New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-22
THE PARTITION OF TURKEY.


of splendor with the triumphs of Mohammed's
successors, since Solyman the Magnificent its
history has been the chronicle of it's gradual
decline The Turkish system is essentially mil
itary and b,rbarOus; ard when it ceased to be ag-
gressive its dissolution began. In the present
world of civilization and industry the Turks
have no place. Their religion, their laws,
their traditions, their spirit forbid it. In mod
ern Europe they exist in stagnant and mort
bund condition. In this war they have fought
well, but fighting is their national business, the
Only thing they profess to be good for. In spite
Of all that, however, the famous phrase of the
late Car was true one: Turkey is sick man.
Mohammedanism, as political system at least
has no more business in Europe at the present
day than leper in healthy society.
In say ing this we do but utter what every one
in.tinctively feels. Political prejudice may
deny the truth, but common sense admits it,
The Turks must march out of Europe. 1t
is high time their enclmpment in that I'M
equaed country-unequaled in soil, climate,
mineral treasures, and especially in geographic
cal positon-lad come to an end. BY this we
mean not the expulsion of the race-let them
stay if they will amid the relics of the Empires
which vanished before their own. But the Mos
lem law, government and political system must
be abrogated. Let the sick man end his days IN
such peace as his malady may allow; but let not
bis estates fall to utter ruin, and his tenants and
workmen starve and perish, when, by changing
his efiete and stupid methods of administration,
they might thrive abundantly in land blooming
like garden
The destiny of Turkey is no mysterious prob
lem Of the future. We have not to wait for the
development of remote years to know what
must become of the Turks. That is all plain at
this moment, and there can hardly be two opn-
ions On the subject. Turkey must be disem-
barrassed of the MOslem. That is the whole story.
II is true the statesmen Of England and France
have had much TO say about preserving the in-
tegrity of the Empire, and guaranteeing the
sovereign rights Of the Sultan. But all this
must be set down to the ever open and capa-
cious account of Buncombe. These statesmen
know perfectly that the Sultans have run their
rece, and that the day is at hand when no such
prince will be found at Constantinople.
The real question is, Who shall succeed the
Sultansi and this none Of the Western states
men seem at first to have had the courage or skill
to answer. Accordingly, they went into the
war with the solemn humbug in their mouths
that they were fighting for the integrity of Tur-
key The truth is they have fought because
they did not know how to partition Turkey.
Jealous of each other, jealous of Austria, Jeai-
Gus of Russia, jealous above all of the eventu-
atty of new Power rising out of the ruins OF
Turkey, if that were possible, they pretended to
be contending for the preservation OF Gov
ernment almost if not quite defunct, which in
it's day was the most fanatical, aggressive, ty-
rannical and barbarous ever seenin Europe. What
they were really cOntendlng for was the preserva-
ton of their own uncertainty as to what should
replace that Government.
In considering this permanent problem Of
Europe, about which Europe is now IN
yolyed in a costly and most sanguinary war,
we have not hestated to declare our opinion
that the interest of humanity would be pro-
NOTED by substituting the Russian for the Mos
lem Government at Constantinople, or for the
Government of the Allies. Not that the Russian
political System in itself is not repulsive; it is
system of despotism; but at the same time, in
its industrial and commercial relations, 1t lays
for Freedom the only sure foundation, namely,
the development of the industry aud resources
of the country. Under the Moslem rule, Turkey
has been cursed with what is called Free trade.
With every element of the most varied and
productive industry in her possession, her peo'
pie have consumed the manufactures of France
and England, and the country has grown
poorer and poorer. Russia. on the other
hand, guided by practical wisdom and real
statesmsnship, above thirty years ago laid aside
the Free-trade system for that ofindustrial Pro-
lection. The consequence is that she now con-
sumes her own manufactures, that the nation
are able to resist both France and England
united, and that the people are becoming more
free and independent. Give Turkey the adyan-
tase of this benefcent industrial system, and
she must become one of the most populous and
powerful countries of Europe. The change 1t.
has produced in Russia must here take place
with far greater rapidity and perfection. her
inhabitants would catch the inspiration OF IN
dusfry and progress; workmen from all the
countries OF the West would there find employ
menf, wealth and elevation; and all humanity
would be benefited by the change. But so long
as the Free-trade system IL maintained such
regeneration is impossible, and the present