The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-11
The MaSsacrcS I'm Turkey.

TIE MaSSacrCS I'm turkey.
The maSsacres Of Christians by the Turk
| iSh troops reported to have taken place in
Bulgaria and other provinces OF European
| Turkey are SO atrocious in their character
as to be almost incredible. 1t is difficult to
believe that there could be such wild and
senseless destruction OF human life as has
been reported. If Turkey were ruled by
some ruthless tyrant delighting in cruelty
and bloodshed, even then it would seem
strange that the land should be turned over
4 to the troops to be harried and 1r.yaged mt
/ their pleasure, as the tyrant would be apt
to have too much regard for the effect upon
his treasury to permit such wholesale
| slaughter OF his human lifcStock. But 4
mass OF concurrent testimony leaves no
doubt that the deienceless people have been
killed by the thousand. that villages have
been burned and desoIated, and that only
women whose personal comeliness rendered
them OF value as slaves could escape the
slaughter. ... -g.,.s.-.F ..-- .,-..
The Porte and his ministers profess the
greatest regret for these outrages, and seem
to make eXertions to prevent their commits
sion, but their mandates appear to be lnef-
iectual. The murder OF the foreign cOnsuls
at Solonica was promptly avenged by the
! hanging OF the leaders in the affair, and in
other Instances the Turkish Ministry has
evinced q disposition to repress the sangui-
nary and fanatic tendencies OF the Moslem
population. Their complete failure in hold
| ing in check the Bashi Bazouks evinces the
real impotcncy OF the Turkish Government,
and shows the folly OF expecting the reali-
zation Of any OF the proposed reforms"
The only scheme Of reform which will re-
lieyc the Christian population from the most
cruel apprehensionS is to drive the Turk
beyond the Bosphorus and establish pro-
tectorate over the Christians OF Asia Minor
Some writers account for the fcrociouS
temper OF thsTurks by tracing it to the
savage characteristics OF their Tartar ances-
tors. The Tartar conquerors Of the middle
ages placed no bounds to their appetite for
bloodShcd. They massacred their captivcs
in cold blood, and built ghastly pyramids OF
their heads as monuments OF their exploits.
But this was centuries ago, and the Tartars
were not alone in sanguinary deeds.
Even Christian Europe witnessed the
most terrible .massacres, and the fury
that broke out in the religious wars equalled
Tartar cruelty in its appetite for carnage.
| The progress OF civilization has rem
dered the recurrence OF such things impos-
sibe in Christian countries, but some infiu-
cnce has secluded the Turks from the gene
raj advancement in the humane virtues.
The most horrible massacre recorded in
modern history was perpetrated by the
Turks. During the Greek, rebellion the
Island OF Scio was taken by the Turks on
April IL, 1922. A slaughter of the inhabi-
tantS began and lasted ten days, over forty
thousand being killed. The houses were
burned and the island was completely DESC
lated. The only persons who escaped the
massacre were young women and boys, OF
whom thirty thousand were reserved for
the slayc markets. . Recent events have
shown that this same ferocious spirit still
exists among the Turks, and it only de
pends upon circumstances whether the civ
ilized world may not yet be horror-strlcken
mt accounts OF masSacres riNaliing that OF
Scio. -r.-
The cause OF the imperyiousness Of the
| Turkish character to the humaniZing influ-
cnces Of modern civilization must be looked
for in the intensely theoeratic nature OF
the Turkish Government. The Porte is
not the ruler OF q nation, but. the Comman-
der OF the Faithful, and the precepts Of the
Koran are the supreme law, overriding the
edicts OF the Sultan when they conflict.
Warfare upon infdclity is the duty OF all
good Moslems, and hence any public excite
luent is fraught with danger to the Chris
tians. The redicts OF the Porte are power
less to restrain the tide OF fanaticism when
| it has begun to flow, as the Injunction OF
the Koran can be produced in opp osition to
the commands OF the Government. II The
second chapter OF the Koran contains the
following precepts: "f'' - -. -,
"Fight, therefore, until there be no
temptation, to idolatry, and the religion. be
01u &Fisht Si for I the religion OF God against
those who fight against you. Kill them
wherever ye find them, and turn them out
OF that whereof they have dispossessed You
. for temptation to. idofatry is more. grieyous
| than slaughter. ..., .. l.,-s..,.f.!u .,;,l,
| ,"War Is inioined youagainst the intidels
but this is hateful unto you; yet perchance
I've hate thing which is better for, you, and
1 perchance We love thing which is worse
for YOU; but God knowcth and yc know
sOY course in ordinary times the literal
carving out of the iniunctions is not at
tempted, but in time OF civil .insurrectlon,
1 like the present, patriotic sentiment as well
as religious fanaticism finds its, expression
in fierce attacks upon the Christian popula-
| tiOn. b. -" = 'f'. Il -, - ',,..,.
| English diplomacy has been chiefly iinstru-
mental in maintaining the power OF THESE
fanatic barbarians, and the fact that Turkey
| is greatly in debt to English investors
exerts "a Strong influence; with the Eng
lish Government, but there are no
/ lack OF indications {. that the people
of Great Britain will not tolerate any
further alliance OF Christian England with
the Turks: The tone Of the recent debates
IN the House OF Commons and OF the press
comments thereon plainly declare the pup,
lie indignation at tle outrages perpetrated1
upon Christians, and indicate the general
dissatisfaction with the feeble policy OF the
present Ministry. Foreign Intervention IN
Turkish affairs will have to take place De
foretbe present struggle is ended, and Eng
land might as well accept bhe sltuation.-
baltimore american.
| 1t is difficult to convince an Engllsh Jury
! that man has not an inherent rlsht 10
be eccentric. In the, will case. OF Purdon
against Lord Longford it was shown: ~
! thatthe testator, Adolphus' Cooke, Fdld NOT
4 beiexein Christianity {2) that he be1leFea Ia
] the transmigratlen of souls, and would not
allow a dog to be hurt, inasmuch as the soul
! Of his grandfather was in the animal; f3)
that he used to haye tWigs carefully collect
| ed to save the crows the trouble OF looking
for them Ito build their nests ) az that he
had windows shaped like tiddles built in
his house !. rs that he bequeathed his prop
I erty to SON OF the Earl Of Longford, and
| left the heir-at-law, the plaintiff, out in the