New-York tribune., 1878-01-04
THE CHRISTIANS AND TIE PORTE.

THE CHRISTIANS IN CONsTANTINOPLE GtUMBiING
WITHOUT CAUSE - THE ARMENIAN CHRISTIANS
ALARMED AT IHE CALL TO MILITARY DUIY-iHE
EVIL RESULTS OF DIsCKIMINATION
IFRoM REGULAR CORREsIOSDENT OF THE TRIBrNE.l
CoNsT,NTINOPLR Dec. THE Christians of Tur-
KEY have enough causes of complaint beyond per
adventure of doubt, but they have few means of
Judging what evils caused by the direct agency
of their Turkish rulers. and what due to their
own ignorance most potent factor. bv the way. in
all the problems of the East. Still naturally
belabors the broad-backcd Turk for every evil of
which tie Turkish Christians complain, and
40 il falls out that these Christians are
finding pleasant incense III foreign sympathy,
and are learning TO love the making of complaints
as a means of evobing it, This Is especially true Of
the Christians of COnstautinope, who know 10
sorrOw and feel 40 fearat least IN comparison with
the burden Of both, which Is borne without a muir
Inur by their cO-TelciOnists of the Interior. The
Christian at Constantnopic has not paid taxes for
400 years is sleek and well fed. can follow in every
thing his own tastes has perfect liberty OF action 50
long AS ne violates none Of the ordinary rules of
public morality, and, unless ho is an
oilce-holder, he has 10 relations what
ever with the Turkish authorities under
ordinary circumstances excepting through hs Bish-
ops and the Minister OF Foreign Affairs Yet there
munism, which has as many grievances as the
Christians of Constantinoplc. The custom OF COM
planning has grown up gradually, but it il now 50
settled disease that a government to satisfy the
Christians of Constantinople must work on commun-
istic principles and should assign to every reg
ular income, or at least house and mule. These
people are looking TO others for everything and this
fault has well nigh deprived them of individual en-
terprise and push
The attitude of the ArInenians Of COnstantinoplc
toward the new law of the Give Guard is exam
pie of tins emasculatiOn. If ever the Christians of
tins country are to be in position to enforce their
rights, it will be when they have the power to de-
mand and the will to endure hardship for them
One would suppose that the Christian young men
would spring at the chance Of learning tactics and
the management Of arms; ; of learning to act to-
gether, and of becoming organized. The chance IS
offered by the fancy corps of Civic Guards, i'll which
they may enlist. They not required to 60 into
barracks or leave their homes. and they know very
well that the Turks will never wish to risk the re-
suit Of battle upon Christian guns, go
that it is almost certain that they VIII
never be called to do other than guard duty for the
Turks i'll this Yet the Armenian young men OF
this city have suffered white panic Of fear for the
last week. They have lot sleep, avoided good DIM
ners given up their lecture courses their interest
in the opera. They have almost cried over II. Their
mothers and sisters have cred their eyes ont and the
American missionaries nave Dttll ONcTNHtlncu WIFI
applications for the United States Homestead laws
from people who always state that they are ready To
adopt the American rel giOn il be they get
away from this terrible danger of being taught to
bear arms They cry out against the Govern
ment and sigh for the days of which their fathers
tell them in which foreign ambassadors used 10 allow
passports and foreign protection to Issue from
the Office of their legation for money consider
alton.
The question is not by any means settled yet for
the Government cannot hope to enforce such a law
without the consent of the Christian Patrnrchs, but
il seems so near to receiving the approval of these
dignitares that the whole mass of the Christians
longing for sympathy from Europe in their wretch
edness astonished young Armenian to-day by
telling him that ho would hold his head full two
inches higher If he could feel the weight OF
gun on his shoulder "Ah, but we are the slaves OF
the Turks is the common reply; for 400years we
have been their slaves and have obcdiently paid them
tribute for leaving our heads OH our shoulders Why
can they not let be in peace as before They say
to us that now We are all brothers aud children OF
one country, We wish none of this brotherhood.
Let us be as are and pay our tribute" The Jews
of this city have also been in sad perplexity over
the same question, but they have found q way OF
escape. They have expressed their readiness to
serve IN the army, provided married men shall R9
exempt. The Turks agreed to this, and now 1t