The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-03-30
From the N. Y. Observer.
RELIGION and Morals fn turkey.
MoSTAUBAN. (Tarn & Garome. J
Fell, uurA 9th, 1865.

Ottoman race is grave and proud. II mas Pelo' IN
ed great deeds in past ages, and to DAY II Supports
misfortune with resignation. In their private re-
s.gnaons, according 10 the testimony oil Travellers
MANY of The Turks are honest, true and even
generous. They maintain manly dignity which
Is not always found among Christians. There
are at Constantinople in the higher classes OF So
ciety, intelligent and liberal minded men, VINO
having visited the different countries oil Europe
and studied in the German or French academies,
labor to bestow the benefits of civilization upon
their people. They loyal, and as politicians
ard dipIomatists they deserve as much confidence
assthose OF other States But the justice we rem
der to some of the Turks compels us 10 declare
ALSO that The mass of the Mahommedan popula-
ton is profoundly degraded. The false religion
which they profess is incapable OF inspiring Them
with the social and private virtues which are the
basis Of public prosperity. The old Turks,-and
they compose the large majority,-are still lmbued
with the most narrow and bigoted prejudices.-
They despise foreigners, without excepting those
who actually shed their blood for the defence Of
the Ottoman Empire. They regard our arts,
sciences and laws with jealousy mingled with dis
dain nd should they become the strongest-a
thing happily impossible-lhey would show the
same cruelty as did the contemporaries of Mahomet
H..
1t is not just to judge Of all Mahommedan by
what passes around Constantinople The Sultan
Abdul MedIid and bis chief officers appear anima-
ted with the sincere desire of establishing intimate
relations with the Western powers. In the pro-
vinces, not only untitled individuals, but COVER
nors and magistrates, who should give an example
of honesty and imparliality, are, most of them,
merciless desPots, expressing the weak, r"bbng
the defenceIess, prosecuting the members Of Chris
tan communities, and abusing all the trusts re-
posed in them. Turkey is consumed by moral
disease and corruption and is sinking under the
weight of her own depravity.
Thus the Ottoman's have, generally, preserved
their ancient intolerance. Mahomet said, while
attacking the idolators with his sword: 'Isamism
or deatb!' Wien he faced the Christians, not
hoping to convert them by the fear Of death, Re
changed his motto to Death or the tribute money !
Indeed it is custom universally observed by the
Turks 10 require their Christian subjects and the
Jews to pay the kharaj or poll tax, by which they
annually purchase the privilege of living and wor.
shipping God.
The law which condemns the Mahommedan 10
violent death, who embraces the Christian faith,
is still in operate and has recently been unscru.
puously executed. The missionary who should
try to convert Turk would expose himself to
severe penalty. The only concession which has
been made, after the urgent entreaties Of the am.
bassadors of France and England, is that death
shall not be inflicted upon renegade who, after
ancient faith. The disciples of the false prophet
still cherish at heart an impIacable hostility to
Christianity ; and when they pretend 10 be friend
ly, it is through selfish motives.
But is it not true that religious liberty is estab
lished in Turkey ?-that mis- sionaries of different
Christian denominations can there exercise their
ministry, and that Protcsans es peciaIy may there
enjoy solid protection Yes: but it is Necessary
to explain this. Priests, pastors, missionaries,
.oLo 81 ,iDI h.,
right of speaking and teaching what they please,
OF going where they wish, and acting as they wish
provided they address only Christians by birth.
Such reIg ious liberty requires no liberaIity the
part OF the Turks. They despIse all Christian
communions alike. Let Greek become Arme-
MAN lie, Roma mist become Protestant, it does
not concern the Turks. They attach no impor.
lance except where they have received money to
maintain one denomination more than another or
where they fear to excite the dissatisfaction Of
influential ambassador. All Christians are, in
their eyes, giaours, nfdeIs, slaves. Mahomme.
dansm is the rational and only honored religion,
and every other is odious TO the m. Where, Their,
is their regard for religious liberty They would
even understand the meaning of the term
Whenever the provincial governors can hope TO
escape the eyes OF European dipomatists, they
commit the most odious acts of oppression. Many
Armenian ENTHUSIASTICALLY the young girls
are taken from their parents at an early age, and
educated in the Mahomme dan religion to fill, af-
terward, the Turkish harems. IL the parents com.
plain, unless actively seconded by fore gn ambas-
sailors, they thems elves cruelty treated.
The Sultan has recently prohibited the impor.
tation of white slaves from Circassia and Georgia
Do you think this prohibition is respected? Not
at all. The Infamous traffic has been resumed
since the Russians have left the Danubian provn.
ces, and can more guard The navigation Of the
Black Sea, so that the British ambassador has been
compelled to order his agents firmly to oppose the
pachas.
1t is not surprising that The Greeks and Arme-
mans generally favor the of Russia. They
we'll know that Nicholas issa despot but they be.
lieve that Christian master-whoever he NAV be
will not subject them to the wrongs and insults
which they suffer from the Turks | have before
me the letter OF pIous man who has passed sew
eraI years in Turkey. He affirms that the Arme-
mans, from he patriarch down to the lowest peas.
ant, earnestly desire the triumph Of Russia, and
that they would welcome The entrance OF Ncho-
las troops into Constontinople as the coming of
the millennium The official documents are de-
ceptive in this respect. The Armenian patriarch
has presented address to The Sultan, in which
he speaks oil the sympathy OF all his people with
the Sublime Porte. This is merely measure OF
policy What shall the Western Powers do if
they succeed in keeping the Russians out Of Tur-
key? They will be compelled 10 hold garrisons
IN Turkey and rule there for il they do not the
evil they will have done will overbalance the
good. | am &C.