The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-06-20
From the New York Evening Post.
POLITICAL EQUALITY IN TURKEY.


The evil Of war is sometimes attended with
important compensations. The Allies on one
side and the Russians on the other are cut
ting each others throats with terrible carnage
because their soveregns have quarreled ; but
in the mean time the Christian and Jewish
subjects Of the Porte are raised BY the very
effect Of the war from the inferior condition
in which they have hitherto been held.
BY recent ordinance of the Sultan, neither
Christian. Jew, Druze, or follower Of any
other worship, pays the tribute which has hi.
therto been the badge of subsection. Hither.
to the military profession has been closed
against them, none but follower Or the Pro-
phet being allowed to bear arms either in Of
fensive or defensive war. They are now
emancipated. after having worn this mark Of
degradation for centuries, and the sword Is
put into their hands. The last importantre.
ligious distinction between the believers in
the Koran and the followers of other religions
in Turkey is removed.
Thus il is that even the crimes and follies
of men, oyerruled BY supreme wisdom, help
forward the cause Of justice. liberty. aud po-
litical truth. But for the war in the East,
but for the danger which menaccs the Tur-
kish empire, many years might have elapsed
before the Government Of that country would
have been moved to declare the political
equality Of all its subjects, whatever might
be their religion. Under the pressure of a
necessity created BY the war Turkey has Ia
ken a great stride in civilization aud good
government While here, in free country,
many are renouncing the doctrine OF religious
toleration, il is some consolation that in a
land hitherto deemed almost barharuus, and
governed by an absolute master. the men in
power are learning the wisdom which 50 ina.
ny among us are nIaking haste ~ forget.
The Turkish Government must necessarl-
ly be the stronger for this liberal measure.
One great cause OF discomfort, existing among
nearly half the subjects of the Sultan, is re-
moved. The reputation Of equity and JUS
tice always increases the respect IN which a
Government is held, and adds 10 us moral
force, its power over the n.snd. BY the mea-
sure just adopted it is hardly too much TO
say that fifteen millions Of subjccts--a vast
population-are virtually added to the Tur-
kish empire, and their towns and villages
become recruiting ground TOR tie sultan 5
armies. We shall soon have Greek and
Selayonic divisions Of the Turkish army the
trading Armenian will forsake his counter to
take the sword the Mar0nites will come up
to Thrace from their mountains. and even
Hebrews will be enrolled to emulate the va
lor Of their ancestors, the Macabces. Atroop
81 Jewish cavalry will be a strange sight in a
MOhammrdan band. The popular feeling uf
these races will naturally be on the side in
which their kindred are engaged as soldiers.
Il is possible, indeed, that the bigotry Of
the Mussulman race may be offended BY see
ing their Christian and Jewish neishbor.
raised TO footing Of political equality WITH
themselves. In the European duminions o.
the Sultan, where Christians vastly ontnum
Der the Moslems, this dissatisfaction will mot
be of much Importance. Even Ia tie Asiatic
provinces, where the inhiels, as they are
called. are greatly in tie minority, the pro-
gress Of tolerant feeling towards them un-
der the liberal policy Of tue present ruler has
been 30 rapid that We need iook for no ,iO-
lent demonstration Of discomfort on account
of the new ordinance. Ii is simply the
consummation Of plans which have for years
past been in gradual execution, and which
the events Of the day have only ripenei to
an earlier maturity. The Mohammedans
have submitted 10 these changes quietly e.
nough in times Of peace, and in all probabili.
" will be easily reeunCied to their further
progress AZ q moment when they are so cyi-
denily required By the dangers Of the posi-
tion 10 which Turkey is placed.