIE peculiar favor Of heaven. This is q race OF
invaders AMI eonquerors who for centuries have
leTd in their grasp tie aboriginal people and the lands
which for uDnumbeTei centuries the latter have TILED
ard Of which, BY every natural right they should en-
Joy free urques;iOaed possession. The Turks have
business there no more thsn the Russians TIE only
ugfost0n that be found for their superior occu-
pancy is TIA. of the Setzs qao il has long been So
ergo, 80 it ought TO be. This principle however, the
sutjugsted multitude do not admit. They desire
emancipation sri feiEdeveloPmeat fusion between
them ard tie eonqueroTs such, for nssnce as takes
place between ne Spanish Americans AID Il native
races ley corquer, il clearly impossible. Centuries
OF cortsst have done nothing TO brig about such re-
suit. The sHtsgCnism Of creed, tradtoas laws. Gus
toms language snd social uRaees between tie Harks
aud ,heir utjeCs is Ss great NOW Sc 4 Il a. thrae