The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-23


Eastern question has produced no other re-
suit. IT has. at least had the beneficial effect
of proving to the British nation their gross
ignorance of the conditions with which they
attempted rashly to deal by mass meetings
and public agitation. This has been curious
lv illustrated by the remark of Lord SAILS
BURY who was sent QUE - Turkey to en-
force the popular demand and who comes
back from his fruitless mission to pronounce
il an improbable chimcra." Those who
were familiar with Turkey were perfectly
well aware that sooner or later this conclu-
sion must inevitably be arrived at. The
fundamental error of the policy inaugu-
rated by Russia, and subsequently adopted
10y Europe, of taking certain Christian
subjects Of the Porte under their es-
pccial tutelage, has at last, been discov-
cred, but too late to spare the civilized world
the horrors of n war ostcnsibly undertaken
in the interests of religion and humanity.
The improperly of any single European
power arroRating to itself tho exclusive
right of protecting the subjects Of another
power, on the ground Of race and religion.
forced itself upon Europe at the close of the
Crimean war. Up to that time. this protcc-
torate was vested solely in Russia, which
used the privilege it claimed 10y rendering
all government in Turkey impossible. Eu-
rope, instead of putting an end to any such
right of interference. transferred it from
Russia to the six Christian powers who
were signatoric, Of the treaty of Paris
thereby increasing the evil, instead Of mlti-
eating it. This result was likewise pro-
NOTED by that measure Of reform known
a. the Haiti lioumayoum, which was forced
upon the Porte, and which, to those init
mately acquainted with the condition Of the
country, was from the first doomed to prove
imperative II contained provisions which
could not he enforced. but which gave all the
agents Of the European powers an
opportunity Of intriguing against each
other, in behalf of their co-relgionists by
bringing pressure to bear upon the Turkish
Government i'm whatever direction seemed
desirable 10 forward the political ends of the
various powers.
As these European powers were all
jealous Of each other; as they were each
pursuing special policy Of its own; and
as they each had cO-rcligionsts in Turkey to
protect the empire was kept in a perpetual
state OF distraction by their rivalres and
Vaccinations. In every important town In
Turkey there were from twelve to twenty
consuls. all enjoying independent jurisdic-
tions unknown in other countries. to whom
Christians Of various denominations might
appeal against their own Government. Hence
Turkey, which had only one power to deal
with when Russia enjoyed the sole privilege,
now found herself in collision with all Eu-
rope. sometimes finding support from one
power and sometimes from another, accord
ing as the relations between the Govern
mcnts Of Europe underwent change.
The result was That, 50 far from the condi-
ton of the Christian being improved, ii was
rendered far worse The Slav Of the Greek
Church. who formerly had only persecution
| from the Moslem to fear, and was protected
| by Russia, now found that his Catholic
| brother had powerful friend in the French
| consul, who protected the Catholic Slav
| against the Greek Slav, and il need Ice, sup
| ported the Turk in his oppression ofthc latter.
| The Hcllencs and the Savs were constantly
| bidding for the good Offices of one or the
| other of the Christian powers, and the violent
| hatred which they entertain toward each
| other led them necessarily to seek as allies
| Christian powers who were also in antago-
nsm toward each other Turkey was thus
made the arena in which European nations
fought their diplomatic battles, while the
central authority, always weak and corrupt,
had no opportunity Of acquiring either
lrmncss or purity, torn as it was in differ
ent directions 10y the perpetual warning OF
these conflicting elements within its own
jurisdiction.
Had the Turkish Government been left
perfectly free and untrammellcd 10y for
eign pressure, the internal administration
might have undergone Improvement; hut
this was rendered impossible by the
machinery devised by Europe at the treaty
| Of Paris; and though doubtless the Turn
has many sins to answer for, it must
be remembered that ne has no one 10 explain
his side Of the case, while all Europe are in
terested in proving that the failure to rene
dy the evils Of his administration is mo-
the fault Of the system they devised but the
fault of the Turkish Government, which ha'
it been the best in the world, must yet have
been undermined and finally rendered use
less for all administrative purposes undo
such a system.
Hence IL Is decided gain that Lore
SALISBURY, who went out to Con-tan
tinoplc to intensity, by n still greater in
reference in the affairs Of Turkey ever.
evil which had been generated 10y the ole
protcctOratc arrangements, should pro
nouncc the idea Of the six European power
undertaking the tutelage of the subiec
populations Of Turkey an impractical
chimcra." There is only one chimora still
more impractcnhlc, and that is the hand
ing over of these subject populations to an