The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-12
TURKEYS DECLINE.
The steady Dlslniesrntlen eT the OEce
 RaHorful OtaomAm Empire.


 Powerful Ottoman Empire. In the first half of the sixteenth csn- tury, during the reign ot Sultan Sulie- man, the Turkish empire had gained control of it's greatest reach of terri tory. At that time the armies of the sultan had gone so far west and north as to have their encampments pitched under the very walls of the city of Vienna The capital of Austria was really in great danger of falling prey to the rapacity of the Turks. The then kingdom of Hungary had almost falier under the power of that masterly ruler. Roumania. Servia, Greece, the islands in the Egan and the present posses sions in Asia and Africa were all firmly in his grasp. Turkey was then notably one of the most powerful empires, as it | is now one of the weakest aud most loosely constructed governments, known to civilization. It gave manifestations, at that time, of it's greatest vigcr. The | reign of Sulieman was it's golden age. Compared with other periods of it's own history, Turkey was cause of great alarm to all Christendom. The world stood in complete awe of Ter power. The Turks were. at that si.ne, in control of the best part of three continents where man had made bis greatest achieve ments in arts. literature, culture, refine ment, religion and civil government. This region was the very paradise of human grandeur in the whole history of mankind.
 The frat greet triumphs sf power ou l the pat of the Turk were achieved in the destruc..on of every visible sign of a former civilization. and the reduction of the inhabitants of hose beautiful coun- tries to condition of primitive helpless ness anG V .ssa'a.e. Having fairly ac complished all this, bis only anxiety seems to have been to keep his subjects in .his fbject condition of helplessness and oppression.
 Austria Nss the frs power that offered successful resistance to the vic orious Tulks in their encioacimeps on tbe west. From th's time onward the Tur.i empire began gradually to wane. Alter century, sway over Hungary, the ancient k;nedomHof the Magylrs WIS re-established ard the Turks removed their encamp mpmeut far away from Buda--grasu sually retreating to more limited quarters. The black sea, which had been for centuries com pletely within the limits of the rorkish empire, was in pars given up; and little by little Russia, con .inuing her encroach- ments on the north and east, bas gained peaceable possession of two sices of that great inland sea-
 J In 1S1J Servia's reneated revolutions against the power of Turkey came to a successful termina tion. Her home rule was acknowledged by the pore, and has also been maintained to the present time In 1866 Moldavia and Wallachia were reorganized under the name and title of Roumania, with the right and authority of managing their internal affairs -on the condition of paying nominal tribute. and in turn acknowledging the sultan as their feudal loro. A few days ago Servia and Roumania botl declared their independence of the porte, and they are now ready to support their position by the a, bitrament of the sword. In 1921 gallant little Hellas struck for revolution and independence and, after several years of dire conflict and extreme suffering, in 1929 her ipde- pendence was a'so acknowledged by the porte. Thus, within the limits of about two centuries. there has been chopped away from thi, once formidable empire territory enough to furnish homes for about 25, 900, 900 souls.
 Tunis, Egypt and Syria are to day held by only a slender cord. Any sud den revolution may burst the tie that still holds them subservient to the em- pire. Nearly all of Armenia has within one month yielded its control to Russia $ victorious arms. At the present rate of progress, it will not be long before large part of the southern shore of the Black sea is destined to be in the power of Russia by the right and rule of conquest. What shall we say of Epirus, Thessaly, Macedonia and Bulgaria? These are only waiting for good opportunity to carry revolt to successful termination.
 This is indeed a sad, yet truthful, pic ture of the condition of the once power. full Ottoman empire. Can it long survive the present attacks threatening on every hand ?-Caicogo Journal