New-York tribune., 1876-01-18
TIE STATE OF TURKEY.
", II. III.
NATURE OF THE NEW DECREE.

DisTRUST OF TIE CHRISTI iNS-EXTENT OF TIE CON
CEssIoNs MADE THEM-FINANCIAL EMBARRAsS-
MENTs-TnE NEW POSTAL SYSTEM.
CoNsrANTINoPLE, Dec. 15.-The new HAITI
Hamayoun" or Imperial decree of reforms intended
to save the Empire from financial ruin and internal
dissensiOn, appeared to-day. The newsboys are APP
parently the only part of the population thoroughly
convinced of the value Of the document. For tho
rest those who are not skeptca Ofany aintention
ON the part of the Government to reform, bitterly
hostile TO any such purpose. The higher officers of
Government regard the measure rs one OF pohcy'
to be carried into effect just so far as
outside pressure makes its execution needful'
and TO become dead letter so soon as lui abroad
allows reform to be again safely Deferred Tho
lower officials and educated middle class make no
concealment of their amusement at the decree.
They regard it as an idle tale One said to me. II
is a new romance by the Sultan-doesn't it read
well w The common people, led by the priests, see
in it, if carried out, the deathlnell Of Mussuman
power One Of the latter class spoke of the new
decree to a friend on the bridge yesterday and
moumfuly said, "This is the time spoken OF by
John in Revelations rs the time when the Prophets
power shall be taken from him" This priests view
is certainly justified if the decree is carried into
effect The terror of il is absolutely TeNo-
lutionary. The traditional policy of the
Government is overturned by 1t, and the
Christians are rescued from the hands OF
Their Moslern prosecutors completely. IL prom
j,es that inCges shall be required to decide accord
ing to law and not according 10 the viii oi the
Governor and that Christians shall have the right
to bcqueatl their property rs they choose. without
fear Of seizure by the Government IL further states
that Christians shall no longer be compelled TO ac-
cept Che Koran a. law in suits with Moslcms nor
1 4 . -. fIfsfa
fax except at the age of manhood. 1t is likeNlse
ordered that they shall he allowed to construct
churches and schools. In fact if this decree means
what it says the Christians of Turkey are from to-
day to be accounted as men and not dogs by their
rulers. One would expect under such circumstances
great rejoicing and b0undlcss gratitude 10 the Sui
tan for his liborality. But the most pitaEle thing
in the condition OF Christians is that they have no
faith in any real intention of justice on the pait of
their rulers. They have seen many proclanatl"ns
of reform issued the past 30 years, and they have
seen these proclamation, become DINO account almost
immediately. Hence they ridicnle The gllttcrlns
promises with which the Sultan seeks to please 'he
European public. In short time they will think
no more Of the decree and will be surprised if any
one Of it, promises is carried into effect.
Meantime the Government, by collecting taxes in
advance has accumulated sufficient money to pay
the January coupons. and announces the fact with
the feeling that the country is safe until July at
least. But stocks do not recover buoyancy. The
long silence Of tae three Empcrors gives rise to a
suspicion that thoy have not beenable to agree npon
the immediate partition of Turkey end viii somehow
kccphcr unbfol..n f.yy months LONGER. The kuowl-
edg. however. that thc rule OF the sultan, is near
its limit kills rash speculation in iayorite stocks.
The Satan Ia, aoly seen SO, IN spite OF his pow
crty to order another iron-cad. The fleet is hobby
with him. an expensive toy. He has splendid ships.
but the crews are inefficient. and tIe commanders
timd and Incompetent.
Editors have "A hard life here just now. new
edic makes each editor personally responsible for
the truth Of every item Lc prints Ii he cannot
prove the correctness of what hepubii:hcs hi, paper
is suspended for three months.
MIR. Scudamore, the noted ex-A,-is;ant Postmaster
General OF Encland, is ah1ing Lard in the same
capacity here to organize Post Office Department
which shan be able to conduct business efficiently
from the lat of January. 1876. SO far ~ the local
postal system Of COnsjanuH"plc l. concerned he las
iona