Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-05
AMERICAN ORGAN.
Smithsonian Lectures.
REPORTED FOR THE AMERICAN ORGAN.

By HoS. GEo p. MARSH.
He commenced by referring to the many objects
Of interest to be found in the East. The many an
cient cities, ancient shrines Of many faiths, the
scenes Of many conflicts Of nations, the rise and
fall of many empires, the remains Of Eastern ele-
gance and luxury-traces Of these may be found
by patient research, but to the superficial observer
all this Is lost
! Constantinoplc was indeed the seat of the first
Christian empire, and the forum of the jurispru-
dencc of Justnian; but it was never vrtuous, free
or enlightened Its early history was that Of an
oppressed colony, then of tyrannical oligarchy /;
as the capital Of an Independent Eastern empire
il was subjected to a despotism, not less severe
Tho speaker had the worst idea Of its mcanness and
demoralization, from its founding down to the
present time; and the only hope he entertains for
it. is through the civilization of Christianity, and
this event is not so far distant as some might think
for already are Bibles in the Turkish language sold
| in the Bazaars hs
| He then described the Turk as naturally brave,
sober and intelligent but thought that his religion
dcbased and kept him down. she is aware that
his political and religious organization cannot long
exist, he has fallen into venality and corruption in
Office He is not patriotic, as lie has no hope for
| the future; is bigot, as his temporal affairs
are bound up with his religion, and with his faith
falls his country. The Koran is at once his Bible
1 and his code of laws.
The improvements of the Moslem empire COM
menced under Selim, made great advances under
Mahmoud, and is still going ON, under the present
Sultan, Abdul Medjid, who, though himself but i'm
| perfectly educated, shows great appreciation Of
knowledge, and spares no pains to introduce the
| principles ofsound reform into his country The
| first impulse toward Improvement came from the
liberal course Of the French toward Turkey, from
the time Of Francis to that of Napoleon after
which time, England succeeded to the influence
France had enjoyed, and favored every system o
reform which appeared But it is true, to the
shame OF Christianity, that many Of the European
Powers intrigued to put down reform, lest Turkey
might take higher stand among nations, and be
better able to defend herself
The Turks have been characterized as cruel and
following war with remorseless severity 1t is par
tally true but in war, other civilized nations arc
not less So; the severity of the Turks in the
Greek revolution has been fully equalled by the
/ sympathizcrs Of the Greeks in 1854, who, al the
instgation of King Otho, burnt 800 Moslem men,
women, and children, in Christian church, with
! or they had fled In hope that it might prove to
them an asylum and the Greek papers spoke of
| the massacre as q hecatomb to the shrine of lib
erty Much of this rumor has risen from the con-
duct Of the Janisaries-a troop who had no coun-
try, no home but the army, and, as class, were
universally bad
4 The Turk is said to be indoent II is true but
admits of much pallaton. Constantinople is in
| the midst of desert where agriculture cannot be
carried on except by irrigation and in many parts
that cannot be accomplished In the time Of Fran
4 cs J. treaty was made with France, admitting her
goods at duty Of three per cent, and afterward
many other Powers were admitted to the same pri-
vilege. The duty is so small as to hardly pay its
collection; and IN order to have revenue a duty,
in all amounting to twelve per cent, Is imposed on
exports. This, as natural consequence killed all
the manufactures Of the country So the Turk Is
| idle per force. 8
| He is also said to have DESTROYED the works OF
art with which that part of the country abounded.
The Turks are Iconoclasts and it is part of their
religion to overthrow all idols. But the Crusaders
did that work SO effectually that there little
Left for the Turks to destroy.
Next to the Turk ranks the Armenian. Intel.
lectualy they are far in advance of any other of
the Turkish subjects; but they have the vices of a
/ depressed racc---arc towards, nnisers bigots and
sycophants. They constitute about one-twelfth Of
the inhabitants Of Turkey, were the first Of the
Orientals who embraced Christianity and the pro-
gressive spirit of the West But they arc too few
Fin number TO exercise much influence upon the
4 The Greek is the opposite Of both Turk and Ar
menan, In all that is respectable and good Their
former constructive power is now totally extinct
The race in recent times have not produced single
scientific man, or artist. They are decetful and
selfish their patriotism is merged into bigotry
there is no deep sentiment in their religious feeling
but il seems the bond Of their clan; and their high
est notions of State is but that of ecclesiastical
hierarchy. Sympathy toward them Is misplaced, az
ba Iveo xxha NV nf;
and to place them again in rule would be TO put the
old Byzantian sccptre into tho vilest hands by
| which II was ever swayed. The only thing TO be
! done for them, Is TO thoroughly cviizc them, BY
separation of Church and State, and 10 free them
from the influence of their ignorant and tyrannical
priests The ruling powers of the age could COM
nit no greater mistake than TO build UP Greece on
the ruins of the Turkish empire.
/ Here he described the city of Constantinoplc.
Its population, reckoning that Of its euvirons, IL
about 100000. The city proper is called STAN
| boul, contains about 1000 acres in form triangle
| Is surrounded by wall and ditch, which arc In
| ruins, and afford little protection.
Tho seraglio covers tho site Of the ancient BY
zantium. 1t contains about 200 acres. Its houses
Of wood and show but little architectural skill
IL Is some distance above the water down 20 which
its sides gradually slope Is covered with LOFTY syc-
amorcs, graceful Expresses, and other beautiful
trees commands beautiful view, and enjoys a
delightful atmosphere so that it is the best site for
the imperial residence the country can afford But
since the massacre Of the Janissarics, the Sultans
have lived elsewhere, as some think, 10 be farther
removed from insurrections. IL is to be regretted
that Abdul Mcdjid has spent 50 much money on
his present house, when the seraglio is so much
better site for his palace. Its library has been
said TO contain some valuable ancient manuscripts
but one who has looked through them all says there
Is nothing to repay the trouble but some parts OF
Pndar. fa
The general surface Of the arear Of Constantine
pie is undulating, and, Ike Rome, Is situated on
seven hills. Their slope is never nconvcnientIy
abrupt and in places The valleys are 20 filed
up by rubbish that they can scarcely be traced
| Next to the mosques are open squares, of modcr-
ate size and, the streets narrow, the portion
Of ground occupied by houses is greater proper
| tionately, than in London or Paris. The govern
ment Offices, hospitals, mosques, khans, &c, are
Of stone, but the private buildings arc generally
OF wood.
The bazaars are long arched buildings, extend.
| ing over many streets, and lighted from above.
Along ear side arc small ahona otoht ~ to,, c,nt