Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-13


TURKISH POLITICS AND PREPARATIONS FOR
WAR.
ERzROoM, Turkey, March |, lS7..
To tho Editor Of the FREQ Press and Times
Your announcement of the new Turkish
constitution was ushered in with the head
ing, "The world moves" Doubtless there
was movement in the new constitution, but
not as much as appears on its face, since
Midhat Pasha, the author Of it, came near
losing his head soon after its promul CATION,
by the summary process of the old regime,
because he was detected, forsooth, in con-
spiracy.
However it may he about the constitu-
tion, the stamp on the envelope that enclos-
es this letter is ocular evidence that the
world does move For the first time in its
history, stamp whose value is FIVE cents car
ries letter from any part of Turkey to any
part of the United States, and rice rtrSG.
If everything in Turkey was up to the
enlightened standard OF the international
Postal system, it would he progress indeed.
But. alas, all the world knows it is far
otherwise. This letter, if sent to the near
est postofhce in Turkey, would require, if
of full weight, nine cents postage, and
if sent to the most distant Office
would require Mi1y-aI cents post
age. This carries one back half century
or more. and the means of conveyance. the
roads, the mechanical instruments, the va
rious industries of Turkey, arc nearly as
they were two or five thousand years ago.
True, modern inventions, like the telegraph,
and sewing machine, have found their way
into this country, but they are entirely out
of harmony with the prevailing customs, US
much so as dress coat on the back of an
otherwise naked FIJI Islander. So the In
ternational Postal system, one of the most
enlightened institutions of the 18th century,
is entirely out Of place in Turkey, and is
only adopted by the government to convey
the impression to other nations that Turkey
is abreast of the world in the matter Of pro-
gress. However, are ought to be glad, since
a letter, which formerly cost I5 cents, We
may now send for cents.
You can now send my FREE PRESS drec.
to Erzroom, marking it, sra Turkish Inter
H"fotut L W.. may DC stul III lut
same way under Scents STAMP, if not oyer
a half-ounce in weight.
Every one was surprised at the firm at
titudc of Turkey towards the conference.
The Turks would never have stood thus firm,
if they had not known that under the sur
k,ce of apparent harmony among the MEM
bers Of the conference there was an under
current of jealousy and suspicion, which
would come out the moment an attempt
should be made to enforce their demands.
The strength of the Turks lies in the want
of harmony among the Christian powers,
really very humiliating spectacle for
Christendem to present.
Whether there is TO be war, or not, you
will probably know before this reaches you.
| can only say that the Turks are making
every effort to be ready. Thirty-six
krupp guns, field artillery. arrived from
Trebizonde day or two ago, raw recruits
pour into town daily, and nearly every
morning battalion Of soldiers starts for
kars, escorted out of town by squadron Oi
cavalry and band of music. Probably
more than fifty thousand soldiers are now in
arms in this district, soon to be commanded
by Ahmed Monkhtar Pusha, late command
erin-chief Of the forces in Herzegovina.
War prices are hcsinning to prevail. trade
is stagnant, and. 1t war comes, great dis
tress must prevail. We still hold our
ground and mean to do so to the end. if
possible. NJ. p. p.
p S.-The eclipse of the moon, the other
evening, (Feb. 27th) afforded good illus
tration of the grade of civilization which
prevails in Turkey. During the progress
of the eclipse, the people were dischargng
guns in all parts of the town. in order -
frighten of the monster that had come to
swallow the moon