The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-10

rested, whether aud when the accused should
be brought before court Of his own nation for
trial. The natural consequence of this was,
that the Turks gained nothing in their suits
against Europeans, and that the latter were
equally unsuccessful In endeavoring to enforce
their rights against Turks, or even against Eu-
ropeans.
The consuls, sure to be BIASED, and proba-
bly, rather INSCRIPTIONS in their method of ad-
ministering justice, would invariably decide in
favor OF their own countrymen and German,
bringing complaint against a Frenchman, be-
fore the French consul or ambassador. or an
Englishman against a German. would be dis
missed with only very partial, If any, redress.
The English and the forty or fifty thousand
Maltese and IoDians, who were scattered
through the Turkish maritime towns, under
the protection of the British Government, were
the most highly favored under this system.
These latter, ike the Russians, might cheat,
steal, murder, or commit almost any crime, with
impunlty; for, as the arrest of a foreigner &C.
cused of murder could only take place in the
presence of consular official, there was usually
no Englishman to be found In the neighborhood
on emergencies of this nature.
Ii viii readily be perceived that state of
things ike this could not have lasted much
longer, even if the war had not broken out.
At the present moment, moreover, when, as a
consequence Of the war, Constantinople con-
tains more than thirty thousand Europeans ;
when Smyrna, the second city of the Ottoman
Empire, reckons two-thirds Of its population as
foreigners; when all the other large towns are
filling up with Europeans, and emigration into
the fertile plains of Turkey must continue TO
increase, the question of her future condition
and relations with other European States can.
not be avoided. Internal improvement and
sweeping reforms are needed, and it is an aus
pcious sign that the first step in that direction
has been taken, and by the Porte itself.
The Sultan, In an imperial decree, or HIATT
,Shey.f, promulgated February 81, in Constan
tinople, has proclaimed the unconditional equal
ity of the Rajas, or Christian bjects of the
Porte, with the Mahommedans in all political
religious, and social rights. The importance
OF this decree cannot be over-estimated. BY
equalizing the condition of Turks and Chris
tisns, the latter, who form an immense majori
ty In the Turkish Empire, will gradually &C
quire a predominating influence, and from
slaves of the Osmanli, become their rulers. BY
this HATH Sherif, the old law inflicting the
penalty of death upon Mussulman embracing
Christianity is also abolished, and a new law
which shall be equally binding on Mussulmans
and Christians, well as the establishment oil
court OF justice, are decreed. In this way the
judicial and ecclesiastical powers, formerly ex
ercised by the Mahommedan and Greek clergy
are henceforth separated, and the sphere of ac
ton of the Muftis and Ulemas, as well as of the
Greek Patriarchs and Popes, is confined solely
10 the care of souls.
This puts an end to the grasping presump-
ton of the Gear, who can no longer, under pre-
tence of protecting his Greek subjects send
embassies like that headed by Menschikoff to
Constantinople. In fact, by this Haiti Sheriff
the third point of the peace prehminaries-re-
ferring TO the Russian protectorate over the
Greek church, which it was stated the Car
would not abandon preferring to give up the
fortress of Nicolaieff-is more thoroughly dis
posed of than it would have been by any ne
gotiations and treaties. By means of his spir-
itual power over the Greek subjects of the
Porte, the Emperor could at any time again
interfere with the internal affairs of Turkey,
in order TO seize the heritage of the "sick
man." This plan is now baffled. The sick
man" does die, to be sure but his heirs will
be, not Russia but civilized Europe.