The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-05-31
The Cause of the Russo.Turkish War.

between Russia and Turkey. There are
two cause.-the direct and indirect.
The direct may be stated in very few
words: The oppression and persecution
of their Christian subjects by the Turks
reached such point of cruelty that the
victims broke out in open revolt year
ago. In suppressing this revolt, the
Turks were guilty of such inhuman tor
lures and massacres that Europe, with
Russia at the head, protested, and after
meeting in Conference demanded that
the Porte should give guarantees of re-
form. The Porte refused, and Russia,
as the champion of the Christians, now
takes the field to secure these reforms by
the sword, and to ameliorate the condi-
ton of the Christians.
The indirect cause of the war is that
the Turk is an alien in Europe, an ene-
my of Western civilization, a sanguina-
ry fanatic by nature, ruler whose Gov
ernment is not Government of law
but Of plunder, and that there is very
general feeling in the civilized world
that it is time for this Government to be
| overthrown or removed to its original
Asiatic source. The element of law
| does not enter into the idea of Turkish
! Government Its Constitution is an ut
ter dead letter. 1t has no machinery
for enforcing laws. 1t has promised to
make reforms over and over again, which
promises remain unfulfilled because it
can not enforce them. The governing
power of Turkey is in the hands of
| caste that does not number one-sixth of
the Empire, which exists as an armed
camp of Asiatics, in the midst of Eu-
rope, not to lay down laws, enforce obe-
dience, and administer justice, but to
terrorize even to the extent of extermi-
nation, if necessary, and in any event to
degree that will make resistance i'm
possible. This caste is not responsible
to any authority but its own. If its
agents commit Outrages, there is no re-
dress. Not one of the tiends who per-
petrated the Bulgarian horrors has ever
been punished; on the other hand, the
| bloodiest butchers have been promoted
to higher seats of honor. Mr.. MaccoH,
in his recent work on Turkey, speaks of
the condition of the Bulgarians as fol-
lows: ss ,...
The Christians have in most provinces,
and notably in Bulgaria, fallen into the tenn
per of slaves; that resistance to the gend-
armerie is considered impossible, the Gov
ernment and its soldery invariably support
ing them, until the armed policemen can do
absolutely what they please, and in country
where chastity is considered of the highest
Importance and women are reverenced as in
Ireland, the honor of families is absolutely at
the mercy of any villain who may be admit
ted into the ranks of the defenders of order.
The people, aware that the slightest COM
plant will be the signal for massacre or tor
ture, have been degraded below the human
| int xyhn tnd in, fhn xAa tUh hifsl,
makes even slaves resist, they only OCCASION
| ally have the energy to join the brigands,
though, strange to say,when they have joined
them they fight to the death. !. So.
1t is enough to say that in all rural districts,
wherever Turks are ANNOYED, or resisted, or
: even affected with caprice of tyranny, the
villages encounter the fate of cities taken by
storm in the worst cycles of middle -age war;
fare. The men are murdered, and the women
, violated at will and with impunity. No re-
4 dress is even hoped for, the authorities all
+ side with the gendarmerie or soldiers, and
8 the worst offenders are the Pashas sent to
l maintain order. The Christian who COM
} plains is tortured until he leaves off COM
planning, and the Pasha who tortures him is
considered an energetic officer, and rapidly
, promoted.
The Turkish Government lives not
only by cruelty but by plumber. 1t is
predatory in character, not judicial. 1t
eats the substance of its victims if they
: object, it exterminates them. 1t takes
f with no idea of returning. 1t borrows
with no idea of paying. 1t promises
, with no idea of fulfilling. 1t lives among
3 civilized nations as the blackmailer, and
E thief, and swindler live in society. 1t
: would have no subject unless as a slave !;
if it can not enslave him, it kills him,
ravishes his wife, sells his children, and
= burns his home AS Mr. Maccoll says
in another part of his work, speaking of
\ the evil which this war is intended to re-
: move:
+ 1t is the existence of so-called Govern
' ment over at the very least six millions of
f Christians in Europe and three millions
!, more in Asia, which, so far from securing
Il even tolerable peace for domestic and social
: life, and rendering it probable that the hu-
= man beings born in Christian communities
+ should grow up with the ordinary confidence
4 in industry, courage under wrong, self-re'
spect in conduct, affections in their homes.
: and goodwill towards their neighbors, OF
\ average men, actively prevents any such re-
d suit, substitutes organized plunder for tax
s alton, favoritism of the grossest kind fol
Justice, cows all the manliness out OF the
| men, and all the womaniness out OF the
; women, replaces the noblest affections by the
e fercest and the meanest passions, ,makes dread
: chronic, seryility the only assurance against
wholesale wrong, and apathy the one remedy
against outrage.
# To suppress such an evil as this Russia
d enters the field, and her legions are now
Q securing over Roumania and Asia
= Minor. No horrors OF war can equa
n the horrors of Sclavic persecution. Nc
V loss of life can be so terrible as the evi
:, 4ha+ I.naacinpc II It's removal at any