The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-06
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS or THE LEADING JOURNALS
Upon CURRENT ToPICs--COMPmED EVERY
DAY FOB The EVENING TELEGRAPH.
The Eastern Question.
NE AZ. Y. Tribune.

"
the 9th inst, to consider aud settle the East
ern question, so called. No gift of prophecy
il needed to warrant the confident prediction
that no real settlement can thus be effected
that such settlement will only be postponed
bv this meeting. The first decisive step to-
wards real settlement of the Eastern question
will have been taken when the Turkish power
is driven from Europe, and not before.
The Ottoman or Turkish dominion nomt-
nslly covers about 100000 square miles of
Europe, 500 900 of Asia, and rather larger
area of Africa-nearly l, 800, 600 in all-much
of il among the fairest and finest portions of
the temperate zone. Ii we estimate that one
third of this vast extent Is absorbed by Ara
bian and African deserts, where the Ottoman
sway il but nominal, and source OF weakness
rather than Of strength, there will still remain
nearly or quite one million square miles OF
generally excellent soil, lying under the most
benignant Skies and more eligibly situated,
whether for q seat of industry, OF commerce,
or of power, than of any other region on earth;
while its popuatIon-though far less than it
had one, two or three thousand years ago, aud
still deciining-ranges from thirty-fve to forty
millions.
But it's government is an absolute despot-
ism, and its ruling race bigoted devotees of the
faith first propounded by the Arabian impos-
tor, Mahomet, wherein unbridled sexual lust
is halowed by an irrational and intoleraut IA
naticism. The "twin relics of barbarism" are
here still cherished; and, while slavery seems
to be slowly wearing out, polygamy is appa-
rently as vital as ever. The Mahometans are
obstinate fatalists; like all shareholders, they
shun work; while, like most Asiatics and
olygamists, they are intensely unprogressive
and slow to adopt the improvements made by
others. Inhabiting the very cradle of Euro
psan civilization, the Turk is essentially and
inveterately barbarian.
All this is beyond the control of other peo-
ples, so far as the Asatic and African divisions
OF the empire are concerned for they are pre-
ponderantly Turkish and essentially Mahome-
tan. But Turkey in Europe-embracng the
countries recently known as Macedonia and
Thraoe, with Gambia Cor Crete), and most of
the islands of the ArchipelagO-is essentially,
unchangeably Occidental and Christian. 1t is
presumed to contain about sixteen millions of
inhabitants, whereof eleven millions are
Christians, mainly of the Greek rite, leaving
less than i've millions of devotees of the Koran.
Between these diverse races and creeds
fraternity is impossible and mutual regard
unknown.
The Turks broke into Europe, over the
wreck of the decaying Roman Gre elk Empire
of the East, nearly six centuries ago, and COM
pleted the ruin of that empire by storming
the ramparts of Constantinople (callei by
tu6m III I1OO. Ills ld5L
emperor perished in the assault, and the
Turkish sultans have ever since made his
capital their own. They soon afterwards sub
jeoted Greece and Albania to their sway, and
in the next century extended that sway so far
northward as Hungary, the more important
portion of which was possessed and ruled by
them for nearly a century. Under Solymau
the Magnificent they laid siege to Vienna in
1929, but were compelled to raise it with
fl,a 81 In, . I,
reign of Mahomet w, the Grand Vizier Kara
Mustapha again laid siege to the Austrian
capital, but was driven out Of his trenches
and headloDg down the Danube by hastily
mustered Christian host led by John So
bieski, King of Poland, with fearful losse.
in men, arms, and munitions. From that
hour to the present the Turkish star has
steadily declined; and the rapid rise of Russis
from Obscurity and impotence to the rank of a
first class power long since threatened the
expulsion of ''the Osmsnli" Gas they call
themselves) from Europe. The Russians
being Christians of the Greek rite, as are
majority Of the people Of European Turkey,
the sympathy between the two peoples rests
on grounds quite ineligible, and were long
ago proclaimed. Russian victories have driven
the Turks successfully out OF Pedalia, the
Crimes, and Bessarabis in Europe, as also out
of Georgia and other Asiatic provinces. But
=
evinced by Great Britain and France, especially
the former, the Turks would have already
been driven across the Bosphorous, as they
inevitably must be. Though 80 long resident
il is notorious that they are merely zen
oamped" in Europe. They do not belong ts
it; and the fairest quarter of it cannot mucl
longer be held by them.
Intense corruption in the government anG
ruling caste has produced impotence; impo
tanca ia rapidly prOdneino disintaoFatOn
Wallachia and Moldavia, the only two pro
vinoes still nominally retained by the Sublime
Porte north of the Danube, have been united
as Roumania, and are now ruled by Prince
Charles, of the Prussian royal family, whC
yields but nominal allegiance to the Sultan
Greece achieved complete independence, aftel
q heroic struggle, between the years 1921 an(
1927, though the new kingdom covers but 1
portion of ancient Greece, and includes but few
of her islands. Servis, Bosnia, and Herzego
vina, in the northwest corner OF the empire
accord but the merest fgment OF sovereignty
TO the Porte. There can be little doubt tina
a decided majority of the Chris ians of these
and of Bulgaria and Macedonia also, awai
but the opportunity and the signal to unit
in vigorous effort to drive the Turks out o
Europe.
Greece, being absolutely independent, is tn
natural focus of anti-Turkish aspirations
Russia, as the big brother of Greece, will
always be suspected and accused of fomentinI
hostility to Turkish rule. These charges
often false, always exaggerated-cannot blint
a clear vision to the truth that the progress o
events, the rapid growth of Christian oivilizs
ton, have rendered the permaneuce of tn
existing ragime simply impossible. The Turk
have overstaid their welcome Ot they eve
had one) and must go. Had Russia no exist
ence, this would have been as true as 1t noV