New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-24
TURKEY.

Very pOmpous were the promises made by En-
gland and France at the beginning of the present
war. Self.sacrifce and devotion in the cause of
the oppressed sultan-his sovereign rights and the
integrity Of the Empire-would, we were assured,
characterize the policy of the Allies. No selfish
motive whatever, according to their fair report,
prompted their determination to uphold the crescent
on the Thracian shores Under the wholesome
instruction of these sponsors the fatalistc and
stationary mind of Islam was to be recas renewed,
imbued with elasticity; Turkey should unfold in
fresh and perfect blossoms, become civilized,
initiated in all the multif0rm developments Of
European life. Such were the ostentatious boast
ings of the English press How sadly the results
fail to make good the bigh-sounding promise
The Sultan, his Cabinet bis country, are kept in
swaddling bands. To be sure, Austria takes care
of the Prncipalities for him; but there are many
unbelievers who maintain that these possessions
will never more return to the Porte. In our Opin-
ion, any change of condition would be better for
the people of the Provinces than dependence on
the fayorite prOteges of the SeragliO-on Pashas,
Hospodars and ambitious BOyards. What is
called the people in EurOpe,-tbat is, the toll.
ing, producing peasantry and wOrkers-are in
q far superior condition in the Austrian
Empire to that presented by the same class along
the shores of the Lower Danube True, they do not
enjoy political rights but in their present state,
unhappily, they do not prize them Entertaining
no longDgs for political liberty, satisfied with their
chances of ma erial prosperity, thankful for the
hni of oil md If thp vac
tons of innumerable petty tyrants, they ask no
more. The Austrian peasant becomes afreehOlder,
independent of the mobiles; and the same lOt-even
under Austrian sway--is to be desired for the
Danubian people, In the present political and
social state of Europe, small States encounter too
many obstacles TO the promotion of their true in
terests and the development of their resources;
while, as parts of Austria, tho Principalities would
be less oppressed by taxes and other exactions,
and would derive important benefits from associa-
ton with other members Of the Empire. indie
pendence under a complex Protectorate, such as is
proposed for them, would in many respects be an
injury. But at all events, change in the form
of their administration is contemplated by European
Diplomats change which, whatever it may De,
will be at the cost the Sultan thus giving the lie
to the early assurances of the alliance.
If Austria holds the Principalites the Allies,
and especially France, are no less firmly anchored
in the very heart of Constantinople. The nights
surrounding the city are transformed by French
engineers into menaeing Notifications, turned to.
ward the capital rather than toward the road by
which the Russians were to approach it. French
barracks are scattered over the city holding il in
check. On the Asatic side England follows on
smaller scale the gigantic operations of her power
full ally, and the Sultanic sovereignty is encOm-
! passed between blue and red jackets. AS to the
policy to be pursued in the war; neither the opin-
ions nor wishes Of the Sultan are consulted or
garded Turkey declared the war; the Allies un-
sheathed their swords to preserve her. But now,
for the continuation or conclusion of the struggle
she disappears from the foreground. In any nego.
tations which may be going on, Turkey is not only
deprived of the initiative but is not even uamed in
the preliminaries.
The war has unvailed the real aims of the Allies.
Louis Napoleon eagerly seized upon the chance to
inaugurate his reign with baptism Of glory. Eu-
gland rejoiced in the opportunity TO cripple Rus.
sa with French bsttering-rsms to destroy her
naval force, to secure not so much the integrity of
Turkey, rs the extension of her own free trade
into Asia. This being not yet attained, we now
hear that England insists on the prolongation Of
the war, notwithstanding that as far as Russia is
cor ,erned the integrity of Turkey is assured for
al asst half century. Ii matters not 10 England
la the Christian as we'll as MOhammedan popu.
ls; IN of Turkey suffer most cruelty from the con-
| tinuance of the bloody and exhausting strife,
under whose pressure social disganizations spreads
like devouring cancer. This corroding disease
prevails among the peaceful population as we'll as
among the military subjects of the Sultan. In the
beginning, the Ottoman army made successful cam
paigns in 1884; but afterward being put aside,
insction has decomposed it, and it is now reduced
to some &c, 600 men, unable to cope with the Rus
SLAMS in Asia, or to hold Kars or perhaps to save
Erzeroum. The interests of Turkey were for
me this vitality mensced in Asis, aud for months the