New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-23
An AMERICAN IN BULGARIA..

From Our Own Correspondent
BosHARDsCHIK Bulgaria, Oct. ], 1855.
The despotic o. stems of the East are as IN
changed in character as the bases of the Hima
lava. and to the despotnm of the Koran must be
attributed the present condition OF the ottouiaa
Empire The idea of religion is SO strongly lin
pressed On the Ottoman mind that without a change
OF faith there can be no essential change IN 'hs
odes of thought and the things pertaining to the
outward life. The original purpose OF Mohanmed
WAS to convert few of the neighb,rlng tribes 10
the belief in one God. The unity of God Is there
FIRE the prominent doctrine of the Koran; but
there is no spirituality in that confused imitation
of the Holy Scriptures The Koran exalts dod
but debases man the Bible exalts man aud sur
rounds Deity with incouceivably more grandeur
in that it makes God cOndescend to put on tl'e
form of fallen humanity. The Koran Is puenle 10
conception aud local in application the Bible ls
grand in conception and universal in application
embracing the united interests OF humanity Ia AL
times and in all places. The Koran lsolates the
Bible unites and expands. Islamism degrades Ia
bor and teaches that mo m7re effort OF
IMAM can in any way augment the glory
God ard the dOuluOu vi thc
Christianity ennobles labor and says: " Stek and
NJ shaH fnd knock and it shall be opaned
" INTO YOU" Isamism msterallzes man; Chris
tispty spirtualizes hm-the former by e1t,Dguish-
ing though the latter BY awakening IT, Inc one
system deerades existence to an Idle dfean auu
nromjses paradise of sensual qualification the
other exalts life into heroic struggle Tor ourselves
ard our race, and promises heaven oil spiritual
delight. The teachings OF Mohslnmed leave man
Ia h. ID
Christ ra,se him to sublime hight Of virtue aud
n axe him worthy of the prOmis ed reward. Hence
Mobsumedsnism, promulgated by the sword, must
be sustained by the sword or perish forever. ifus
the superiority OF the Arab race ~ that OF Osman
enabled il 10 rise for time above the despousW oi
the Koran. Endowed with more spirit ana I'M
aoipstiop, the Arabs became for q time the IN
structoIs of the world IN science ana art OUT IL
WIS only 10 sink 10 greater depth OF ignorance
aid darkness After tn Ess0r OF Ottoman conquest
came the period Of decay. When the proud de-
sc.I6tnts of Osman hid down the sword, unlike
the Msgyars and the eonquerng nomads IRON
the East, they took up the pipe aud
made of life one long delicious XII.
From A nation of enthusiasts and conquerors the
CsuaDlis BE- cane nation q sleepers aud smokers
They came into Europe with the sword In one
hand and the Koran In the other. Were they
driven out of their encsmpment 1t would De Win
the Koran in oDe hand AID the pipe IN the o'her'
cryIps: Allsh kekrim AilaA kehr'm God Is mer
ciiulF God is mercIfulO How, then, are the
Turks 10 be regepera'edi simply by exhibiting
An opotLeOsis of trench civilization along tue boe
phofusl As well attempt TO bad the ocean with
ropes of sand. To attain that r,sult the Bible
u, u.t be placed in the hands Of the Faithful Ba!
is the Porte willing 10 take even that iaitlAoiy
STEP So far from IT, a converted Aosen cOua
not live in STEAMBOAT the fact OF his apostscy
to become generally known. That Armenian ana
Greek, Catholic and Protestant, are permitted 70
worship freely under the agis OF Otsom,n aatnor-
ity results from no religious liberty or toirraaon
on the part Of the Turks, bu. iron sovereign
eost,mpt of Christianity, more blgntns even u an
persecution, from that iais"; fare poh Z when
bs. crushed the pillars of Ottoman CIVILIZATION
snd uneer which tue conquered monuments OF an
Gent art have insensibly mol Tered away. Inc
Greek NAV be won from hi. folly and superstition
there is an lthufiel spear Tor the colossal nlel,
arcby of Rome but what can touch tue ieaaeH
brain and stony heart OF lslam
We left Koatebouk KaInardj long before day