The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-09

Turks Of the present day suppose that they are all 20
many "Blusbeards" and thns scenes like those 30
graphically portrayed in this book are OF frequent oc
currencs throughout this capital The only relief 70
the picture Is the imaginary power OF saiadin' the
noble hussslman champion against whom fought
Richard Of England, called the 'Lion hsartsd;'' IL
may, perhaps b likewise added, few well known
and acknowledged traits among Aussemans. such -
his fidelity problty honesty and acts OF noble and
generous character Of these but little other " known
than what 70 told In the imaginary tales OF ORIENTAL
life. for modern travellers seldom become acquainted
with any other OF the people Of the East than thoss with
Il surely would be- unjust 70 attempt to perpeua.e
such erroneous impressions and hand them down to
all future posterity The dark ages Of the Turk are
within the pals Of modern civilization Be-
cause he only . Turk. or rather Mus
gous animosy and preudices still weigh heavily upon
him in the minds OF many CHRISTIANS With them.
effect any improv sment Why should not this be
extended by the 10 tho Catholic and the Turk
countries do mot improve and reform themselves CON.
formally with the esprit OF the age on account solely
Of their religion and the latter while they fully admit
arts and sciences in political liberty nevertheless
hold them 10 be nothing loss than heretcs." and 80
damned to all spiritual perdition. In the Same manner
this sentiment Is extended BY all other than great Chris
tian scots to the hussuman with fearful strength
and determination All OF the better social traits Of
the MussuIman, his nrm attachment 70 the faith
OF his ancestsrs his sincere belief and simple
pisty. are nothing when cast in the scales to-
Rether with Christian implsty and irreverencs.
The fact that nine tenths OF the crimes committed In
Turkey are the acts o. It's Christian inhabitants might
illustrator OF the injustice shown TO the
Mussumans. Where one Of the latter IL seen In the
street intoxicated hundreds Of the former oier bad
example The hussulmans have brought with them
from Arabia, Palestine, Syria and Asia Minor many
customs and habits which, II snaiyzed impartiay. would
differ with those Christian Europe, and severely
condemned chiefly because they are not understood
Of Eurap They been q rsns and
different growth International relations among the
land sS y ss
Probably e. An early period Of many 9 o. the
and s.iii s srs' from Il. od Testament A
q later period Roman laws spread over
ws t know are =. Ssaueons ron Il. Koran Had
Also per perhaps snsr laws would have remained pretty
much what they originally were-mostly Of = religious
cnn their inappcsSsy 10 inssrnsiona a1 rs S
tions and modern times became apparent, and civil
laws codes and principles Of law took their place.
Mussuman laws for several centuries past have gradu
ally undergone tho changes More and moro they
became restricted 70 Mussuimans only Civil codes,
planting the principles OF Law deduced from the Koran
10 whatever concerns Mussulmans and non MussumanA
mOn.d 1soo the csd and the period is mot
far on when distinct courts will DO established in
COnStanttuOpl0 and throughout the whole ottoman
empire the trial OF all civil suits At the present
moment there are already boards Of commerce aud
criminal tribunals not only In the capital but In every
province Of the empire in which hussuiman law forms
no part Of the Jurisprudence observed. Thus change
Is oeng made which folows slowly, though surely. on
the heels OF European law and justice
In this manner Turkey is undergoing change
conformably with what Is natural TO suppose Europe
she s entering into the great family Of nations ana
claims respect for the rights Of their international awS
and their application in her own behalf At some Of the
Com n N
Turkey has already been represented BY her am.
nassadors She was admitted .her: as European
nations understood In Europe, and fully adopt
cd them for her rule Of action with other Powers
Notwithstanding this from the fact that the Ottoman
government is nonChrstian Power she s as already
seen in the courEe pursued against her within few
sidsred forming Of the great family Of nationa
Religious prejudice still staros her In the face In the
nan ae1 and 50 :y beyond II.
pale Of civil and spiritual salvation. All her best On.
Of s1 s and s foes
Europe desire her 70 be anything else than the "Turk
se ssp &C. @ ns 81
empiref IL the welfare and happiness OF the Christians
in the Ottoman empire the actual object OF this consd
Grafton and soiicudef religious prelude against
the Buebeards" Of Christian tale books 70 be perpstu
aod among the present generation and 10 all time 70
Of political aggrandissment and national conquest II
wou really seem that Mussuman bsrbary e 100 fruit
full cid for spotcal irrtations 20 be- allowed ever
TO change II 3d. IL would DO better 70 preach mp and
proclaim crusade against the Turk ana the Ottoman
10 saa r 80 a
expected TO die without some show Of manhood; and
thousands OF Christians innocent OF the cause would
be the victims STEP Tho theory "that all great
changes demand victms' would be put for ward with
fearless strength and violence; but this - just now
fully consistent with European civilization and tts actual
policy towards Turkey.
In the present as we'll in previous letters on tho
actual and condition OF the Ottoman empire It has
been shown that lis rulers gradually reforming
government and people consistent with the aga
open s regarding the speed made IN this line. and the
success attained Some persons think that much more
might might have already been done, and that more
haste Ii required to accomplish what still remains
done These Will be better and more impariaily
answered by retrospective glance the past twenty
i've forty years. Truly IL must be admitted that
within this period enough has been done 10 show an
advancement In the right course and admit OF hopes
for the However this be, there certainly
no ground for despair or desire TO thwart by oppo-
son to tho endeavors OF the public men OF the EMPIRE
are u 20 ea ~. Wond a he 70
accept what has been already done and encourage them
for the futures
which it depends existence Is the Interference
Of other Powers IT'S internal affairs. This principle OF
the laws of nations has been recently laid down BY
the people government Of the United States that
need scarcely be hero alluded to. Not only
did unumerable learned and individuals Ia Europe
(perhaps the may be said OF the United States)
advocate the OF the rebellion OF the Southern
States on various grounds but even several OF the gov
crnments OF the Old Continent countenanced IL much
they dared to DO with safety TO themselves The
violation OF the rights OF nations IN the OF Poland
IL still fresh In memories and the sad fate OF her in
babitants 10 striking example OF tho result.
Every nation has uudoubtcd right TO pro-
vide for Its own safety and self preserv walton.
For Turkey, 10 admit Of interference In her do
nestle affairs time that some one OF her varied
communities portions OF ihem consider themselves
sggreved would be 10 hasten her dissolution This 10
too generally avowed principle Of natural law TO bear
any comment IL disregsrded and is reverse admitted,
1t would be to invite citizens and subjects TO revolt against
their own government sovereign and TO copsummate
prosc,s Of ambition and conquest in favor Of those who
are ito promoters Diplomacy like lawyers, endsavors
TO point exceptions TO the laws and base their argu
ments on precedents. Unfortunately the history OF
modern Europe furnishes too many cases where might
and power overrue Law and justice that when the
former seeks for plea for Interference IN the domestic
Affairs OF tho Ottoman government II nnds II In the
fact that II s not Christian Power and only Turk"
RELIGIOUS prejudice offers q ready excuse for such
violation OF principle and Is in fact the only one put
forward In mems minds.
The instruction OF the Greek Christian Inhabitants OF
Gambia against the authority OF ther Sovereign the Sui
tan aud Tue interference OF Of the greater Powers
OF Europe In favor Of the same Offer remarkable In
stance OF inractons OF the laws OF natiops Indeed,