The New York herald., 1876-10-18

AIRY THINKS OF THE EASTERN QUESTION
TURKEY MORE FAVORABLE TO FREE SPEECH
THAN RUSSIA.
The Row. Cyrus Hamliu, distinguished missionary
In Turkey and the founder Of Robert College in that
country, recently lecturod In Boston In favor OF tho
Turks He considers tho Turks better (from Protcs
tant sandpoin than the Russians and believes that
II Russia takes possession of Constantnopc Proes.
ant missionaries and all others outside OF tho Greek
Church will bo forbidden to preach in that CITY, Tho
following extracts from the Boston Journal contain
the points OF tho lecture:-
or the character OF the Turkish officials Dr. Hamlin
testified that they were generally kind-hearted men.
He had himself always had kind treatment from them
bu, ouce and In that case the officer who was an
ignorant man, yielded to threat TO appeal to the
authorities at Constantnoplc. All the persecution
which Protestant missions had suffered in Turkey
originated in the Christian priests communities and
churches opposed to tho Protestants. Hc had never
known Turkish Official to persocuto any Christian
without beng put up to II by some hostile Christian
Sect and in corroboration OF this point he cited
testimony OF Rev. DR.. GoodelL
Russians shat the Turks naturally tolerant pso-
pie And yet the Turks arc accused Of intolerance,
and the charge is generally believed among those who
have never lived among them or known Them person
ally Is specially provided in the Koran that any
religion with book that Is, any religion which
draws its authority from insprc0 writing. shall bc
tolerated. and under this provision the various Chris
tian sccts and the Jews nnd protection.
There this difference Russia and Turkey
That in Turkey all the various Christian sccts we'll
the Mohammedans, at liberty 10 manage their
own churches and schools and 70 carry on
Bot In Russia Russian, under pain OF heavy penalty,
permitted to leave the Stae Church, and not even
pagan Mohammedan Tartar can be allowed 10 be
converted TO anything but tho State Church In 1925
| all missionaries out OF Russia Many Of tho
Christian communities were broken up In consequence.
One company OF converts who had been evangezed by
the Mornvians got together by sraagem and bnp
tised mdsse but most OF them fled the country alter
can BE- made to worship plciures Dr. Hamlln quoted
the rcmark made to him BY Russian officer that ono
two thnes-rellgi0n and politics.
In Turkey the other hand thero has been perfect
liberty Of missionary Tor nearly 800 years. In
Russia no proselytism is allowed; in Turkey every
kind OF prosclytlsrn permitted except from Moham-
mechanism to Christianity. The early spread oil the
Mohammedan empire due to this tolcration thou
sands Christian villagers submitting to Mohamme-
dan rule with this degree OF federation secured to them,
rather than undergo the horrors OF war The Turks
very bloody and savage in war; but are tolerant
peace.
were 50 ant, that he delayed seven years
getting for she construction Of Robert Col
egc, Dr. Hamlin replied that duo altogether 10
the opposition OF Jesuit missionaries and the combined
action OF the rcnch and Russian Embassies.
Being asked whether in his opinion II would be bet
Tor the people and for the OF Christianity TO
have the Turks remain in Europe than TO have Russia
hold Constantnople, he answered,
e Most decidedly.
Being asked 10 account for the views entertained by
Gladstone, Spurgeon and Others and Tor the general
popular feeling IN England, he sand that Spurgeon
poor ignoramus who knew nothing about tho mat
ter and Gladstone only politician he didn't consider
him statesman. ladst0ne Knows, ought 10
know, that the Bulgarian atrocities 70 back 10 and
originate far greater atrocities pcrpstrated the
| Circassans by Russia Russia, in order to secure
base OF operations against Turkey, drove 500 900
pie OF the Caucasus the Black Sea or this
number only onehalf lived to reach the shores of
Black Sea and multitudes died on the passage. One
ship captain had throw overheard 60U corpses
on short voyage, and OF 2 500 shipped Crc,e only
l. 900 we're landed. or these Crcassans from 10000
10 1875 settled In Bulgaria, and many OF them be-
came thieves and robbers and they all hate Russia
As early as the autumn OF last year Russian agents
formed plot in Bulgaria for general rising, by tho
of which 10 hoped that the whole remainder
OF Circassans might be e'aced. This plot havo
come INTO effect last May, and the rising in Bulgaria
TO be coincident with declaration OF war by
Scrvia. But tho condition or Europe such that
Scrvia could not declare at that time, and notice
was generally sent The Bulgarians 10 rise In
lew sections however, they did riso and destroyed
dozen or more Turkish or Crcassian villages, and
killed some hundreds OF mon, women and children.
The government officers weakly put into tho
hands OF these Crcassans, and any other Turks who
desired, and told them to 60 in for the Bulgariana
They did so; and IL by these irregular .'Bash
Bazouks, that the massacres In Bulgaria commit
ted II terrible vengeance OF most i'm
placabc revenge ana retaliation but II not wholly
without provocaton as some people have considered
Tho government guilty OF great stupidity in not
sending troops Buigapa when u rst warned Of
the impending revolt; bdt the inquiries which tho gov
ernment madc beforehand were addressed TO a man
himself one OF tho chief conspirators and con-
trivcd deceive his easy-going superiors. The
ernmcnt knew littic about The atrocities which
committed. News sent only that the revolt
suppressed and tho government distributed dccora-
tions among those who had suppressed u; and the
tclgence of the atrocities came In slowly ana was not
generally credited.
In reply 10 the inquiry whether there Is any nation
in Europe which has made more progress during the
last sevcnty.nvo years In everything that makes
ton great than has Russia. no SAID, sYes, Turkey
He repeated that the two fundamental principles OF the
Russian government wcrc that no Russian should bc
permitted TO change his faith, and that no proscytc
could be baptized into any but the State Church II
Russia gained possession OF Turkey ho did not
believe Inat The influence OF the other Great Powers
would be sufficient prevent her from extending over
Turkey the intolerance that exists Russia and
he proceeded show how tho power of Russia her
capacities Tor defence woald be augmented by the pos
session OF the straits OF Dardancllcs. Being
asked II he would justify the English government in
uphoIding Turkey, he said yes. The popular feeling
IN England has arisen from misapprcnension, and
England ought 10 be ashamed OF herself for II. The
insane desirc to drive tho Turks out OF Europe
pressed by Mr.. Spurgeon and others. he declared
d,sgraccfu to n Christianity and intelligence OF Eng
land. Thc opinion OF Dr. Bliss TO the contrary hc
secuted, saying that Dr. Bliss had bccn stationed
among the Arabs and knew nothing about the Turks.
While the Turks remain Europe Mohammcdanism
Will wane aud the chances for civilization and mission
airy work much better at present than they would
,o ~ pu.sia held