The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-04

Central Europe with their thunder have
scarcely passed away before another cloud
arises in the East The world moves rapidly
nowadays. Steam and electricity seem 10
exercise wonderful quickening influence in
the moral and political world as well as in the
physical No "thirty years." war Is possible
now. Empires are overthrow or created in .
few days. Institutions capitalized by time and
fortified by the genius and labors Of . hundred
generations are swept away like cobwebs
Conservatism will soon become an obsolete
word. Progress, either in remodelling the an
cient order Of things or in creating new one,
is the controlling idea Of the age, and no
institutions that stand in the way can long
exist. The Turkish empire in Europe stands
in the way Of this progress-of the march Of
European civilization, and il fate is scaled.
Feudalism received its deathblow at the birth
OF the great American republic and in the
revolutions which upheaved society ct the
CLOSE Of the last and tho beginning OF the
present century. Although remnant still
remsins IN great Britain ana in some paris Of
The European continent il Is greatly nodded
and controlled BY the popular voice and is
fast dying out. The idea Of government by
divine right or BY privileged orders has
become obsolete. Everywhere the prin-
ciple Of self-goverament, as recognized by
conceding the right Of suffrage to the
people, is acknowledged. Serfdom is abolished
in Russia, and that great empire is closely fol-
lowing the progressive civilization of Central
and Western Europe. Priestly domination,
which had been enthroned thousand years at
the ancient capital Of the world, has fallen
with the temporal power OF the Papacy
through the progress Of liberal ideas. Even
the most bigoted religious populations are
emancipating themselves from priestly iniu-
ence. All over Europe, except in Turkey, the
spirit of progress u changing the face and
condition of society. s9#
We see, however, in the fairest portion OF
Europe, washed by the Mediterranean, the
Adriatic and the Euxine, and traversed in part
by the Danube, in the land Of ancient historic
greatness and genius, whore the arts Of war
and peace attained their highest development
we see in that beautiful and fruitful country .
semi-barbarous and anti Christian government
inimical to the enlightened progress OF the age.
1t Is under the biighting rule Of the Ottomans.
Mahometanism, with its effete institutions,
cruel despotism, blind Intolerance and paralyz-
ing fatalism, stands as an insnperable barrier
to Improvement Worse than that, there are
eleven millions of Christians who have to bear
the yoke Of this intidel Power-of = govern
ment more suited 70 the deserts Of Arabia or
the interior OF Africa than 70 civilized Europe.
Such state Of things is strange anomaly In
these enlightened times.
Can we be surprised, then. at the instruction
in Gambia, at the intense excitement and move
ments in Greece and at the mutterings OF revolt
in Servia and among other Christian popula-
tons Of European Turkey II is said in West
ern Europe that Russia secretly foments
these insnrrectionary movements among the
Christian subject>of the Porte to promote her
own ambitious ends There may be some truth
In this, and it il quite natural that the people
Of Russia should sympathize with their core
ligionists under Mshometan rule. Still, We
know that Russian influence and progress in
the East is the bugbear Of the press and states
men Of Europe, aud Of England and France IN
particular, and the action of Russia, if there be
any, may be much exaggerated Apart, how
ever, from Russian designs or action there is
ample cause, - we have shown, for revolution
among the Christian subjects Of the Sultan.
The greatest efforts are being made by ssve-
raj Of the Powers Of Europe to keep insurrec-
ionary movements in check and to maintain
the integrity Of the Turkish empire. England
and France, a. every ono i aware, made war
ON Russia few years ago, in what is called
the Crimean war, to sustain the Sultan against
supposed danger from Russia. That war did
give strength for few years to the Ottoman
government Had Turkey not been sustained
by such powerful foreign aid her rule in
Europe would have been utterly destroyed.
To two Of the greatest Christian Powers must
be ascribed the continuance OF the blighting
influence Of Mahometan rule over eleven mil
lions Of Christians ana over the fairest portion
OF Europe. But, AFTER few years, the results
Of that costly and bloody war in the Crimea
are being effaced by the tresh revival OF the
Eastern question" II Is In the nature OF
things irrepressible-it cannot be kept down.
Whether Russia does intrigue or not in the
affairs Of the Christian population Of Turkey,
these populations and the Christian world will
never be satisfied till the Ottomans are driven
out. There will be instructions, and this will
oe the end in spite of armed evolutions or
diplomatic manGuvring.
Every day we are receiving some news by
the Atlantic cable or by mail about that part
OF the world. II has become, really the promi-
nent question Of the day France and Eng
land have frowned at the Cretans and warned
the Greeks, and they are watching the Russians
with intense interest. But all this does not
appear to prevent the determined resistance
OF the Christian subjects Of Turkey to Otto.
man rule, and cannot long prevent the break
ing up Of the Turkish empire. European
n 80.