The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1877-05-16
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WEpNEsDAYs...MAy lcs 1877.
THE TURKISH EMPIRE.

Inc OuLDfeak Of u slhpebuouS WSt mA
distant part of the world. reveals the fact,
that while the name Of Turkey Is as fanii-
liar Is 4 household word. It's geographical
position. ana matters relating 70 its form Of
government, lis people and events reli-
gious creeds. ire unknown toa vast body
Of our people HE very rudiments Of ply
steal geography must be referred to IN or
DIR that some conception mas he Obtained
81 d region and " people, nov tue gene
raj iopc of,he worlds INTEREST,"
We DO not propose here 10 go into the
rise AMI progress If the Turks, grown from
wandering horde Of warlike barsariahs
into an emf ire 50 strong aud ambitious US
once 10 have threatened the conguest-of all
eastern Europe. We vii; Gully refer to
their present condition aud the location Of
their territory.
The Turkish Empire, terriiorlally, is a
large and imposing one. with strong foot,
hold OH three continents. In Europe. II
occupies the southeastern portion Of that
continent, extending from the Russian and
Austrian frontiers on the north and west,
10 the Black Sea on the east, the Mcditer-
raneah. the Archipelago and the Greciau
Sea on the south. and the Adriatic on the
west. IS portion Of the western boundary,
Turkey in Europe, having in the progress
Of conquest. absorbed different nationalties,
contains different states, retaining their
original names, their ancient population,
and preserving to large degree their old
customs aud religion. bound TO the central
government By various degrees Of subordi-
nation. .Wallachia, sIoidayia. Servia and
Montenegro BY successful rebellion. have
broken the yoke Of that absolute dsspotisnl
which once oppressed them, and which still
nonlinaliy are integral portion Of the Eur
pire. sovereign to the extent Of choosing
Their own Governors and electing their own
Assemblies. only belug bound To the cen
tral guyernment BY the obligation OF an
annual tribute. Oilers like Bosnia. Rou.
mania. Weddin. Nissa &c. were absolutely
dependent, and ars, Or were. governed by
.ralers sppo;nted at Constantinople.
The population u these provinces wa
esiimsied few years since at about lG.'
900. 600. the Turkish race numbering
.sbcat three million, and the remainder o
the original subject race. 10 religion. tht
Mcsiems are about four millions five hun
dred .hoosspd. many of the conquered peo
pie having cmbrscsd the Mahometan faiti
10 saso their lands The Greek aud Ar
:neniaa Christians number abott twelve
millions. the Roman Catholics about 81,
hundred Thousand ami the jews seYent.
Thousand.
In Asia, the Turkish Empire is absolute
over all Asia Minor. and includes as Deepen
denotes. considerable portion Of Arabia
The population u ills portion Of tie en-,
Dire is estimated u sixteen millions.
ia africa, tie Umpire has no absOlut
Possession, but hasa tributary interest j
Egypt. TriPoli, Tanis aaJ Fezzsn. 90
obligation IL tie tripaie beiOg military SCI
vice; aud iii from these Dependencies tha
Turkey expects % draw hugely for trooI
u The present war
Tic goyssrncoi of Turkey Is The no,
absolute 81 despolisn.s. The people havin
no voice whatever 10 public affairs and al
jsciiy sasjlct % al tie c.prices 81 tyrrar
". Religious ,oleraiiou is nominal
granted. but IN eiEee. i is Only nomiuA
.rhe christians are IN Oppressed. u not
prosecuted clsss. and have 20 legal redres
sor heir grievances. Bigotry ]. always 3
lie alert for opportunities 10 vent religion
hatred. Il i Tie sxieui aud the ,irulepS
81 eruelties originating 10 Moslem f.bat
eisn that s the immediate cause Of ii
present agitation 81 the Christian world
and the pretezl ~ The interference Of Rui
J sia.
The chriaiats Of Turkey being Of Il
hlood u the Russians snJ protesting 81
faith 81 the Creek Church sbicb is IL
s,s,e religion II llussia. that power felt il
self bound 70 take the iniiirtiys 10 steps I
vmlro the abuses Of Turkish rule. III
key resented tie right q foreign pow
20 dic,aie her lfestncnt Of her subject
aud ~ tie var begun.
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