The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-20
t U R K E Y.
The Merlud," or Anniversary Of
the Prophets Birthday.
DECREASE OF THE MUSSELMANS.

The nrst two days OF this week have been kept
sacred by the sultan and mis- Moslem subjects as
the anniversary OF the Prophets' birthday. Tne
Sultan, attended by grand corGege OF minister's
aud palace officials clad in brilliant uniforms and
mounted on gorgeousy caparisoned steeds, pro-
ceeded TO mosque, where the yearly reading OF
Monammed's biography forms the principal deyo-
tonal exercise of the occasion. After listening
and medlraung over the already well known met
dents OF the Prophets Lie the sovereign and his
suite returned TO the palace and made holiday for
the rest of the day. The usual liberal allowance
or gunpowder was expended in repeated salvos at
intervals all through the day, and at night skill
fully devised Nominations traced out the graceful
outlines OF the mosques and public buildings and
OF HIS MaJestys iron-clads at anchor In front OF
his palace.
The absence at this moment OF political compli-
cations from abroad to harass the ministry, and
the comparatively satisfactory footing on which
the finances OF the country have been placed for
the time being, Ia anordlng the Porte moment OF
leisure which 1t wisely seems disposed to employ
In the examination OF questions touching Its IN
ternal administration and In giving effect TO meas
ures which Will also tend toward the improve
ment or the country. The new charter OF the I'M
peral Ottoman Bank has at last been brought into
force, and taat establishment mas definitely be-
come the national BANK OF the ottoman Empire.
special commission, composed OF Turks, native
Christian bankers and one OF the directors OF the
Imperial ottoman Bank has been appointed TO ex-
anime thoroughly ana extensively the expendl-
ture OF the State and Its revenues, and to report
thereon, with q view to future expenditure re.
trenchments, ana the budget, which is generally
brought out In March, has oeen delayed this year
from the desire OF the government 10 submit every
item TO the closest scrutiny In order TO arrive az
trustworthy result.
RAILWAY INTERESTS IN TURKEY
Within the last few days portion or the Roume-
Ian Railways has been conceded 10 the party,
which, as mentioned last week, is in apparent op-
position TO Baron Hlrscn. 1t is composed OF a group
OF French. Italian and Armenian bankers and con-
tractors, and offers terms more attractive than
those proposed by Hlrscn and better suited to the
poverty OF the land. The length OF line conceded,
however, forms but q small portion OF the number
OF kilometres 10 be constructed, and, unless those
likely to be well informed on the subject nave been
deceived, the great bulk OF the work may yet lan
into the hands OF Baron Hrsch, who is not likely
to abandon tue vantage ground which his
claim for compensation gives MIN. CLEAN
or hope for the future is 70 be found
also In the spirit which is beginning
TO develop itself IN the Turkish press-that OF
looking disagreeable truths in the face. 1t IS
somewhat surprising to find in the columns or the
Official Turkish journal an article the decrease
causes. Rightly enough the prevalence OF infan-
ticlde, IN all rs stages, is OF the causes as
signed, for which, however, no more eficient
remedy is suggested oy the writer than that the
imams should admonish and preach to the people
in the mosques. Another cause, much less reason.
able, Is assigned-viz., the refuse drugs which
Europe pours into the country under the head OF
''salutlfeTous incidence the writer con-
venlentB ignoring the fact that Turk Will only
consequently the genuine article may rot on the
shelves, while the spurious cheap stun is eagerly
bought up.
THE POPULATION or TURKEY.
The decrease OF the Turkish population Is well
known to all who have resided for any length OF
time In the country, ana Is especially TO be OBJ
served IN the rural districts. In my own knowl-
edge, villages that few years ago were fairly
nourlshing are nov reduced TO a few miserable in
haDIants. their houses crumbled into runs, while
their lands are either lett untitled from want or
means on have passed into the possession OF their
Christian fellow subjects. This question, although
OF such vital importance 10 the Empire mas
hitherto been entirely overlooked By the govern
meat, and II + a healthy sign that tue Turk
ism press Is now approaching the subject
IL is 90 be hoped that the govern
ment having the matter thus prominently
brought before their eJes, may be induced to IN
quire seriously into its causes and Effects II
not then fail to discover that the root OF the evil
springs from the fearful amount OF petty oppres-
sion and grinding down to which the poorer
classes more especially the agrculturaD have
been subjected during the long years Of selfish aud
cruel msrule. IL is calculated that out OF 100
kllos or grain which farmer produces one-third
presumably belongs 70 the land which he occa-
pies, one third TO the labor he employs and one
third Is his profit Thus II the season be favor
able, 81 kilos Or grain In every 100 raised should
be the farmers profit, but out OF this
he has 70 give 12h for 1.-THE, ana
for other taxes perhaps a. or 81 De-
Sides thus reducing his net pront to
some 10 kilos ont OF every 100 raised. The
very lie is crushed out OF the people; they
lose the energy 70 work or to wreste with mis-
fortune. No wonder. then, that, according to
their lights, and out Of merciful pity for tier or
spring, they believe tnat early grave Is better
provision than life Of misery ana priyation IN
DER the paternal government.
TIE CATTLE DISEASE
Adyices from the provinces OF all parts OF
the Empire continue 70 furnish melancholy &C
counts Of the ravages committed by the cattle
disease. Cattle ana sneep are stu being swept
away by thousands, The return Of spring and tho
improved prospects Or food having a. yet Jailed 20
check the epidemic. The causes o. TINS terrible
| calamity are 70 BE- traced 10 the mproydent SIS.
\ TEN pursued by the farmers IN general, who,
/ rule, neglect 10 lay ~ store OF winter fodder
Ior their cattle. An especially severe season uay-
4 inU deprived them "a their accustomed means 0f
II nOurisnment, the animals became reduced 10
i starvation points disease foiiowed naturally Va
1 the tram Ol famine anu found los victims nIregaY
50 enigebleC as tie unable to resist the hgNfest
/ attack. ~ few soutary instances. where stores
81 winter forage had 0eeu provided, ino nocks
| and nerds nave passed unscathed. though
disease was raging ai around. UnfOrfuna ely,
these instances are rare aud only 10 10 met vita
a.