, 1876-07-05

for The facility with which they ascertalnod
'tho will OF the people"
1t Is from the mosques, therefore, that this
present change comes. The fact is another
expression Of the same will chat compelled tho
sultan recently to dismiss a grand vizler who
was believed to be too much in sympathy with
R~ussla-the will that assumed more violence
when it stirred The mob to The murders al
0alonica. Every people impslIed by a fanati-
cal spirit sees in its failure or decay only the
evidence that it has not been f|anatical enough.
Ihl5 IS In fact q logical consequence of Ills
faith. Ii believes itself the instrument Of God
IN q certain religious propaganda, and the
posslbllty OF success in any cause is In tho
hands OF God. L. therefore, the enemy tri-
umphs, this is not because the enemy has q
better cause or greater strength, but simply
that the wrath Of God has fallen upon the
faithful because they were delinquent in their
duties or their devotion. Hence an I|ntonser
faneticism is inspired by disaster, ana the
troubles ct Turkey produced by fanaticism at
nfst revive this fervid fury and push the drama
toward the inevitable close.
Politically, therefore, this change strength.
ems the hands Of the Northern cabinets in
their movement to support the Christian
population Of Turkey In Europe. 1t removes
from the case tho only fact in it that
could embaTfQsa their councils, which fact was
tho existence oi a government regular as to
u9 form and entitled to comfy and oonsider8-
ton from other governments. 10 so far as
Turkey has entered the family Of European
nations and participated in every act Of Eu.
ropean policy she has deserved and gained as.
ISOLATION with other European Powers, and
1t is in virtue of such association and relation
ship that they deal with her by treaties and
protocols to secure the 0nelioratlon of the
condition Of certain Christian populations
which otherwise they would secure forthwith
by armed force. But this assumption Of O
position in European politics il precisely the
fact which separates the government from the
tuaioaj convictions Of its pe0ple-the source
a ao ]c9a.Iiot In which tho Sultan has been
ee.4fooed. Thus If the Turkish government
da.7no. act with the nations Of Europe, does
not assent that it has obligations toward them,
a5 they oil nave to one anOther-and obliga-
UoH5 which it IS bound 10 TeSpect--it simply
secures tlat some day judgment will be taken
against it by default; It becomes contuma-
cious 1t fJrleits lis right to be heard on cases
IN which it is concerned. Bat If it does assume
such relations it is regarded by the strict Mo-
hammedan as having abandoned Islam and
gone over 10 the iHfdels. This is an |inevita~
bic, constant, irrec0ncilable difficulty in the
position OF the Ottoman Power and the end
Of The Whole trouble must turn on this point !
u The Sultan is 10 remain at Constantinople
and participate in European councils be must
be able to keep his engagements, and, there
fore, must put down lis Moslem advisers.
Otherwise he must, in sympathy with bis
Moslem advisers, defy the civilized world, and
then he will be put out.
It IS because the change at Constantinople
moves in this latter direction that it strength
ems the hands Of those who are disposed to
deal resoIutely with the Ottoman Power. On
the other hand, It puts England in au odd
plight. England has no position, and can
have no position, as the friend and supporter
Of Turkey, except in 50 far as it can be alleged
that Turkey Ia q Power with which other
nations may treat on the superstition that
engagements made will be kept. As soon a.
1t Is recognized that Turkey has not that
character there Is not even a thin veil oil
p~retence behind which the power of England
can be used to obstruct the aggrandlzement OF
Russia. But that power effectively displayed
on the sea will secure In the councils OF the
great States proper consideration for every
English interest.