Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-04
Turkey.

1t ia. perhaps, the most fayorably stu
ated country 10 the world. Resting on
southeastern Europe, and running into
Asia Minor, and leaning up sgainot Aus.
tris and Russia, the aggregate area Of
Turkey proper comes up to $500, 900
square miles, Of which only about one
9th lies in Europe. The dependencies
Egypt, Seryia, Montenegro, etc "a
one-third larger than Turkey proper,
both in area and population. But those,
if war comes, are quite as likely to en-
barrass as TO assist the Turk. His coast
line is more extensive and v.ried than
perhaps that Of any other nation. The
Black Sea, the Bosphorus, the Darda.
%nelles, Persian Gull, the Archipelago,
the Gulf Of Venice, The Sea Of Marmora,
the Red Sea, aud Mediterranean, mar
gin around him, Turkey, therefore. can
not be other than q maritime nation. 1t
turns out, too, that she has q navy large
and formidable in proportion. Nothing
can exceed the beauty aud fertility Of
much or most Of this country. Though
semi tropical, Mount Arrarat, where the
ark rested, is crosned with eternal snow.
A power SO big aud 80 greedy withal
as R~ussia-bound up, too, like Rhoderick
Dhu, in her "f~astpeas Of the north
well may she hunger for the everqreens
Of Turkey. But, however sick" the
man may have been some years ago,
1t is quite clear he is not very sick now.
MOI Turkey is now guarded by q fanat-
icsl and fierce people. A people, too, SO
bent upon war that their Government ia
actually afraid Of them. Even il dis
posed to make CONCESSIONS TO the Chris.
tian powers, the Divan shrinks back
more afraid Of the domestic trouble than
Of the foreign enemy. The Turko have
always been a warlike people, and cop'
mencing with their breaking up Of the
Byzantine Empire, some sig HUNDRED
years ago, their history is one OF war and
encroaohment. In 1927, whilst the
Greeks we're struggling for liberty, and
interesting all Europe by their heroism,
the Turco.E Egyptian feet entered the bay
OF NavariHo and fred on the English,
Russian and French fleets lying at an
Choir. This battle showed the desperate
rashness and valor Of The Turks on sea.
But they we're aunihilated, and the in
dependence oil Greece Immediately fol.
lowed. II was not till 1910 hat diplo.
matte brotherhood was accorded to Tur'
key by the Ohistian povers. But long
before that tine a sharp proteelorate wa
kept oyer it by France and England In
consequence Of the revolt by the Hunga
rians, Kostuth fed to the Turks domin.
ions Austria, backed by Russia de
handed that lie should be given up THIS
Porte refused, and France and England
sustained him. Russia, always desirious
0 fhumbling the Turk, got an opportunity
by a collision at Sinope between bis feel
and That Of Turkey, in which, IS at Naya.
rino, the Turkish feet was destroyed.
The Crimean war .ensued, 10 which
France, England end Sardinia Joined
with Turkey. The siege Of Sebastopol
was a most obstinate contest, and the be.
sieging troops suffered greatly 10 the win.
ter trenches. Il was here that the
Balaklaya charge was made-tamous to
the chargers and infamous to the genera
whose stupidity gave the command.
II was the recent risings Of the Chris
tisnS in Bulgaria and Herzegovina, and