The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-03
TURK

Russo-Anerican sympathies and Policy
The DardanelIes Question and Its Origin
Merchant Shipping Observation-Disclosures
Commerce In Turkey.
C0NsTARTrN0PLE, Oct. %, 1883.
American citizens resident In this capital as well
in other parts OF the Ottoman empire, have been
Of late much Interested, not also somewhat
amused, by an evident attempt which is being made
both in Europe and the United States to place the
latter in position Of antagonism to the government
OF Turkey. Generally this attempt is ascribed by
them 10 Q Russian influence and to Russian agents.
To their own personal interests the subject is Of
some solicitude and they are at loss to learn in
what manner 1t can possibly benefit the well being
OF their own far distant country in ts political and
commercial intercourse with this empire Now and
then certain papers, mostly published in France,
contain articles strongly showing positive alliance
between Prussia Russia and the United States either
for the purpose OF opposing France and Austria
or OF securing . joint action against Tur-
key. Even the perfectly harmless excursions
OF Admiral Farragut, which have now come to a
peaceful termination by his return to the United
States, have been distorted into some connection
with the above mentioned alliance. From these it
would that the authors OF these articles either
apprehended an active interference on the part OF
the government OF the United States in the affairs OF
Europe or that they ardently desire it,
II can well be understood why certain class OF
men in Europe cast their eyes l0ngingly to the
United States, with the hope that the day not far
distant when their influence if not indeed their &C
tive interference Will be felt in the political affairs
OF the Old World. These are generally men Of lib
eral ideas on the subject of the science OF govern
ment; and il they be not open advocates Of the re-
publican FORM at least they hope for the application
- those restrictions upon the absolute power OF
sovereigns to be good only In y constitu-
tiona and representative system, cousin-ger-
man to q democracy. There are many MIL
lions OF peace-loviug and truly patriotic men
throughout England, France and Germany who are
sincere and devout admirers Of the great republic OF
America and OF its principles. They feel proud Of
its wonderful prosperity its power and prestige
among the family of nations. They already good
Americans at heart though Europeans by birth and
education. 1t certainly cannot, therefore, be these
who would connect the republic with such associates
az Russia and Prussia, two OF the most absolute
governments OF Europe. Such an idea is simply
absurd and an insult to their most sanguine aspira
lions. Who, them can those be who, as Is from
time to time declare to the world that the United
States actually joined together with those Powers
in 80 unholy an alliance for purpose in which the
people OF the United States certainly cannot feel the
Ottoman empirei They must s only be the > paid
WSo though ns they S0 may we doubt sna
the United States viii ever be ensnared
S any e HUS t IN np &c vsr
object OF alarm and apprehension to the ncredulous.
Many well informed Christian subjects Of the Sultan
seeing these stories 80 often repeated In the Euro
pean papers and sometimes republished In those Of
this capital, ask whether there really can be any
foundation for such declarations As American citi
their utter falsty and add that great have been
the efforts OF Russia to concate the good win Of
they are governed by too much good sense TO be in
weighed into any alliance with her or even sympathy
@ he # hong o
American citizens who have visited the Russian en-
pire, either Is simple travellers OF in official posi-
them BY the AT, authorities -. They o have VII
tens Seo or government which cushss the people
and suppresses every aspiration for more liberal
form. Corruption and injustice there 60 hand In
hand, and even religion Ii made TO serve az an in
strunent for human degradation. In Prussia the
present state OF things Is certainly far better than In
Russia, but there Is still much TO be done before the
ssa cam and Hasls a are IN x. Sn
course, and so far merit the sympathies OF the
people OF the United States. This cannot however,
lutte, despotic form OF government In the widest
sense. so long, therefore, as this Is the case Ameri
% ana hsy egn nocy ~ s
further ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. II there was the smallest
germ Of liberty OF constitutional principles In the
see 1t grow up aud produce good fruits In Its own
soil.
Among the questions Of the day alluded to in
many papers throughout the United States which
smack so strongly OF Russian influence as not to
be mistaken is the resolution offered in the late Con-
gress on the subject OF the Throwing open Of the
Dardanelles and Bosphorus to all ships Of war and
commerce. American residents here firmly believe
that the proposition, In question was given c1t and
dry' to the proposer, and others that II even may
have had it's origin In this capital. II such really
proves hereafter, to have been the case he will
blush to feel that he had permitted himselfto become
the tool OF the real author OF 1t for purpose either
OF personal character or to serve for some other
design, the political plans OF Russia versus Turkey,
country cannot possibly feel any interest The pro-
poser was certainly entirely ignorant Of the scheme
not improbable that had he been better acquainted
with the facts he would not have lent himself to It.
% sns % ~ 9
unknown in the United States for their magnitude
and the misery which they create among the poorer
has endeavored TO change this, BY 30 far as prscti
cable compelling bis people to construct their houses
ready been efected, but yet much Is to be done be-
fore C0nstantinope can be safe from fires. 1t Ii also
very badly on for water with which to suDdue the
water cannot easily be conveyed from the summit
OF one anotheA Here and there are public foun-
ish waser. The narrowness Of the streets and
their steepness oner great obstacles 70 tne
progress OF large fire engines Near the city
water be- procured for the use OF the inhabitants
who depend, therefore, for so essential an element
upon the bends or dams which stretch across the
ravines from hill TO HILL In the forests OF Belgrade.
The water there collected and preserved during the
OF rains is conveyed In pipes 70 the capital,
q distance Of some fifteen or twenty miles Con-
stannople 10 also not protected by any other fort
than those OF the two straits OF the Bosphorus
and the Dardanelles the latter more than hundred
miles distant These therefore, offer the only means
OF protection which IL possesses against naval
forces, which might set nre TO 1t. by some 1t s
hat hpge AZ bo DnqqpQ bv 4np9 OF
but modern iron-clads and artillery have rendered
this doubtful and should hostile neet be II ever
small once pass them and reach the city, II would
be wholly at It's mercy. For this reason the Otto
man Suans ever since their conquest OF Constan-
tnople have from necessity maintained the principle
Keeping these two straits closed In times OF peace
To tie naval forces OF all nations. This principle IL
not forced upon them by any OF the Powers OF
Europe but only by tho rational instinct OF selfpre
seryaon and dire necessity. Here is, therefore the
into which the propoeer OF the resolution has
fallen. lilo has based his resolution on the SUPPOSE
ton that the Sultan was obliged to close them by the
great Powers OF Europe SO utterly helpless would
tue Ottoman government be with y naval force NJ
...al.... Ia .