Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-10-02
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The Civil. Policy " of Turkey.
[For the Ohio Statesman.l ~ =

|
The Civil, Policy of Turkey.
| GFor the Ohio Statesman.l ~
The spirit of progress which charac
terizes the administration of the present
Emperor of Turkey, and the gradual
improvement in the character and con-
ditlon of the Turks under several pre-
ceding reigns, may be received as an
evidence of the determination of Tur-
key to aspire to a rank among nations
to which, in the past, she has been COM
paratively indifferent. AS in battle, her
heroes have always displayed courage
and daring which made them eonspicu-
GUS as warriors, solin peace they have
yielded themselves to an indolent ease
which has made Turkish life equally
famous for it's enticing dolce TAR niente
and complete want of care. But it is
now impossible for Turkey to continue
longer to indulge the Incidence and lux
urious ease which has been the charac-
teristic of ber repose from war. The
great Spirit of the Age is upon her,
quickening her with energy, and she is
awakening from the rich, Oriental
dream-life which enervates nation for
the rough march of material civiliza,
ton, however much it may tend to poet
ize and refine the individual character
5d What the future civil policy of Turkey
will be, may be conjectured from the
many reforms which have character.
lied the three last reigns, and the deyo-
tion of his present majesty to the i'm
provement of his subjects and his dis
position to Eberalize his government
Selim III had the honor of being the first
Sultan to begin in a serious and deter.
mined manner the work of reformation
he wasa very enlightened man, and not
only corrected many old abuses, but in.
stituted many wise measures which
would have resulted in the rapid ad-
vancement of his people, if circum-
stances had been more. favorable for the
creation of public. sentiment in har
mony with his desires. All changes in
the order and conduct of public affairs
Invariably produce more or less social
disturbance and the discomfort follow.
| ing the defeats and losses in the wal
with Russia in 1906, added to the dis.
satisfaction engendered by the new civil
policy of the Government, eliminated
in the deposition of Selim, and the &C.
cession of Mustapha ", who in a briei
reign succeeded in undoing all the apo
litical reforms Selim had instituted. He
could neither appreciate nor comprehend
the IDEAS of his predecessor, but he only
arrested for short time the pendulum
of political change, which swung forward
with a grand sweep when the sceptre Of
the Empire passedinto the hands of Nah
moud IL, greater man than any who
had ever yet welded it, and who left his
impress upon the age. Mahmoud re.
| vived the measures of reform initiated
by Selin, and the whole course of his
glorious reign was characterized by his
unfailing efforts to regenerate his peo
pie. His reforms were conceived in
great wisdom and carried forward with
an indomitable determination. They
were so extended in their nature as tc
include every department of govern
ment, and even to affect the social hab
its of the people. He was the frs
Sultan to, ! adopt the costume. O.
western Europe, and introduced the tez
which is now generally worn in Turkey
He adopted a new military system and
reorganized the army on the plan of the
western nations, not, however. without
fierce and violent opposition. By &
grand coup d'etat he destroyed complete
ly and efectually the powerful organi
cation known as .Janissaries-a military
corps of remarkable daring and boldnes:
in war, with semi independent organi
zation-who had grown so powerful az
to become dangerous to the State, anc
had menaced and even intimi
dated the Government. The
reforms of Mahmoud were
not brought about, however, -withou
great popular opposition and degree o
resistance which would have caused Z
less heroic sovereign to falter. The be
ginnings of reformations are uncertain
painful and slow; nations, like individ
uals, become welded to their vices; pi
oneer reformers, striking at rooted pref
udices, and old and .hoary evils, mee
with bitterness of opposition which
often eliminates in the sacrifice of theil
lives. Thrice did Mahmoud risk hi
throne in the interest of reform; in on,
of the outbreaks occasioned by the re
organization of the army, six Thousand
houses were burned in Constantinopl'
before the mob could be quelled. Bu
no tumults or demonstrations of violenc,
intimidated Mahmoud, or caused him t,
swerve from his course or abandon for
moment the great purpose of his life t.
which he tenaciously held. Mahmout
had the essential qualities of great re
former and great man, honesty, bold
ness and capacity. He conquered in ;
great measure the fanaticism and preju
dices of his people, and made them ia
miliar with the spirit of change; tn
more intelligent, whose loyal attachmen
to the institutions of the past rem
dered them jealous of the new ideas
and caused them to look with disfavo
upon what they regarded as social ex
periments, he conciliated by argument
demonstrated in the rapidly increased
prosperity of the country under his en-
lightened measures. --t
The regeneration of Turkey was nov
fairly begun. Her administration ha,
been guided by firm hand beyond tn
dangerous point of reaction, and tn
new course of policy was firmly fixed
Mahmoud was succeeded by his son
Abdul Medjid, July ist, 1889, after
glorious reign, characterized by brillian
deeds and great enterprises.
Abdul Medjid, called to the thron
at an early age, a pale, delicate
beautiful young man, with sad
thoughtful, but peculiarly winning ex
preston, speedily became the idol of al
classes. No Sultan who ever reigned il