The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-07

trial, and let us possess our souls in pa
thence while "waiting for the verdict"
Turkey i'm Europe.
In consequence OF political events,
NOW transpiring, significant Of impend-
ang changes of great moment in that por-
tion Of the Ottoman Empire known geo.
graphically as "Turkey in Europe" a
brief synopsis of the general features
and political status Of thatportion OF the
Sultan's possessions may not prove un-
Interesting, and may serve to give our
READERS clearer conceptions OF the public
movements there, to which the attention
of Christendom is now directed.
|. Though the invasion Of the dominions
OF the Greek Empire, whose capital was
khe ancient Byzantium, the modern Con-
stantinople, by those Asiatic Scythians
whom we now call Turks, was COM
menced some centuries before, 1t was
mot till the reign OF OTTOMAN in the lat
ter part Of the thirteenth century that
the Empire, which took its name from
him, was founded. His son and sue
cessor was the first to assume the pres
cnt title Of Sultan,-"Universa Sever
eign;" as, before the reign Of his father,
the governing authority had been held
among the chiefs OF tribes. 1t was dur
ing this hrst Sultan's reign that his sen
Soliman, and commander of his armies,
marched his troops to the Hellespont,
90 al NJ pf Gal
lipeli. This was in 1853, precisely one
hundred years after the birth OF Otto
man, the founder OF their Empire, when
the Turk first set foot on the soil OF
Europe.
Although they retained this foothold
their conquests OF European territory
did not proceed with much rapidity. AL
most an entire century elapsed before
the Turks could make themselves mas
ters of Constantipople. II was in 1853
that the Sultan, Mohammed II, made
himself master OF that great capital Of
the Greek Empire, and central city OF
the world. Immediately thereafter the
power Of the Turks spread over South
eastern Europe with alarming rapidity.
The conquest OF Servia, Bosnia, Albania.
Moldavia, Greece, and all the minor
States known as the Greek Empire OF
Trebizond, speedily followed; and,
Indeed, all Europe was threatened By
this Turkish invasion. twas then that
Hungary became the barrier against
which this fearful tide Of Moslem in.
yasion broke and recoiled.
Nearly another century passed before
the Sultan could confirm his European
conquests. 1t was In 1921 that soley.
man the Magnificent overran all thai
has since constituted Turkey In Europe.
He evensincluded Hungary in his con
quests, captured the great fortress Of
Belgrade, which had been deemed the
bulwark Of Christian Europe, pushed
his followers on towards Central Eu
rope, and in 1879 besieged Venice. AL
though he failed in this siege, from tha
time, now three hundred and fifty year
ago, the Turkish power became absolute
over nearly three hundred thousand
square miles Of European territory
lying eastward from the Adriatic to the
confines Of Asia.
Since that time, the fortunes of war, th'
stipulations Of treaties, and the stroni
hand OF bold insurrection in the Prov
Inces themselves, have greatly changed
provincial boundaries, and modified tn
political tenure by which they wer
bound to the Sultan's dominions.'
or the European Provinces now ap
pertaining to the Turkish Empire as |
dependent upon the government of th
Sultan, BULGARIA is the largest and mos
important, comprising 8s,7e5 squar'
miles with a population Of 8,O0O,0s0
nearly the size and population OF th,
State Of Ohio. This Province has al
ways been dissatisfied and turbulent
sometimes insurrectIonary. Out Of tn,
whole population there are only l7o,00'
Turks. The province is hilly, with fef
tile soil, richly timbered, well watered
and abounds In cattle and grain. Sine
1856 great commotion has existed amoDl
the Bulgarlans on account Of their dc
mand TO be allowed to elect their ow
officers Of their Greek Church. In 1S7t
in consequence OF their determined al
titude the Sultan was compelled /
yield, and granted their eeclesiastica
demand. s ~ Een;ee.
BOSNIA, which now includes Croati
aud Herzegovina lthe latter the theafe