The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-06-14

draulic presses, and nearly every machine
and adjunct necessary to teach or to ex
perimentalize in the physical sciences; and
all these things were of the most perfec
kind. having been purchased Of the bes
makers in Cristendom." There were
about four hundred students present in
this College two years since, and it is prob
able that the number at this time is much
larger. A University is in process of for.
nation, in which the most comprehensive
course of study will be pursued. and to
which all classes Of the Sultan's subjects
without distinction of race or religion, are
to be admissible.
The material interests of the empire
have also been objects of the Sultan's at.
tention and solicitude. Manufactures o
various kinds-cotton, wooden, and silk
have been encouraged, and established
on large scale, to which both steam and
water power have been applied. In the
capital, an immense furnace and forge has
been erected, together with an extensive
machine-shop, got up and conducted by
Englishmen, procured by the order of the
Sultan. Great Improvements have been
made in the practice of agriculture, under
the superintendence and direction Of an
American gentleman, (Dr. Davis, Of South
Carolina, of whom and Of whose Iabors
MIR. Mao Farlane gives very interesting
and favorable account who was induced
to visit and take up his residence in Tnr-
key al the request Of the Sultan himself.
Other material improvements have been
effected, or are in process OF being effected.
It must not be supposed, however, that
all these things have been accomplished in
full, or that they have not encountered con-
siderable opposition. Great reforms are
the work Of time, and men are but time 8
agents in accomplishing them. The merit
of the Sultan-anditis it is no light one-con-
sists in his comprehension Of the necessi.
ty for reform that existed, and of his Grm.
ness in laboring to effect it. An ordinary
man. ascending to the throne at the time
he did, would not have looked opposition
in the lace, and dared it, in an earnest de.
sire to benefit the people. and to raise the
empire from low to high position. Such
man would have regarded the task as a
useless one. and would have devoted him
self to individual eEjoyments, leaving the
future 10 take care of itself; and it is be.
cause Abdul Medjid is not an ordinary
man. that he took up the half completed
reforms of his father. and pushed them
vigorously forward He labors more for
posterity than for the present generation,
knowing that the. consequences Of the
abuses of centuries are not to be removed
in day. but not recognized in that rea.
son for neglecting all attempts at improve.
.ment. Whoever shall live to see Turkey
as she will be thirty years from this time,
will be able to appreciate the value Of the
labors Of Sultan Mahmoud ii. and Sultan
Abdul -Medjid, who will then be looked
Empire. @
# regard for human life is one Of the
usual indications of great ruler being
under the dominion Of grand and elevat-
ing sentiment. Tried by this standard,
Abdul. Medjid must be allowed TO stand
with the highest Of monarchs and much in
advance Of the rulers and peoples Of coun.
tries making the, highest pretensions to
civilization. He has abolished punish
ment by death except in the most extreme
cases; and it is with great reluctance that
he gives his consent to any sentence of
death being executed. Mr.. Mac Farlane's 3
observations on this point, are worthy OF
full quotation. "The most striking Of the
Turkish changes" hsssays, (Vol. I, PIP.
1916, '''is that which has taken place in
the administration of the penal laws. A
few years ago all the sentences were sum.
mary, and the punishments dreadful.
Capital punishments were astonishingly
frequent, and seemed to be regarded with
the utmost indifference by alt classes oil
Mussulmans. Ii was not often that you
could GO by the gate Of the Seraglio with
out seeing ghastly exhibition of bleeding
heads, somewhere or other-in the capi-
tai, or in the provinces, the yataghan or
the bow-string was constantly at work. II
a Turk made an observation about these
sanguinary proceedings it was merely to
say that Sultan Mahmoud was very pow.
erful king; and then he would slightly
shrug his shoulders, and talk about kisme,
(destiny.) They are all familiarized with
the sight Of blood, and this no doubt tend.
ed to increase the popular ferocity. On
the accession of the present Sultan mild.
er spirit, on the part of the government
UeSdu 10 mduiiSSt uSSli. AS 0X6CutlOHS
became rare-.and they became rarer eve.
ry year-the Turks began to consider
them with emotion, and even with horror
the old Indifference to the sight of blood
departed from them; they spoke with as
tonishment OF the frequent executions they
had been in the habit OF Witnessing few
years ago. The case OF the unhappy
Armenian renegade will be still fresh in
the recollection Of Cristendom. This mar
had renounced his religion, and embraced
Islam, and after living some years as {
Mussulman. he had renounced the Prophet
and had sought a reconciliation with the
Christian Church, Of his fathers. By the
Koran, and all its commentators, by law
and by usage, the punishment Of deatt
must inevitably follow such hacksliding
once Mahometan, and always Mahom
etan, or certain death, was the brief dog
ma, not only of the Osmanlees. but Of al
the professors of Islamism. Great efforts
were made to save this mans life; tn,
young Sultan was known to be averse t
his execution, but the Sheik ul Islam. ant
all the fanatics Of Constantinople, insisted
that, in so solemn case as this, the Law
{ ! mi, ,st take its Course. and in the end th,