Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-05-15
One Of the Effects of the War.


The war in the East, like all wars that
have preceded, it has been accompanied
with an immense expenditure Of blood and
money and it will be long ere the nations
engaged in it, will recover entirely from
its effects. Thousands of the best and
bravest soldiers of Europe have been
killed millions Of money have been ex-
pended; fertile fields have been trodden
down by the iron heel Of war, leaving no
harvest to be gathered in except the har-
vest Of death and whole towns, which
art and science had combined to make
beautiful in peace and formidable in war,
have crumbled into dust beneath the rude
shock Of the conflict. But, notwithstand-
ing all these evils, the war has been pro-
ductive Of some beneficial results, prom
inent among which is the change wrought
by it in the internal affairs Of Turkey.
That country, asis well known, has ever
been the stronghold Of the Mahomedan
Church-the bulwark Of the Mahomedan
faith !; and such has always been the pre-.
judice existing there against the Chris.
tians, that heretofore they have been ex-
cluded from all participation in the affairs
Of the State, and from the enjoyment Of
many Of the rights and privileges accord.
ed to those profession the Mahomedan
religion. The Christian world will re-
joice that these restrictions are to be re-
moved, and the Christians subject Of the
Porte will be placed on an equal footing
with the Mahomedan. In consequence Of
the demand Of Russia, with assent Of
England and France, the Sultan has re.
Gently given his sanction to reform DILL
embodying the rights and privileges Of
Christians under the jurisdiction Of the
Porte, which has been sent to Paris in or.
der that it may be annexed to the general
treaty Of peace. We will give a few of
the headings Of this reform bill, in order
that our readers may from some idea of the
concession granted to Christians, and the
progress which has been made in liberal
principles in that hitherto bigoted and
benighted country. By this treaty ancient
ecclesiastical privileges are guaranteed to
Greek and American Churches the
Patriarchs are deprived Of temporal and
Judicial power; all religions are tolerated:
persecution or punishment on account Of
change Of religion is abolished Chris.
tians are admitted to State Office civil
tribunals for the Turkish Christians are
established; Christians may join the army
and receive military honors !; the Franks
may possess real estate in Turkey !;
Christians are to be represented in the
Councils Of State: direct taxation is in.
troduced, and credit bank for commerce
established.
These reformatory measures will be Of
great benefit to Turkey, as Abdul Medjid,
the enlightened and liberal minded Sultan,
well knew when he sanctioned them.
By removing the disabilities heretofore
imposed upon Christians, thousands Of
foreigner. will no doubt be attracted to
that country by its fertility and advan.
tagecus position for commerce, and the
lazy drone Of Turk will be supplanted
by the energetic and enterprising Ameri.
can, Englishman, or Frenchman. With
such IN improvement in her population
Turkey is sure to rise in the scale of ma.
tions.
@ The New York Journal Of Com.
merce states that during the past three
months there were 80 fires ip the United
States, where the loss in each instance
equalled $4,000; Is of which destroyed
manufacturing property. The total loss
was elQ2l,0QQ.
% Tho U. 8. Navy has lost BY death