New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-27
TIE EASTERN QUESTION REVIEWED.
LECTURE by PROF. D. y. BoTAssT.


LECTURE BY PROF. D. N. BoTAssi.
At meeting of the Xavier Union, at No.
90 West Twenty n!nthst. last evening, d. N Botassi'
Professor of Modern Greek In the University OF the oy
Of New York. delivered lecture upon the Eastern con-
fict.
1t mas been the constant OF the statesmen Oh
Europe" Prof Botass said, for the last 90 years 10
avoid the discussion tho socaled Eastern question:.
The bare possibility Of opening 1t has caused genera
condemnation among the Cabinets and preclpitateus
panic in the European Exchanges. The handuug vi ~
was considered delicate and so dangerous tna e'e!
effort made to postpone 1t with the nope 'na' VIZ"
the apse and the development OF human progress
solution Of some sort might be eventually FOUND b"'
what is the Eastern question: Those who are not very
familiar with the subject understand by the words East
EN- question: the fact OF the Turks being In Europe anu
expressing the Christians, on the one side anu u" 'o
other side OF Russia endeavorng ostensioy Iioco.
the Christians actually trying to get possession
Consaptjnople But this definition OF the case Is not
correct Tie Eastern question dates back many cen
turies In our day It is considered political question:
yet has not always been SUCH II we go back III his
tory wc ind That the Eastern question had sulcu!
religious character and involve in fact continued sh'
between Islainism and Christianity Inc Crusaoes "eo
only part of the Eastern question:.
Fru,n this DCin the lecturer described tnc rse IN" w
velouuent of l>lais the and decline OF TIE TURK
jsh power lie continued: n is certainly remarhaDe
that a nation which maintained unnorInptcIy its s"h!
for 800 years IN the finest provinces al EUROPE suouu
arrive ri such point OF humiliation Since the con
quest OF OustannOpe, from MOhainBed the Secoho
to soman the Magnificent Turkey has had the sood or
tune TO have for rulers Of sound Judgment aha great
administrative capacity. Yet Turkey has not only not
pro gressod she has gone backward The reason OF TINS
is to be found IN the fundamental principles OF inc MO-
hammclan religion. Poygamy lies at 'he ioo.
of the evil: this the stumbling block ny reason oi
which all tic attempts cvze Turkey have failed The
nit rate
ing no homo circle and good citizens can be produced
out OF such elements The Christians are the a-flcu-
t1rists traders mechanics and bankers Oh iulA'!' INC
Turks are simply the dominating race, nothihg more
The Christian ts the ground and the TURK coectS tue
taxrs for the csteu,ibe support Of the Government
But this word has not there the meaning whiSh "carc
accustomed to give TO 1t. Win Christian nations II
means the protection Of life aud property ana the admin
strtiou of equitable laws. SIch state OF alairs docs
not exist in Turkey hut only shadow OF IT, Inc WI" VI
the local governor u the supreme law. The Vr"hh,-
cal and arbitrary way in which the taxes are eoieee"'
and the continual and varied oppression OF the dohlhat
ing race are he causes OF the periodical rshgs o. tne
Christian populations to flee themselves from lhe luh
p2of Hoassi then described the notifications which
the Turkish rule undergone in consequence Oh the
results of Idrksh policy ana reviewed e new w. thc
people The various demands OF tie ChiLsthhs VIZ
spoken n, aud theiI inadequate ~ ~
IirLsh Parliament was cXaaiHed lie then continued:
Among the demands of the Powers at me ate corr
enc ne OF
we az to Bosnia ard HERZEGOVINA II yon VIII LOOK az
the man you vii that Bulgaria. forms the very heart
OF the Empire 1t has the finest ports on the Bch -c
and most fertile -o aId nabtet bN an Industrious
ana GGlc people. Tie granting 81 an autonomy TO b
der thcn she s ready 10 ight Tor tue ossesons
whtcn 10 sFeak hgr yeTj fA.teIee ~ n,Go
are embodied IDEAS OF the Turkish Cos ernneH ABOUT
Icfolms The creation OF Bulgaria. lie says, IN ne
WAY The Powers propose H. Is IEadms,iDle JheGpgnh,-
mcit OF CHRISTIAN governor presents very great dheu
ties But above an the question OF guarantees pfesns
,sal,. nl,ef
nifty 81 an indeHendIAt c"uht3. thn
Turkish troops 10 the for;rcsses, aud the loima,
tun foreign commission would he very niue sh0I' OF
sui1dc Better 10 dtach al The provinces c'iipete!
than leave them only nOninay under the Sian' FROM
this II Has easy TO Conclude tial no Iub'
cessOns any Importance rouid he o't ned from iur-
KY. The result knOwII Turkey refused I" listen TO
the mod lied demand, o. tic Powcr and 10 Tie sill more
moderate terms OF the protocol Russia then undertook
spcle-nanaet tine coercion of Turkey. The diplomatic
relations between the two countries are broken OIL the
Russia army has Invaded RoaInd''a and nc turks ale
preparing suDDOrn resistance on the line OF the
danube The war just declared seems localized Tor the
present, but grave chmcatohs may YET allse on VIC
question OF Cons antinOplc situated 1t !Lc entrance OF
tne OF MarmOr, and separated from he ljlacA sea
only by tue narrow cIhncl OF lnt bOsPhoris CONSTANT.
noic possesses unrivacd advantages Tor commerce II
the city falls into her hands. Rq,sa can honoo ze the
lake and by possessing the straits or the DIrdaHell"s she
control tie Mediterranean THIS explains the sensitive
OF England whenever The possession Of Consanti-
nOpie is brought nio question.
at will be seen from table Of populations" the lee
turer concluded, that the Chrisans Turkey are more
IMAM TWO 10 one Win
four 10 compared with the real Turks.
mention these facts TO SHOW that IL Turkey small
minority OF the dominating rules the majority Of the
Inhabitants and the OF the soil, who actually
represent the industry intelligence and civilization of
the land Strange to IL seems never 10 have occurred
to those VINO trying 10 degenerate Tuikcy through
the TuIke u advocate selgONefnmcnt for these people
And yet the c1pe ment OF scligOyc,nmcnt IN Greece,
Servia and R0umana has met with great success In
these three States; life and property secure and laws
are cquitaD! administered With Bulgaria independent.
and the southern provinces OF Epirus Thessay. and
Macedonia annexed Greece, the Eastern question
neutral city al for Jealousy would lie
But you may ark wha Is 10 become OF 100000 Turks
i'll Of such sOiuOn? Why let them stay where
they are, living quietly with the Christians. No Will
iut vii