The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-07-12
TURKEYS DECLINE.
tn" steady Disinirgrntion or the Once
Powerful Ottoman Empire.

The Steady Disinirsration or the Once
Powerful Ottoman Empire.
In the first hall of the sixteenth cen.
fury, during the reign OF Sultan Sulie.
man, the Turkish empire had gained
control Of its greatest reach Of terri
tory. At that time the armies OF the
sultan had gone so far west and north
AS to have their cnCampments pitched
under the very walls Of the city Of
Vienna The capital Of Austria was
really in great danger Of falling prey
10 the mpacity OF the Turks, The then
kingdom Of Hungary had almost fallen
under the power OF that mastery ruler.
Roumania, Serva, Greece, the islands
in the IEgan ana the present posses.
'ions in Asia and Africa were all firmly
in his grasp, Turkey was then notably
one OF the most powerful empires ~ it
Is now one OF the weakest and most
looscl RECONSTRUCTED governments, known
to civilization. 1t gave manifestations,
at that time, OF its greatest yigor The
reign OF Sulicman was its golden age.
Compared with other periods of its own
history, Turkey was cause Of great
alarm to all ChriStcndom. The world
stood in complete awe Of her power.
The Turks were, at that time, in control
Of the best part Of three continents
where man had made hsgreatest achieve
menis in arts, literature, culture, refine
ment, religion aud civil government.
This region was the very paradise Of
human grandeur in the whole history Of
mankind.
The first great triumphs cf power on
the part Of the Turk were achieved in
the destruction of every visible sign of n
former civilization, and the reduction Of
the inhabitants OF those beautiful coun.
tries TO a condition Of primitive helpless.
ness and vassaIage. Having fairly ac.
c0mpIished all this, his only anxiety
seems to have been to keep his subject.
in this ahject condition of helplessness
and oppression,
Austria was the first power that offered
successful resistance to the victorious
Turks IN their cncrOachmcnt on the
west. From this time onward the
Turkish empire began gradually to
wane After II centurv's sway over
Hungary, the ancient Kingdom of the
Mngyars was rc.cslabIishcd; and the
Turks removed their cncampmcnt tar
away from Ruda--gradualIy retreating
10 more limited quarters. The black
sea, which mad been for centuries com
pletcIy within the limits Of the Turkish
empire, was in part given up; and little
by liICle Russia, continuing her cncroach.
mentS on the north and east, has gained
PcaccabIc possession Of two sides Of that
great inland sea.
In 1873 Scrvia's repeated revolutions
ag INST the power Of turkey came to a
successful termination. Her home rule
was acknowledged by the porte, and has
also been maintained to the present time.
In 1866 MoIdavia and WaIlachia were
recognized under the name and title of
Roamana, with the right and authority
OF managing their internal aIairs-On the
condition OF paying a nominal tribute,
and in turn acknowledging the
sultan as their fcudal lord. A few
days ago Servia ana Roumania both
declare their independence Of the porte,
ana they are now ready to su pport
their position by the aIbitramont OF
the sword. In 1921 gallant little IIcllas
struck for revolution and Independence,
and, after several years of dire conflict
and extreme suffering in 1899 her indie.
pendencc was 50 acknowledged by the
porte, Thus, within the limits of about
two centuries, there has been chopped
away from this once formidable empire
territory enough to furnish homes for
about 5000, 600 souls.
InniS, Egypt and Syria are to day
held by only 4 slender cord. Any sud
den revolution may burst the tie that
still holds them subscrvient to the en-
pirc. Nearly all Of Armenia has within
one month yielded its control to Russia's
victorious arms. At the present rate of
progress, it will not be long before large
part OF the southern shore of the Black
sea is destined to be in the power of
Russia by the right aud rule OF conquest
What shall We say of Epirus, Thcs.aIy,
Macedonia and BuIgalil? These are only
waiting for good opportunity to carry
revolt to a successful termination.
This is indeed II sad, yet truthful, pie.
ture of the condition of the once power
iul Ottoman empire. Can it long survive
the present attacks threatening on every
hand . Chjcugo JOWWoi.