Washington sentinel., 1854-01-08
A srussulman seheaded for Processing
Christianity.


don Christian Times. If the circumstances
are as related, it shows that there IS no change
in the spirit of the Turkish government towards
christianity, but we are constrained TO say that
we think there is strong disposition on the
part of the English nation and government to
find some excuse for not rendering material aid
to Turkey in her present difficulties. The En-
glish government have now an opportunity to
put stop to such prosecutions OF Christians
whether converts from Mohammedanism or
not, and should it prove itself an ally to Tur-
key, we look for such result. 1t would be
legitimate to make this condition Of assist
ance, and thus effectually to secure the end.
This letter will be read with deep interest at the
present time.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, NOU., 1853.
i | have seen some very sensible remarks in
your paper of late on the character of the
Turks, and Of their government though quite
different from the tone of some other journals
of the day on the same subject. You have got
hold of the truth of the matter, and hope you
will continue to enlighten the public until bet
ter notions prevail than seemto be current just
now.
In the present question with Russia, there is
no manner of doubt the Turks are in the right;
and the Russian pretensions are the most un-
founded and preposterous. OF course, impair
tial persons viii naturally sympathize with the
Turks, and strongly wish that they may gain
their point But is there not danger that this
feeling ofjust sympathy may blind some to the
real and crying faults of the Turkish system,
and even beget an admiration for what is in it.
| self truly abominable, and worthy Of the exc
cration of all good men?
So much has been said of late years of the
| favorable changes that have been going on in
Turkey; OF the general liberation of religion
of the protection given to Protestants as well
as other subjects of the admission of the oaths
of Christians in the courts Of justice in one
word, OF the institution Of the tauzimad, or i'm
perial character of rights given by the sultan
in favor of all classes of his subjects, without
distinction Of religion, that many appear to be-
lieve that Turkey is almost already regen-
Grated empire; which, in my view, is as great
a mistake as it would be to consider the allevia-
tons produced sometimes by medicine in the
symptoms Of some deadly disease, as satisfac-
tory evidence Of convalescence.
Changes, it is true, have been wrought in
Turkey, but the Turks have not changed. This
fact tells the whole story. The Turks have not
changed; and they will not change until the
crushing incubus Of the Mohammedan religion
is removed. l would not do them injustice.
! They possess some traits of character which
encourage the best hopes concerning them pro-
vidcd they should become truly Christian
people. The great mass of them have strong
religious character. / know of no people in
the world among whom the religious sense is
more strikingly developed; and we may justly
conclude that men who have, for so many cen
turies, persevered in simple form of prayer,
five times day, to the one only God, spiri-
tual Being, of whom they admit no likeness or
similitude whatever-when, by the grace of
God they shall receive the truth as it is in Je-
sus Christ, will become Christians of no ordi-
nary stamp. AS body, however, they are
still under the corrupting and degrading in
fuence of Mohammedanism, while at the same
time they consider themselves as the favored
of heaven, and all others as reprobates. The
same religious pride and arrogance; the same
| naughty contempt of the Christian nations
vailed two hundred years ago, still reign over
almost the whole mass Of common Turks.
True, various acts of government during
| few past years have tended muchtothe anchor
alton Of the condition of the Christian subjects Of
! Turkey; and yet, not a day passes that they
are not made to feel keenly that they belong to
i despised and hated race, who are esteemed
as not fit to live on the same earth with good
and true Mussulmans. Those who have been
long enough in the country to look below the
surface of things, know perfectly well that the
by policy and fear. It has often happened that
the Turkish minister of state, who is called to
take the lead in preparing and publishing fir
mans and riziidl letters in behalf of the Chris.
tan populations, retains, at the same time, all
the bitter hatred and contempt of the Christian
name, which are hereditary to the Turk. He
signs the charter of their liberties with his
hand, because he must and at the same time,
he curses them in his heart. Orif perchance,
by a visit to Europe, and residence Of some
years in Paris or London, he has learned to
regard people of other creeds as worthy of
some consideration, and he shows that he
really wishes to confer greater liberties on the
Greek, Armenians, and Protestants of his own
country, he himself is cursed, in turn, by the
mass Of his fellow .Mussulmans, who say that
he also has become giaotr.
i If anybody supposes that the toleraton that
has been granted within a few years past to
Protestants in Turkey, is evidence of a favora-
BILE change going on in the Turkish mind to-
wards Christians, or of any juster views of the
principles of religious liberty, he is grandly
mistaken. The government itself is fully aware
of its inherent weakness and Of its depend
ence on the European powers. 1t therefore
strives to please Russia by protecting the
Greeks France by protecting the Catholics;
and England by protecting the Protestants;
their tongues in anger, and secretly curse their
rulers, for showing the least favor to the hated
Christian dogs.
A circumstance has just occurred which
will open many eyes to the real character Of
the Turk in the middle of the nineteenth cen
tury. A mussulman has Just been beheaded at
Ad,1aaople for protesting the Christian re
Hgion! Happening at this precise moment of
time, when the fleets of England and France
are lying in the Bosphorus, having come to
preserve the Turkish Government from ami
hilation, it must be regarded as critical. A
providence is in it, and depend upon it, great
results will follow. The circumstances are
briefly these:
A Mussulman young man, of the village Of
EskiZagharr, near Adrianople, belonging to
sect of Turks called 1a6ani, declared publicly
that Mohammed was a false prophet, and that
the true nronhet was Christ. and that after him