The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-05-05
or1ant Change I'm fhc Internal Pol
icy of Turkey.
From the London Times, April

icy of Turkey.
From the London Times, April Z.
When we stated Yesterday that the changes now
.-,.oduced in the Ottoman Empire by the Influence
r,Le Powers which have allied themselves for IFS
C,c,,co amount 10 n revolution in lis social con-
I;on we did not forcsee the verv striking con.
frmorion of this remark which reached us few
hours later by The telegraph. We are informed
L. communication from Constantinople, dated
The 9Th of March. that Tie possessions Of tie mos
,,s are to be declared tie property Of tie STATE,
nd that the refusal of the SheikuI Islam 10 consent
., hi. measure was the cause of his deposition.
If This statement be correct ii is beyond all com.
harrison the most important resolution taken by
the Turkish Government since the destruction oil
the JlnisSaries, for II IS Il measure from when
Sultan MAHMOUD himself recOiled, Tough he had
often contemplated it as one of most essential con-
diIions OF the regeneration of the Empire. In i"ct
I measure so contrary 10 the preJudlces OF inc
Mussumans and the interests OF the Ulemas could
hardly have been attempted with any chance oil
safety 10 the Sultan or his Ministers unless he had
the support of a considerable force in the imme-
mediate ncighborhood Of the capital; and even
now We shall not be surprised TO learn that coup
d'ctat Of this description has been followed by aS
ta,ion and excitement among the Mussulman poPu-
IaiIOn.
The mosques and religious foundations OF the
Ottoman Empire form important spiritual corpora
TONS exercising independent, legal and iheocra''
ical power IN the State. The UIemas, or masters
Of the law and tha Koran, the sole PosSessors
OF the vast wealth belonging To these foundations
and at the timr the expounderS oil The
faith and fundamental laws Of Islam, they ENJOY
an authority 10 which the highest powers IN The
Stale have been compelled TO bow. The insecurity
of property under arbitrary Government and
many other causes have induced Turkish land
owners, from generation to generation, TO assign
over the fee simple of their estates TO the mosques
-rrservng only the uSufract to themselves and
their direct male descendants. Land thus held by
the mosques religious corporations became
ruco9E or, as it is termed in India, acUkf, and is
held forever in mortmain. Such lands have hitler
TO been exempt from taxation and personal con-
iscalon, and this tenure has SO increased and eX-
tended by the mere influence of duration and Sc.
curity in an Empire where all other property is
uatinS and insecure that full hreeqnarers ol
the soil Of the Turkish GominInns are said 10 be
thus held. Il" dispnssess these powerful corpora
lions of land. property which they have held for
centuries bv the Iwn-iOd brnd Of legal usage and
religious veneration-to resume the direct aul hori
ty of the Sultan large portion of the lands
OF the Empire, one third of which allotted 10
the mosques by MAHoMET the Cnnqueror-and ia
defy the whole power which the UIemas and reli-
giOus orders may he able TO put forth iii defence
OF their vested rights. certainly one of the bodcs
measures ever taken in great emergency.
But we entertain no doubt that his resumption
of EaHdS IS an indispensable preliminary IN thc
real r,torm and progress Of tie country. Sooner
later in its history, every Christian State ha:
undergone it, and the vast possessions which the
superstition the rap0ciry of former ages placed
IN the hands Of the church have been restored Il
the common uses OF society. The social revolu
ton which is being effected in Turkey bv the ema n
cipnt"n OF The Christians, and the establishment
of principle Of equality between ali races anC
religions OF The Empire, LED by an inevitable con
sequence 10 the abolition Of the exclusive supre
tnncy Mon Jne 1Iussuman5 nave nuHeTIO eXer
else the largest portion Of The soil, excerpt il
the Archipelago and in the provinces from whicl
they are excluded by treaty. And, although
changes of this nature never accomplished
without The dangers and sufferngS in<crr rahlC
from revolutions. the future strength and indrpen
dence of Turkey depend on the introduction OF
system totally distinct from that which has re
dured so magnificent an empire TO The verge o
dissolution.