The Republican journal., 1877-07-12
The State Of Affairs In Constantinople.

The New York Tribune's correspondent
at Constantinople writes that the situa-
ton is very black for the Turks. The
death of Ali Pasha in 1869 was the signal
for new policy in Turkey, which is
known as the Russian policy" which is
really the foundation of the present col
lapse. General Ignatietf was the sturdy
defender and possibly originator Of this
policy. Its keynote was '"Iurkey for the
Turks" General Ignatiett used to go tc
the palace with all the cringing servilitA
of demeanor which Turkish Pashas put
on in the presence Of the Sultan. He
found the Sultan by no means proo
against such subtle iiattery. When ques-
lions of general interest came up in which
the views OF the Porte differed from those
of the European powers, Gen. Ignatief
often sided with the Porte, on the ground
that it ought not to permit European die
tatiOn. The wave of religious fervOr which
swept over all Mohammedan countries
three or four years ago, beginning with
India, worked exactly into General Igna-
tietf7s hands, and he was glad to see his
Turkish friends so manly and so indie
pendent. The result of it all was that ali
foreigners in Government employ were
dismissed. In army and navy, in the tel
egraph and post office there were foreign
ers in positions Of trust who had been
chosen as organizers, but it was felt to be
inconsistent with the dignity Of Turks
that any but Turks should hold such DO
sitions, and all had to go.
Now Turkey is reaping the fruit of this
policy i'll the blight of inetficiency that
paralyzes everything. Soldiers go to the
field with splendid arms, but the cart
ridges give out, or the shells for the ar
tlllely have not come, OF the bread is
wanting, or the enemy takes Il different
course from that which he took in the
last two wars. and 50 the generals are
disappointed in their wish to fight him.
The tortrcsscs are besicgcd, and then first
it occurs to the War Department that
there are no stores there. The soldiers,
with their splendid physique and supc-
rlor equipment, are sacrificed to the folly
which removed foreign skill from the staff
OF the army. In the navy it is the same.
The iron-clads are idle half the time, be
cause the Turks dismissed their English
engineers and instructors some Years ago,
and now cannot regain them, while the
men employed do not understand how to
use the splendid machine which the mod
ern iron-cIad is. This jealousy applies
also to Hobart Pasha. Although the IRON
clad fleet is absolutely dependent upon his
guidance, it was only after the Russians
had destroyed two ships that the Govern
ment was willing to give him an active
command.
General Mott, the American officer who
reorganized and placed upon civilized
was interviewed in Constantinople bv the
correspondent of the Cincinnati Enqur-
er, and declared himself in full sympathy
with the Turks, but said he regretted
their painful lack of system and organi-
cation, and deplored the stupidity of the
rulers who persistently prevent the de
velopment of the country, and perversely
deprive it of the future which belongs to
it. He looks upon the present unfortu-
nate war as the outgroWth of Turkish
pride, and the low cunning Of English
and PruSSlan statesmen, who have great
points to gain in Ottoman disaster. He
anticipates nothing but defeat, and is
certain, that when it does come, a revo-
luton will take place at the capital, which
will rid the country Of the present wretch
ed and utterly incapable Administration.
He thinks that this crisis is rapidly APP
preaching.
General Mott says that the greatest
difficulty he meets is the idiotic pride of
the Turkish officials. Nurtured in the
belief that the Moslem is at all times a
superior being, when in an official ca
pacity, it is next to impossible to induce
one of them to accept advice from an
outsider, no matter how skilled or eN-
perenced. They all have an idea that
they are degraded in the estimation of
their people when they accept assistance
from Giaours, and the only thing to do is
to never tender advice, but wait until
they ask for it. As an illustration of the
utter lack of thrift and enterprise which
characterizes the Turks, General Mott
says that within a short distance of the
Bosphorus the Government has a field Of
coal Is miles long. 1t is simply mex
haustible, and is Of very fine quality.
They won't work it themselves, and they
won't let anybody else work it save in an
indifferent sort of a way. An organized
English company offered the Government,
Il year or two ago, 81 10000 per year
for the privilege of working the mines,
and was refused. With all this wealth
under their feet, vessels are daily and
hourly supplied at Constantinoplc with
coal brought from Wales.