Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-18
Dr. HamIin and the Turks.

government and people, at the meeting at
Hartford, has brought him into sharp con-
nict with the ideas that are widely accepted |
on the Eastern question It is evident that
he did not very carefully weigh his words,
for some Of his statements with reference to
the Bulgarian atrocities are In conflict with |
the best authenticated reports Of the facts |
ia the case. And while we are inclined to |
give the opinions Of the President of Robert
College, at Constantnople, great Difference,
as of one VINO has had large experience and
knowledge of the Turks, we should yet feel
obliged to dissent somewhat from them. He
said, There had never been any unevangel-
ical people on the face of the earth which
had protected missions and missionaries, as
this government which is called accur,ed has
that for five hundred years it has been the
most tolerant government on the face of the
earth that the stories of recent Turkish
atrocities were the inventions of the Greeks
who put every kind of atrocty at the door
Of the Turks"
The secret Of DR.. IIamlin's indiscriminate
defense of the Turkish government is prob
ably the jealousy which he shares in com
mon with many of the missionaries in Tur-
key, Of the power Of Russia and the innu-
ence Of the Greek church He believes, and
with some reason, too, that the Greek church
is less tolerant of Protestant Christianity,
than Mosemism. On the bronze gates of
| &, Sorb;a ~ Coretant;nopla may etill bo
seen the words placed there by its Christian
builder, and left there to this day, either by
the liberation orby the indifference of the
Turks, Jesus Christ conqUers, in Greek text.
of the Ottomans which has so wildly inn
pressed the mind Of DIR. Ilamlin. Turkey
toleratss Protestant Christianity with scorn-
full indi ference The fact of liberation u.s.
doubtless, true. The motive of it, for which
our missionaries have not been very curious
nquirers, may not have been creditable to
the Turk. But the fact has been very CRATE
eul TO all the Protestant missionaries from
England or this country, who have been la
boring, with much success for the reforma-
ton and redemption of Turkey.
There is no doubt also that Turkey is
much more tolerant of Protestant missions
than Of Greek Christianity. She has watched
with anxiety the overshadowing power Of
Russia, and regarded with trepidation the
movements of the Greek church in that EN-
: pire to affiliate with the nominal Christian
provinces Of her empire. II is thus that
Turkey has come to conoiliate Protestant
2 Christianity and missions at the same time
| that she has been in anxious dread of tn,
Q operations of the Greek church and the Rus
a sian empire. The Eastern church as rep
e resented by the empire of Cars is hopeful
of ultimately devouring the Ottoman gov
e eminent and making its headquarters in tn,
a ancient mosque of st. Sophia, whose porta
j. is still blazoned with its ancient Christian in
: scription. Nor is it strange that the mis-
r sionaries of the Board, who have received
no little kindness from the barbarians o
e Turkey, should sympathze with the powe
s which has always granted them large tolera
t ton, and dread the approach and triumph o
e that power which is as much at war will
j Protestant Christianity as Hildebrand o
e Gregory. Knowing the secret of DIR. Ham
It Inns feeling on this subject, we can have
l. better understanding of his position as de
e fender Of the Turkish government. And W
Vt can sympathize with his dread of RUSSIA
t ascendency in Turkey, for it would certainl
n impair Protestant missions.
l. Still we are disposed to commit this Who'll
Eastern question to the overruing move
d ment of the Divine Providence. The Mo:
T. lem scimitar has often been raised agains
" the cause and kingdom of Christ. If tAa
e great power which has had the stormies
If history known TO the nations of the moder
d world should in the end reap the harve,
IS which it has so literally sown, it would b
d another proof of the great truth that whC
- ever assals that kingdom shall in the en-
in perish We have very little sympathy wit
the Greek church. 1t has not cured tn
races where it exists of their ancient an
characteristic faults. 1t has developed j