The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-17


Obviously in such an assembly the Chris
tians must always be in n minority before
the Mussulmans, the European element
before the Asiatic. The preponderaDce OF
votes and influence must belong To Islam
aud TO Asia-the power transferred TO
pnrliamei : must fall into the hands OF
the Turks of Anatolia, at once far less en-
lightened and more fanatical than their
brethren of the Bosporus. With the
diversity OF races and languages through
out the empire, as well In Asla rs In Eu-
rope, there can be no party cry. no
nucleus OF cohesion, except religion. More
conspicuously than ever Islamsm must
become the sole ligaturc Of the State. and
the Koran the sole national code. Under
these circumstances we must naturally
look to see uemas and softds, dervishes and
santons, become the veritable insprers and
die ators of the Chamber of Deputies.
Whatever its faults. the Ottoman Gov
eminent is far more enlightened and
liberal than the mass of its subjects, be-
cause IL has long been in intimate relations
with the rest OF Europe and because not
few of its agents have adopted Western
manners. In other countries the obstacle
to reform Is commonly found in official cir
cles interested in the maintenance of abuses;
but in Turkey the main impedir1ent lies in
the Turkish people, in its apathy. preiu-
dices, aud auimositios. At this moment
the principal difficulty OF the divan pro-
ceeds from the funaticism of the popula-
ton of Stambsul, which may at any
moment reproduce on vaster scale
the recent massacre of Salonicn, or
AID u reactionary conspiracy to GUST from
power the partsans OF new system.
With the Intervention of constitutional
machinery the embarrassment OF the Porte
would probably be even greater. Even If
the dread OF Europe should extort meas
ures ostensibly investing the Christians
with entire civil equality, an Ottoman Par-
lament could scarcely be relied on to en-
force rights conceded TO the gaours.
Abandoned to the discretion of a Mussul-
| man majority, the rqUdhs might have
more urgent need than ever of foreign
protection, whereas the interference of
Europe in the concerns of constitutional
state might well appear delicate and
| questionable proceeding In word, If
| free and independent, the Turkish CHAM
bers will prove drag weight on
the Government in its plans OF progress,
| and to the Christian subject standing
menace aud legal instrument of oppres-
| sion. II, on the other hand. they should
| be clothed with only nominal authority,
| they could not long impose OH Europe
| and would AK on the Porte the stigma of
| prcmedtated bad faith.
We by no means agree with those who
expect more than Christian magnanmlty
| from Ottoman human nature. The hour
seems to be i'll chosen TO press the sweeping
| denands of Russia, to ask the Sultan,
| after stamping out the rebellion of one
vassal, to substantially renounce his au-
thority over three considerable provinces.
| Unless Europe is prepared to treat the
| Turk as an intruder and an outlaw, we
| iuclne to think that the application, If
| not the designation. of reforms must be
| left in the hands Of the Porte. At the
| same time we do not disguise the skepti-
cism with which we regard the pres
ent scheme Of Constitution. We
should see more promise in partial meas
| urcs, locally restricted, which would afford
| the rdydh guarantees of security without
| nulhfyng the functions OF the central
| government. III Is II illblake 10 suppose
that local reforms have always proved de-
| lusive in Turkey. We cannot deny a
certain progress in that country during
the last half century, and that improve
ment has been invariably effected by ar
engagements adapted TO this or that par
ucular province, rs IN the Lebanon, after
the massacres nj Damascus; IN Crete. after
the insurrection of 1866; and in the island
of Samos after the war OF Greek indcpend-
| ence. Wherever, IN short, after an out
break, the pncincltion has proved durul lie,
this hls been due to special legislation aud
discliminative privileges; aud this. in our
Judgment. is the sole method which offers IA
| reasonable chance of assuring 10 the sui
ttn's European subjects, the Slavic and
Greek Christians, u measure Of protection
| and flluunlllity.