The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-24
Our Cordial Relations With sThe Sick
Man Of FurOpe.'S

| relations between the American Union ana the
Sublime Porte we're completed, by the pre-
| sentation of M. Blacque, the Turkish Envoy 70
the President of the United States. AS the
speeches delivered on every such formal occa-
sion are, by etiquette, prepared beforehand
and read in manuscript, we must give the
new Minister credit for a vein of dry humor
seldom expected in an Ottoman Turk. The
speech of M. Blaoque was model in its way,
and its way is remarkable one. In beginning
he labors under the awkward dilemma of hav-
ing to explain why, for thirty years, the cour-
tesy shown by the United States in sending
an ambassador to Censtantinople had never
until now been reoiprocated. It would never
do, of course, to confess the truth, and aoknow-
ledge that the recent accrediting of the Greek
Envoy Extraordinary was the occasion Of the
sluggish mind of Ehe Sultan determining to
honor us with representative; that the fear
of the influence of the United States being
given in favor of Cretan freedom was the pri-
mary motive for this sudden determination.
So, being unable to satisfactorily explain why
it is, M. Blacqus contents himself by saying
that
OF the American Union, and of establishing
with him more direct relations, is not Of recent
occurred to him at the time he assembled the
throne. circumstances alone have thus far
prevented him from putting 1t into execution,
and thereby giving to a nation OF whom he is
equally the friend and admirer, the sncerest
evidence of his sympathies."
This is certainly very gratifying, and can
only be explained by the theory that the
Turkish Cabinet, like other great bodies,
moves slowly.
The desire, however, to conciliate the Ameri-
can people leads the Envoy to go yet
further and institute a comparison be-
tween Turkey and the United States. He tells
us news when we find that he traces striking
resemblance. To be sure, we are republic,
with the most liberal views, enlightened policy,
and democratic notions; and Turkey is an alb
solute despotism, contracted and intolerant in
its dogmas, stagnant in progress, and intensely
autocratic. We are rising people, daily ex-
panding. Turkey has been standing still, or
rather decaying, for over four centuries. All
the interests, habits, life, and morals of the
two people are unlike; yet, with all these
trifing differences, M. Blacque depicts points
of resemblance. He sayS:-
although separated by distances which,
few years SINCE could scarcely be measured or
overcome our two nations have more than
one cause for mutual esteem. Both cOnQuerOrS,
each has followed in its conquests the track
traced for it by the manners and instincts of
its epoch; one conquering by the force of arms,
the other chiefly by the arts of peace. There is
still one remarkable circumstance perhaps
not yet sufficiently understood In this quarter
of the world, where, however, SO much
but slightly in the prplcpeS on Dhich their social
| organization is based. While, on the other
| divides them seems destined to keep them
strangers to each other, on the other The demo-
cratic 0ttitieS of their institutions tend TO dTuU
| them TO one another"
If 1--WE had any doubt before that when know
ledge comes wisdom fingers, it would now be
set at rest. Turkey, like the United States,
conquerer Turkey democratic Turkey
with similar social organization to ours
Why, we had labored under the delusion that
Turkey had conquered nothing since the days
Of SOlyman the Magnificent. We have mis-
read history if the record of the Turkish
Empire shows anything but defeat since the
battle of Vienna, in 1858. Yet still, "both
are conquerers ~ Certainly the analogy is
rather far-fetched.
We perfectly agree with M. Blacque, that
there is one remarkable circumstance not
sufficiently understood in this quarter of the
world, and that is that Turkey and the
United States "differ but slightly in the prin-
oiples on which their social organization is
based" This is news; and as Mr.. Seward tells
M. Blacque that she is intimately acquainted
with the people Of the United States,'' we
must take it for granted that we are Turks.
We are afraid M. Blacque's ideas of our moral
ity are derived from the sensational style of
literature. It is mistake for him to suppose
that the Ottoman system of Conjugal relations
is general, and that it prevails throughout the
Union.
' No, M. Blacque, we have not yet established
, harems, and as our principles are decidedly in
! favor of single spouse, we entertain hope
that Turkey is also about to abandon poly
! gamy. We are also rather inclined to doubt
the democratic institutions of the Sublime
Porte.
The Presidents reply, written by Mr..
Seward, is rather too cordial for an address To
the oppressor of the Cretan Christians. AT
, the same time it contains several significant
. passages. He justly remarks that eve
thought it unfortunate for the Turkish Gov.
I ernment, rather than for ourselves, that il
!, delayed 80 long to reciprocate our mission"
, And near the conclusion of the address he
gently hints to the Envoy that our sympathy