The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-03

and Turkey, under the pretext that they were noe
subscribed TO by the United States, and therefore
them In fact this would be The only feasible man
TO present the question II we have the right, and
furtherm ore II we have the means to make our pre-
rope, I'm the name OF our commercial interests and,
above all, in the name OF the friendly ties that unite
Us to RUSSIA. But even then II Is well TO remind
those who may ignore the fact, without excepting
the Springfield Daily Republican or Mr.. Kelley, that
y Is precisely the non-participarion OF the United
States in the stipuIations that rule the passage OF
the Straits thai render any exclusive pretenslons
Sey 81 psce reality what Is our posoh In Iar
lle PRIVILEGES conferred by the capitulatons con-
nrmed by these same treaties that we have not
declines In Turkey we occupy the same political
position as Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Greece and
the immuntes formerly granted to some OF the
great states OF Europe by the conquering Sultans.
These exoroltant immunties without parallel even
IA sucn Darbarous countries a. Japan and
Abysslna, constitute such advantages that
we, as Americans, would never tolerate to
We're forced to IL by disastrous war. For instance
they include the right OF consular Jurisdiction for
our own subjects, exemption from taxes and IL
censes, the uniformity OF duties on our merchan-
disc that only pays six per cent entry, and nu-
citizens resident In Turkey material and political
existence, an Independence and liberty OF action
totally unknown TO us at home, although we con-
slider thus the most liberal or MI nations
Is quite evident that when Turkey made
those enormous concessions to England and France
less forced, because 1t was precisely at the period
OF her most brilliant conquests that she 80 awk-
wardiY disposed OF ner prerogav t In AL, favor OF
quences that might eventually befall her independ-
ence through such an act OF condescendence, or
rather OF weakness. But Turkey then placed such
restrictions on her favors that no person dreamed
OF challenging for the simple reason that she gave
policy to arrange with Power that was about to In
wade all Europe. Those restrictions consisted merely
In the closing OF the Dardanees and the Bosphorus
IN all afyr1u If W0 md n
toll, or frman, on merchant vessels Furthermore,
no Europeans were allowed to possess or acquire
restriction, az we are aware, has lately been re-
moved. These reciprocal concessions, which to all
good reason, once admitted and adopted BY the so
called instrument OF capituations, were afterwards
embodied In all political treaties entered upon by
the contracting parties 1t Is true that the govern
ment OF the United States has no treaty with the
Ottoman empire; 1t has only commercial treaty,
revised In 1892 by the Of which 1t is placed on
the same footing and In the same conditions the
European Powers. The benefits OF these capitula-
lions and the incalcuable advantages they bestowed
by spirit OF tolerance and just feel
ing OF condescendence, to a country which
as being friendly. Whatever may be the resources
and quickness OF imagination or Mr.. Kelley and OF
our fellow citizens in general and however strong
may be our desire oil restrictions from our
commerce and facilitate our friendly relations with
II necessary even to the middle OF the Black Sea,
can we in conscience and without giving umbrage
to all civilized nations suddenly raise the eXorbtant
pretenson TO be beneyoently treated by the Turks
on the footing as the Powers who entered upon
the Crimean war to save their empire and not sub
init ourselves to the same obligations accepted and
admitted by those PowersS II would be madness;
and cannot believe that any intelligent person In
the United States would continue to sustain such
argument Naturally the government OF the United
States L. at liberty to spontaneously renounce the
exclusive privileges and immunites enjoyed by Its
citizens In Turkey by favor OF the conventions that
il has not signed, and that stlpulae the exception
atty OF the rights or consular jurisdiction The gov
eminent Of the United States IL AT liberty to abandon
all invaluable benefits that accrue to our citizens, to
our commerce and to the development of our pOlit
cal influence, to the liberal spirit which the Turks
are pleased to treat US, whereby we are placed on
the footing with their best friends aud allies.
IL Is ut liberty to reject those advantages and at the
same time to decline the obligation OF submitting to
any restrictions that may ensue; but In that case the
government Of the United States ought to take the
Initiative by formally declaring its non-particpa.
Of the capitulatons to consider Turkey In the same
light as France Switzerland-a country absolutely
Independent; TO treat with her conditions OF tho
strictest reciprocity in matters OF civil and criminal
jurisdiction, OF commerce, duties, navigation consul
lar fmmuntesin one word, in all matters OF politt
cal and international right; In fact, to remove, ac-
cording to Its convenience, all obstacles caused by
those same capitulations and which opposi-
ton to the free and internal administration Of the
country Then, and only then, the government Of the
United States can demand OF the Porte, In the hope
OF being listened TO- the overthrow OF the barriers
that at this moment prevent Admiral Farragut and
his squadron from visiting the ruins OF Sebastopol
| and even those OF Sinope, without hindrance