The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-22
"The sick Man.v

"The Sick Man,
According to telegram from Constant.
nople, published in Mondays HERALD, the
Sultan is dangerously i'll. His illness, how.
ever, and even his death, would probably moi
much increase the complications Of the Eastern
question ct this particular juncture. Were he
to die he would at once De replaced by biz
legitimate successor, without any effort on the
part OF the European Powers to seize an OPP
portunity OF destroying the integrity Of the
Ottoman empire. And physically sick a. the
Sultan is reported to be, the stereotyped
phrase of The Sick Man," which has SO often
been applied to him - the repre- sentative Of
Turkey by European diplomatists and journal
lists, is now less applicable than ever. As we
lately took occasion to intimate, Turkey has
been called sick by all the world, chiefly in
consequence Of its having suffered from over.
doctoring Left to itself, as 1t seems to have
been by the recent note Of the representatives,
Of France, Italy and Prussia, 1t may make
proof Of recuperative powers sufficient to
rescue it from what must have been its Inevi.
table fate had it persisted in opposing the
current Of modern progress. But the recent
visit of the Sultan to Western Europe seems to
have confirmed him in his tendencies towards
the, recognition and the adoption Of modern
ideas. That visit was itself, ~ We
have said, On unprecedented revolu-
ton. Since the return Of the Sultan to
>Constantinople his acts have shown that he
spoke no empty words when he said to Ma.
poleon, " The Sultan comes to visit the EN-
peror, and lslamism renders homage to
Christianity !" and to Victoria, !" | cannot hope
to govern thirsy-six millions Of subjects without
removing all barriers which separate them,
outside even Of religious faith" The f2vor
which be has manifested towards the reform
,n-rtv directed by the younger Turks ,Sho have
been educated al Paris and = London. and
his readiness to promote the introducuon OF
those potent agencies d mc .sarn 0'vsl'Ssuon.
the printing press, the railway and tho tele.
graph, are encouraging signs that "The Sick
Man" is not so near death as his enemies
might wish. The Sultan himself may vet live
long enough, We hope, to witness the most
satisfactory results from the reforms which he
has initiated. II is true that the recent note
presented to the Porte by France, Italy and
Prussia may be interpreted as an act Of COM
plaisance TO Russia. But Russia herself seems
to have relaxed. at least for the present, her
active interference against toe Porte. And the
note in question, although in form favorable to
the Greeks, is in substance favorable to Tur-
key. I'm reality" says . letter from Canea,
dated the 81 inst and published in Paris jour
nal, " the Powers leave the Turks face to face
with the Cretan insurgents and the Greek vol
unteers, only treating the latter with indul-
gence." The speech which the Emperor Of
the French delivered to the Senate and Corps
L6gislatJ on the 10th, and which tho HERALD
published the next morning quite clearly pre-
senls the actual state of the case. Hls imperial
Majesty adverts to the fact that the conciliatory
spirit Of the Powers removes the irritating
differences Of opinion that existed between
them as regards bringing about the paciHca-
ton Of Crete. Napoleon says ~ am happy
to announce that they have agreed on two
principal roints-the maintenance Of the in
tegrity OF the Ottoman empire and the ameliora-
ton Of the cond ton Of the Christians" Its
evident that the great Powers unitedly refrain
rom insisting upon the cession Of Crete BY tho
Sultan, inasmuch as they see that this cession
would be but beginning Of the end and
would inevitably result in the disintegration OF
the Ottoman empire. The end, therefore. b
not yet Tho Sultan Ii TO be LETT free to
develop the recuperative powers which may
prolong the Life and restore the health Of "Ths
Sick Man." II Turkey viii but enter heartily
,n the path Of modern progress awaiting her.
'elf Of steam. electricity and the other grand
Of civilization. We may see
hat " there's life In the old land yet"