Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-07-28
TURKISH R.iPICITY.

The history Of the world does not az
God another instance of vast multitudes
IF vanGuished subjects so grievOusly OPP
pressed for centuries in their own native
and by mere handful of cOnGuerOrs.
1t has been a principle of Ottoman gov
eminent to allow no official survey or
census but it is believed that the total
population of the empire does not ex-
coed thirty-two millions. and OF these
about thirteen millions are in Europe.
of the latter only three millions are
Moslems; the rest belong to the subject
races and religions. Turkey is not really
a Mohammedan country. The faith of
Christ has existed in Constantinople a
thousand years longer than the creed OF
the prophet, and is to day held
with surprising tenacity by three
fourths of the subjects of the sui
tan. 1t is the very diversity of these
conquered races. and their almost total
separation from each other by mountain
ranges, by deep, broad waters and by
lack of roads, as much as the merciless
oppression which gives them no chance to
revolt, that have kept the Moslem minor
ity in so full and continued power. The
Servians and Albanians are different
tribes with different tongues so with the
Greeks and Bulgarians, with the Arme-
mans and Syrians. Between many dis
tricts even a similarity of religion does
not exist, and companionship in misery
forms the only bond of unity in interest.
Beside all this, the Moslems alone possess
arms. 1t has always been fundamental
principle that the entire military force
shall be drawn exclusively from the ranks
of the faithful; and, although recent re-
forms have set aside the maxim, yet the
condition of the Christian seems not to
be altered, or altered for the worse. The
Turks have the fortresses and the har-
bors, the arsenals and the treasury, in
comparable ConstantinOple and all the
cities. The rayahs, poor and crushed by
centuries of slavery, are scattered far and
wide ever the country, and have only
their humble homes and little patches OF
ground, covered with taxation.
Even these do not belong to them. Nc
Christians family is inviolate, nor can he
own foot of the land on which he tolls
out his days. 1t should be said, rather
that this latter statement was the law fol
four centuries, until abolished by the re
cent Tanzimat of Abdul Medjid in 1856
But we are considering the cause ofdeca!
: in the Ottoman empire, and no reform
f of recent date can affect the subject, espe
cially as these usually fall dead upon thei
promulgation. The Tdn-imat itself,
constitution of which any Christian ma
!. ton might be proud, has produced pitts
bly, small results, although it promise
a perfect Utopia. No Christian, then
n however wealthy in money, however pow
: erful in his tribe, could be a landed pre-
prietor. The titled fields, the boundles
e pastures, the luxuriant vineyards, all rt
t manned in the grasp Of the Turks, VIII
are usually poor in money, lacking in Ell
: terprise, aud unable to do anything wit
t their possessions but to let them out I
e the despised Christians, from whom the
> wiring the last farthing by taxation. The
when they come round on their too fri
quent visits of collection, they invad
the sanctity of the home, and make tn
J! Christian feel the heaviest yoke that eve
CALLED the neck of man. No beautifl
wife or daughter is safe from the lustfl
J. Turk. The victim of his fancy is ruu
lessly torn from the weeping and stricke
3 household, despite all the fine edicts an
promises Of recent years, the ruined hu
band or father is fortunate to come ava
e with his head, if he goes to make cor
N plant. But a few weeks ago an age
re father, whose daughters had fallen und
et the evil eye of the collector, trembling
declined to lodge him, as is the custor
until the village taxes were gathere
The enraged Turk saddled and bridl'
/ the man, and rode him back and fort
g. until he sank with exhaustion.-APp
toms journal.