The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-10-08

The American people, says the Graphic,
have certain and very definite sympathies
in connection with the struggles and suf-
ferings now going ON in the Turkish
provinces. As a question Of respect for
the legally constituted authorities of the
hour, the question in the East is a very
simple one. The Turk is the actual
ruler, representing the sovereign author
ity of law for the time being. That he
is in a sense what we should call squat
ter sovereign is beyond doubt. His
proper home is not in Europe. His habits
OF life and thought, his religious sym
pathies and ideas, are all Oriental Mo-
hammedanism is his religion, which not
only means antagonism to Christianity,
but deadly and bitter opposition to what
is recognized as the advancing and most
valuable civilization of the nineteenth
century. But the Turk has been in Eu-
rope for n long time, and holds his po-
sition as master Of some of the most
valuable provinces with intense greed,
tenacity, and vigor. As a matter OF
fact, however, European Turkey is not
Turkish but European, Caucasian, largely
Christian in its religious opinions, and
progressive as to its tendencies. Only
about one-third of the inhabitants OF
European Turkey are Oriental and Mo
hammedan in their feelings and customs.
The religion of the Turk may in the alb
stract be as good or better than the
religion of the Christian as taught and
lived in the Turkish provinces. That
is not question to enter into our sym
pathies one way or the other. But the
people now in revolt against Turkish
authority, representing as they do the
large majority of the inhabitants OF the
Turkish provinces generally, and being
more closely allied TO us in every sense
than their rulers, cannot but receive our
heartiest sympathy. Moreover, the Turk
in Europe is a spendthrift. An intolera-
BILE luxury becomes an intolerable and
useless nuisance, eating up the earnings
of the people as plucked from them by
high taxation, and giving no common
surate return therefor either in wise
legislation or in any helpful impulse
toward the general welfare and prosper
ity of the people. The present indica-
ti0ns are that the insurrection is spend
ing its force and destined TO be short
lived. The Bosnians, 1t seems, rose in
opposition TO their rulers, not 80 much
out Of sympathy with or as an expression
of any united effort with the Herzego-
yinians, but because of temporary OPP
preston. The Turks, fearing the insur-
rection would reach to Bosnia and be-
come general, arrested some Of the most
Influential men Of the village, which
proceeding provoked an expression Of
opposition entirely Independent of the
Herzegoyinian uprising. The Turkish
provinces are of immense importance as
being in several instances the center Of
outlet 10 the Commerce of Northern
Europe. Austria is somewhat Indifferent
10 the present struggle, and is willing
that the balance Of power should remain
as Il is at present. Russia would gladly
see the Turk driven out of Europe, and
would ON any sufficient pretext assist in
driving him out For, naturally enough,
should Turkish rule cease in the provinces
now attracting 20 much OF the worlds
attention, the Russian would soon find