The Portland daily press., 1876-12-29
Turkey and Russia.

The reforms which the Sultan OF Turkey
offers to his subjects are of the most exten-
sive character-great reforms which hereto
fore have only been achieved by revolution or
by the persistent struggles of people against
its ruling classes through centuries. Ordina-
rily these rights have been gained through
battle and blood. Sometimes fortune has
favored nation with standing place from
which it could move its rulers by peaceful
means. But in Turkey we have the extra
ordinary spectacle of a power transformed
from an absolute despotism to constitu-
tional monarchy by few strokes of the pen,
transformation not demanded by an angry
people but made by rulers for the benefit of
subjects who little expect and less understand
it. The transformation is magical, and like
all feats of magic 1t is apparent and not real;
for no man believes that the Turkish empire,
its government and administration a year
hence than it is to-day. The promises of re-
form are made by government always lavish
of promises and always wanting in their full
flment. When one does not intend to carry
out scheme one can afford to make it
grand one. 1t is as easy for the Sultan to
offer good constitution as bad one, since
it is to be of no effect. The proposed con-
stitution can never be carried into practice
by the Turk, for it is based upon principle
to which the teachings of his religion and the
customs of his law are Numerically opposed.
The creed Of the Moslem recognizes no
equality with the Unbelever. The orthodox
may govern the infidels by the sword, or may
peace, but they cannot live with them on
terms of equality. Whatever concessions the
Sultan as civil sovereign may make to the
Christians, he must as Caliph, as hierarch of
the Mahometan religion, disregard. The
doctors of the church will never permit them
to go into effect. The Turks cannot, if they
would, carry out the promised reforms, and
they stubbornly refuse to let others undertake
the task.
Knowing the Turk and his history Russia
as the selfconstituted guardian of the Chris
tians in Turkish Europe, refuses to trust his
promises, and demands that they shall be
carried into effect by the Christian powers of
Europe. In other words she insists upon
foreign occupation of the Christian provinces.
Apparently no European power will sag her
nay. Ordinarily the sympathy of the world is
excited for nation in whose internal affairs
neighbors unasked interfere. But the world
in this fhok Is
Christian though the government is Moslem;
that interference though resisted by the ru-
lers is desired by the people; that interfer
ence means prosperity; that non-interference
means imbecility in government, injustice in
law, paralysis of all material prosperity. The
only power which has displayed any inclina-
ton to interfere in favor of the Turk is now
committed against him. England in the
wavering spirit of her later diplomacy at first
gave the Sultan to understand that she would
support him against the demands of Russia,
aud then little by little yielded to those de-
mands herself. Now, assuming the grand
manner which would have been dignifed to-
ward Russia but which is only bullying to-
ward Turkey, she informs the Ottoman gov
ernment that the British ambassador will
demand his passports unless the wishes of
the Gar are at once acceded to.
The result is not difficult to foresee. The
Turk will resist to the last. He will never
submit to foreign occupation until he is COM
PEELED to by force of arms, and the spring will
find him crossing weapons with the Russian.
The other powers of Europe will, unless new
complications arise, hold their peace. The
conflict will not be brief one. Russia must
struggle hard for victory. She has immense
distances to overcome in transporting her
troops, great natural obstacles to surmount
in seizing her enemy's territory, and some of
the best fighting men in Europe to conquer
in Winning her battles. The contest will not
be so unequal as it appears, and Russia must
expend much blood to wrest the Christian
provinces from the Ottoman rule.