New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-12
THE SULTAN'S TROUBLES.
NO PROSPECTS OF REFORM.


THE CHRISTIANS PROSECUTED AND DEsPIsED-rRApE
DECLINING--THE ARMY on WAR fooIING-
NEWS SUPPRESSED BY TIE PORTE.
JFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.I
CoNsTANIISoPLF, Jan. 1.-THE Government Is
still occupied with an attempt at executing the re-
forms it has promised. Various boards have been
formed to this end but yet real benefit has ac-
crued to the people. The main difficulty under
which the Government labors is absolute want
of faith in the practicability of the reforms on the
part of the Cabinet Ministers and a total lack OF
willingness the part of the under officials to carry
them INTO effect In this city Ihaye seen a Christian
prevented from watching his case in a Mosem court,
although recently the Christians assured legal
redress and court constituted for the purpose
Our Christian subjects must trust us" was the
answer to the request, and the case was tried with
closed doors and decided against the Christian This
is trivial matter in ITSELF but thorough acquaint-
ance with the workings of the Turkish mind leads
me to believe that it is type of great multitude
of cases, confirming the statement already made
that except where pressure from abroad can be exer
cised the officials will not enforce the new reform
laws Public sentiment in Europe is, however, no
longer tolerant of the Moslem assumption of superb
ority, and insists that it must be abandoned. For
reasons of State policy a Mosem Government may
yield but the firm belief of every true Mohanmedan
is that Christians have claim to equality
have this week received letters from intelligent
observers in Armenia, at Moosh and vicinity show
ing more clearly than ever the i-treatment OF the
Christians. At Boolank in the region referred to,
the Governor had for some time made it a practice
To seize for his harem every Christian woman, mar
ricd or single, whom he happened to fancy. After
about 30 women and girls had been thus carried OF,
the people complained to the Goyern0r-General of
(t.xr. pI
and found guilty but soon after the people had gone
home rejoicing that Justice was be DONE he re-
placed i'm Office Another petty Governor at ChOo-
koora in the same district is IN league with a large
band of robbers who carry off the produce of the
Christian farms as regularly az Summer comes. In
this case the official was appointed governor al
though his dealings with the bandits were well
known. In another place, military captain under.
took to carry OF the daughter OF Christian priest,
surrounding the house with "A detachment OF bis
company and telling the father that if the girl did
not 90 with him willingly he would leave her at the
mercy of his men. The priest killed one of the
soldiers and escaped by strategy with his daugh-
ter but he is now being hunted down by
all the Turkish forces in that section.
I'm each of these the aggressor enjoys npunIy
because of his Moslem faith. The countcnance
which these misdeeds received from the high Off
eminent.
Trade ~ now virtually paralyzed. Money is
becoming scarce. Those who have gold are
beginning to hoard it, and there is little
in circulation The in herzegovina Ii
daily becoming more expensive. The maintenance
of the whole army on footing is telling fear
fully on the resources Of the land. The navy II
likewise being put war footing in order to be
prepared for contingencies in Crete. With all these
extraordinary expenses it is unlikely that any more
interest coupons Of the public debt will be paid.
The nation seems AL the verge of anarchy through
insolvency. This il is felt will bring on interyen-
ton resulting in "A general European war.
Preparations have been male to send Turkish
goods to the Philadelphia Exposition, but exhibitors
are di,rusful, from previous experience, VI placing
valuable articles at the tender merces OF Turkish
Commissioners. Many OF the exhibitors at vienna
had their goods sold by the officers of this Govern
ment who had them in charge. and neither proceeds
nor goods have been heard of since Were 1t not foI
this the friendly feeling entertained for Americans
among the people would lead to many cOnslgnmcnts
beng sent to the Exhibition
The hostility between the Mohammedans and
Christians continues To increase. conspiracy OF
Mohammedans which was TO have eliminated in
revolution on last Saturday, was crushed out III
time. Ii il quite possible that some OF those con-
nccted with it expected to pay of old scores against
the Christians by attacking them during the tur-
moil. But for the present the danger seems over.
The existence of these tends 10 create pro-
found distrust among ali classes. The uncertainty
is increased by the Government suppressing news.
The TELEGRAPH is under its control, and nothing
comes to MS which paterna supervision deems cal
culatod 10 produce uneasincs. The newspapers have
been strictly forbidden to publish extra editions,
even with official news, and for mild comment on
political affairs two of our city papers have been
suppressed and six temporarily suspended. With
the knowledge that the newspaper affords them no
longer a correct view of current events the people
are readily disturbed by every rnmOr
For "A year past an English company has been con-
,tructng fine iron bridge to join Galata with Con
stantinople. The bridge is finished but the lmpe-
rial Government cannot spare 100000 Just now to
nav for it, So the owners will not allow IL to be
used and the bridge is likely to rot and the con
strucion company to fail before the matter can be
adjusted
GEORGE E. SPENCERS RECORD.
ruv puc,TI-R MAIL CONTRACT J.. J HINDS-A