The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-17
what becomes OF Tur,sey

Whichever alternative is accepted by Aus
| tria, it does not appear that any uncertainty
| can exist with regard to the fate Of Turkey.
Austria may throw herself into the arms of
Russia, and coerce the Western Powers to sub.
init to Russian supremacy in the Black Sea, to
fresh apportionment Of the Principalities and
| Slavonic countries between the two empires, to
the conquest of ali that is Turkish to the north
of the Balkans at least. Or she may espouse In
earnest the cause of her present paper allies,
and Iepel the Russian not only beyond the
PIuth, but beyond the Dniester, and perhap,
help to set up once more Tartar sovereignty
in the Crimea But whatever she does, the
fate of Turkey remains the same. II is dead
the corpse Of nationality, already reeking
with sgus of putrescence.
The first mistake was in Stratford Canning,
Reschid Pasha, and other liberal men attempt.
ing, in Abdul Medjid's name, to intro luce mo.
dern reforms into the Turkish organisms
striking illustration of the Oh parable of the
leatbern bottles. That they we're honest in
what they tried there seems no reason to
doubt; but they acted in sheer ignorance of the
nature OF the institution of Islamism which is
essentially incapable OF reform, or adaptation
to modern or indeed to any other combination
circumstances than those under which it was
first developed. The experiment was failure.
McFarlsne, who spent some time in Turkey in
1928, and returned thither in 1913, reports
that the reforms were unpopular and dis.
tasteful to the people, and that the
nation as whole was Infinitely more
/ cd Mt Iaff hon of
former period Urquhart, and all other
reliable travellers confirm the statement. With
unanimous voice they pronounce Turkeys
| doom to be sealed, her decline beyond hope of
remedy. In point Of fact, Abdul Medjids libe-
raj N sssures, his attempts to graft sprigs of
European civilization on the M5slem stalk, not
less than his reluctant liberation OF the various
| Christian sects, were not only futile; they
were positively miscbievous. they uniermin-
ed The totteriog remains of the Eastern edidce,
ard reared 40 substitute among people which
could not abide eXotics.
There was therefore no precipitancy or grasp
ing ambition in the desire Of the late Nicholas
l. to determine by friendly treaty, in 1914, or
1852, what should become OF the territory of the
expiring nation. He proposed to divide it with
! Great Britain. The British government natu-
rally jealous of powerful rival whose agents
were already interfering with the English in
the East, preferred sharing with France, a ma
,ion not commercial, no. connected with the
| East, no. likely to complain of the spread of
! British dominion Persia or Thibet ward. Hence
| the war Nicholas committed the gravest
fault Of his career when he exposed himself to
declaration Of war before he was prepared for
a coup de main against Constantinople. Sound
policy Indicated that he should have secured
himself there, or at all events prep Ied for an
overwhelming attack on the place before he
gave the slHes o pretext for making it their
headquarters.
For, what is now the condition Of Turkey?
Under one treaty, Austria holds the Principali-
ties with military force. Great Britain and
France hold all Turkey in Europe south of the
Balkan ridge by another. The Sultan exists
still, it s true; but he has no more power in
bis oTn oominions than the native rajahs and
nabohs of HiDdostan. The real power o, the
| State is in the hands of the ambassadors OF the
| Wesiein Powers. Colstantinople is the basis
Of operations of the Western armies. By formal
| treaty, the Sultan is bound not to make peace
without their consent: and this itself is rather
dficnlJ to reconcile with the notion of indie
pent sovereignty; but, in point of fact, he can
not only not make peace, but cannot take upon
| himself the smallest administrative responsible
! lily without the sanction Of his allies It is
notorious that even in matters of police the
Diysn is subordinate to she British and French
| embassies. On tin return of the armies from
the Crimea, Varns, Constantinople ard CALI
| 20 viii again be occupied; and Turkey thus
| giIt with for eign garIisons will become what
may be called a protectorate; but what will
really be provinces jointly owned by France
ard England. Austria-if she join the Western
Powers-will lave the Prnci palities for her
share. A. this time of writing, the Turkish
nstiooslity is defuuct Turkish Institutions
are gone Islamism Ia Europe has ceased to
be. There is nothing in Turkey but foreign
garrison and host of native slaves.
30 suppose hat having gained o foo'hold on
tie Bosphorus, the Allied Powers intend I'M
der any event to abandon IL. is to reject the
tes ching Of history England especially
| has never d ne such thing. IL g not
likely she viii insugurste new course
of policy wben the prize she would let
drop is OF such immense value to her as Con
staptipople md the routs to he Eat. She
B,pt Gibraltar, On she kep' her co0quests il
India. She kept every fo,t of foreign land
which she ever obta ned ny favor, treaty or war.
urul STE could no longer keep 1T. Sne will
keep Constant nople. Not alone AZ first, but
~ I. 49,
events almost vsriahly repeating themselves
IN e nj r succsssion-it is likely she will
qua ! with France, as she qusrrelled with her