The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-14
QUESTIONS ON rnE EASTERN QUESTION.
which should he supported nv the Press Of
America, Russia or Turkcyf
TO THE EDITOR or THE suS-Sn. 1t is

/ America tthrstn
To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir: II Is
evident and natural that the American mind
should follow the English mind in It's divisions
Of opinion ON the Eastern qu, stion at this great
crisis of s solution. We see that these divis-
ions - opinion in this country do not follow
any political line. hut that both parties are
found on the same side, sympathizing ia the
Turh or Eu-sian Anditsr"ms. at first thought.
a little sin-uar that some of the most inilu-
| Ontial Domosratic Papers IN America cspousc
the Turkish side with all the arguments and
animus oi the most Tory organs Of ENGLAND.
This affinity. or rather identity of sentiment *
a moral phenomenon which might naturally
suggest q few questions as to its causc-q,ies-
tiOns which may bc appropriate for the public
mind in this country 20 consider ut this mo-
mcntous juncture in the history Of civilization.
In the first place. then. W. may admit that it
is not only natural. but "a laudable character
istic Of the Anl.lo-Saxon mind in both countries
to sympathiu, with the minority. or the numeri
| cay smallest party TO great struggle. Now
in the old days Of slavery. there were ten mill
| lions Of whites to four millions Of slaves, and
| the latter got the most sympathy for their small
minority. IA we'll as for thCir condition. But in
the ease Of Turkey this proportion is exactly re-
vcrscd The Turks in Europe are only three
! millions 30 the nine millions of Christians they
! nave 80 long ncid III political slavery and
! degradation. The question. then, suggests
| itself: l. 1t because the Turks are such a small
minority. and have been able 10 hold in such
| sum"ctiOn Christian populations outnumhrring
! them three To one. that the Democratic mind of
| America leans Ia their side with ns much SYM
| plthy and admiration as the Tory MIND Of
Tie Turk has now had probation Of nearly
! I'VE hundred years with ne rule enthron9d on
/ great centres Of ancient civil lzation under his
unr,stricted sway In these long centuries of
limit lNtaf f.a
| world, or what is he now doing that can Justify
thc belief that his nature or his rule will change
! Tor the better in any coming futurcf
In view of what Its rul" has been and is. and
| must be as long ~ 1t continues. docs or can the
| American mind believe that the integrity and
| independence Of the ottoman Empire are
| worth lighting for in tho interest of universal
civilization or for the good OF any section oi the
At the close OF the Crlmean war, after the four
allied powers had sacr lc"d half a million Of
! lives and over a thousand millions Of dollars i'm
! fully establishing the iudcpD ndcncc and nt"g-
rity of the Ottoman Empire. did they impose the
| slightest restriction upon ii- lndcpcndence"
in treating rs II had done. or as il pleased to do
/ IN. Christian populat ions SUBJECT To- It's rulcy
! Have the powers that fought Russia away
/ from her ATTEMPTED protection Of these Chris
/ iihh pYluHuuhs liUcd a iiis I on Voice Ia NOR
nrhali since they fought for the Turk against
A powerful paper that stands in the very fore
| front oi the Democratic pr ~ IA this country.
rcirrrins To- The present .lrcumsianccs OF the
British Ministry lit to occupy that exalted
| station viii cons der only British Interests. and
| lnr adopting ul British means IA British ends
! May So not b. equally certain that the British
! Ministry in the war II the trimra considered
only British int rests anu the adapting Of
Brlts h means o. British rudsf' And lid any
power that joined her in the war against Russia.
who had accepted their condition Of pence. CON
| slider any other than It's own interests and euds
| Was not the Turk absolutely certain and safe in
| TINT conclusiunf
FIR nearly u year the great powers have boon
'-t"nsily cont"rrlng together To- effect reform
| ~ thc turkish ru,e. or To- ea-' the yok" ot its
NtrINil- sin l!ul Ostd upon tn ~ millions of rs
/ CHRISTIAN subjects but did on' 81 them. except
hu-~la cunSl rrany Other than it, own interests
! ana ends Was not the TURK 10, certain of TINS
az DE- W.- when he dragged them into the Grim
IAN wITf
Unlike tho conferences Il 1853. the eroa, pow.
crs this time signed q protocol, which seemed
e. imply the RIGHT and duty on their part To IN
rlrro, or e. 30 something practical, for the r.
/ lntlons Of the Christian faith. Now may We not
b. equally certain that every other power except
Russia that signed this protocol was as wilins
- ts'ept the Portc's promise Of reform. without
guarantee. and without limitation Of time ~ To-
IT. iuiiliment as they all were at the end OF the
Looking back over the history Of the last nfty
years, hHs ANY other power tnan RUSSIA cons
pressed population under d" Turk .sh ruio ~
's' % o. thi.d 90 c.n7.'!"r cor rnica'"r T." pro
llt- tn.r" b,'n any other r0w"i in Europe 90
sympathy ami h"lpt II u.ty have looked 20 lile
,au.oi l.us-ia iur AL tnel the lsrlelif"s found
| BOO Moss. or eNpe0t"d in tle Messiah wN 81.
ihut Was ~ pd any otirr power ever llta
| finger for their dfiv"rauref
What british mt rest. or rul- could he snori-
nrri ot ,nIaus"r q. 'N u all these su Je.t
! D.. Atl M yer 'h'"ri"!A,td ma me hu~-an
gu, -uon. mas not ind an American ~ we'll
'- British side o. ~ Let u- ooA at t from the
,tludl nint of both natural and national gght.
N.liN-r Chant NlI tle rivers 90. the CLfel
Sat = hetweputhr Il rnncber aulth N.o Grauio
rGl',s aioys NV Or.eans. Snpp's..' ' inei N
ID flf -st. .tt.l