The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-23

18th, 1876. Russia proposed that those
states, in which the Christian poealaa ttiior
outnumbered the Mahometans in the pro
portion of two to one, and in some cases
even four to one, should be invested with
the right of local self government, but to
remain subjects to the Ottoman porte.
The Turks insultingly refused and Eng.
land broke up the conference, declaring
that its purpose in going to Constantine
pie was to try and persuade Turkey to
adopt the proposed reforms, but without
any intention to force her if she were un-
willing. 1t was even then more than sus-
pected that while England's representative
at the conference was pretending to favor
these reforms, another adherent of Lord
Beaconfield was encouraging Turkey to re-
fuse all propositions for settlement, and the
action of that minister, after the war was
actually commenced, shows conclusively
that he was not only willing, but anxious,
to involve England in the contest, thus hop
ing to humble the power of Russia as in
the Crimean war. have already said that
Turkey was swelled up with her import
ance and began to think herself quite able
to cope with Russia. Satisfied that Eng
land would back her, her course was such
that nothing was left to Russia but to de-
clare war, which she did on the gath of
April, 1877. What the result of that war
will be no mortal can tell, but upon its
issue hangs the fate of nearly five millions
of Christian people in Europe. Who cares
if Russia is ambitious and does desire to
set up the banner of the Muscovite in Con-
stantinople; we know that if she does, five
millions of Christian men and women,
whose position is now that of the most
AFFECT and cruel slavery, will be free to
worship God as their conscience dictates.
In the course of my reading necessary
for the preparation of this essay, l have
been struck with the unanimity with which
men of liberal views and real culture, re-
gard the Turkish power as blot on Europe
and look forward to its destruction. Glib
bon anticipated it and thought the genera
ton in which he wrote might see its accom-
plishment. Hullem calls "the invasion of
Europe by the Turks, an impelling of the
loose masses of mankind upon the domain
of culture and civilization - and adds, sin
the present day we anticipate with an as
surrance none can deem extravagant, the
power"
Alleron, the historian of modern Europe,
says" Encamped for four centuries in
Europe, the Turks have deviated in no re-
spect from the manners and customs of their
Asiatic fore fathers. Although from the
day that the cannon of Mahommet II. OPEN
ed the breach in the walls of Constantinople,
they have been undisputed masters of the
fairest and richest dominion upon earth yet
the great body of them still retain the habits
they brought with them from Koordistan.
They adhere in all their institutions to the
precepts of the Koran and rely with implicit
faith on the aid of the Prophet, although
they are we'll aware that the followers of
Christ are ultimately to expel them from
Europe, and themselves point to the gate
by which the Moscovite battalions are to
enter when they place the cross upon the
dome of St. Sophia.
With one more quotation l close this
essay, already too long. 1t is from the pen
of Mr.. Edward Freeman, British writer
of great power, who ably supported the
position taken by Mr.. Gladstone He SAYS
the Turk came in as an alien and barbar-
ian, encamped on the soil of Europe: at the
end of five hundred years, he remains an
alien and barbarian, en- camped on soil
which he has no more made his own than it
was when he first took Kallipols. His
rule during all that time has been the rule
o. strangers over enslaved nations in their
own land: it has been the rule of cruelty,
faithlessness and brutal lust: it has not been
government, but organized brigandage.
His rule cannot be reformed. While all
other nations get better and better, the
Turk gets worse and worse; and, when the
chief powers of Europe join in demanding
that he should make even the smallest
reform, he impudently refuses to make any.
If there was anything to say for him before
the late conference, there is nothing to be
said for him now. For an evil which can
not be reformed, there is one remedy only
to get rid of it. Justice, reason, humanity
demand that the rule of the Turk in Europe
should be got rid of; and the time for get
ting rid of it has moo come.''
To which let every Christian heart re-
spond-Amen!