, 1876-12-03
LETTER FROM THE TRlBUNE'S TURK.
To the Editor Qf The Tribune.

!
rcvcl in the idea OF having case Of Turk in
YOUR citv,-as Turks are not to be had in Amer
| lea for the asking,-and would be too desirous
| of retaining such rard ans to examine closely
into it's claims to genuincness, or to attempt to
CAPTURE it BIZ throwing the salt Of criticism upon
its continuation.
had supposed this, but an editorial in The
TRIBUNE OF last Sundays date, headed SC The
Doctrines of Islam," has dissipated the Illusion.
Allow, ii You please, for the sake Of argC-
ment, that am what have claimed to be; and
| believe, if it does not put too great strain
| upon your imaginative powers, that my only
reason for not establishing my identity beyond
cari1 is. that am disabled at present, and cam
not make my way to your office.
Assuming this, let me, as a Turk, ask you
few questions.
Is it not manifestly unfair to distort, by the
use Of detached portions OF the Koran, the true
meaning of that book, that holy book which
has guided so many true believers to the heaven
Of their hopesl
If it is just, why may not !, with equal pro-
priety, refer to the following passage in. the
Scriptures as an index to the character Of the
whole wo1ka
In the Book OF Samuel, Chap. 25, Verse 8, Je.
hovah is represented as saying: "Now, go and
smite Amelek, and utterly destroy all that they
have, and spare them not, but slay both man
and woman, H. i.nt and sucking, OF and sheep,
camel and OK" Bloodthirsty doctrine this,
EHendi; can you find such in the Korana
But am not so ungcncrous as to consider
this and similar passages as q criterion by which
to judge the general bearing OF the Scriptures.
ain we'll aware that these excerpts are like
the disioined fragments Of Chinese puzzle,
which, viewed singly, have no significance, but
whose use and meaning become we'll defined
when they arc fitted together in harmonious
whole.
In my time have Travelled much, have seen
too many nationalities, and have studied their
characteristics aud religious wants too closely,
not to be able to distinguish between the base
metal and pure gold In their several worships.
In ny humble opinion, the groundwork of
Mohammedisn, Of Christianity, of Brahmn-
the best Of u.s. 1t is to this, take it, wc should
go for spiritual guidance; not to the changes
and additions OF councils or priests.
made statement IN my former letter to the
effect that the sources from which the greater
share of information regarding Turkish man
ners and proceedings Is derived are totally un-
reliablc,-a statement which reiterate.
How can that book-writing tiend, the tourist,
who rarely spends more than few weeks or
to give trustworthy account of tue institutions
Of that country under the following, and usual,
circumstances:
b. starts out with the idea implanted in bis
mind during carly youth that no good cometh
ever from Turkey.
An idea firmly fixed by reading the veraciou
narratives Of gossping Except Gibbon) his
torans, and chroniclers akin to tue author Of
stThc Pacha of Many Tales,n-that the Turk is
monster Of iniquity; that Mohammed was
trickster; that the Alkoran is q book Of d.bas-
ing lies.
birth sand seducation render him incapable Of
discerning worth in institutions that differ from
| those he has been brought up to rcvere-merely
because they do SO difier-
He arrives in Constantinop1e, and taking more
interest in the dancing girls than in examining
| into the polity of the Government or home-life
and character Of the people, he makes no use OF
the golden opportunity his sojourn in Turkey
| affords him Of removing the scales OF prejudice
| Let us suppose the case Of countrvman Of
mine who comes to America on tour Of OBJ
| servation. .>
An alien By birth, religion, and instincts, and
debarrcd in consequence of his nationality from
| entering into society on an advantageous loot
| ing, his thoughts, after six months residence
| here, might possibly run as follows:
"Thanks be to Allah that I am not one Of
these intidel dogs! They are nation of hy2o-
critics, without religion aud without decency.
lnES Ou1lu countess numDer OF costly places
| Of worship, which they patronize merely to fur
| ther their business interests.
"Their women shamclessly walk the streets
| unveiled, and spend most of their time in ex-
amining the wares for sale in the bazaars Of the
merchants. Their business men are treachcrous
and scheming, their only aspiration being to
| accumulate wealth, and to obtain Yhi:l, thev
| Will sacrifice body and soul.
s'Thcrc is no business honor among these
barbarlans, butt all are nerccnary, corrupt, aud
grasping. No ties Of friendship or relationship
| bind them when bargaining.
"Thcir main pleasure is to drink the strong
water Of the Fra1lks, and thereby to wallow il
beast!y into1ication.
"They hare none Of the dignity OF the Turks,
but indulge In loud and meaningless 1augh.
| ter, and are rude and uncouth in their man
| ners.
"They regard strangers With al i1nrudent
| and intrusive curiosity most shocking to the
| refined instincts of a true believer
''They are cruel race Tie columns of their
| journals are filed with accounts Of vile and
| brutal crimes. In this strange country they
| perse: ute men whose skins are black-aud, w