The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-22
Midhat Pasha on Turkish Reconstruct
fiou.


ton.
According to Mr.. GLADSTONE and his fast
dwindlng cotcric Of followers, the notion Of
Turkish statesman Is prepOstcrous and
nthinkahc Those who are willing, on the
other hand, to scan with candOr recent otto
man history, must acknowledge the cnllght-
cncd aims Of men like RACnID FUAD, and
Ally pasha, and among positive achieve
mcnts which have taken place un-
der our own eyes, they will be apt
to deem the latter's pacllcation Of
Crete conspicuous Instance VI far
sighted and liberal statecraft. But the
Porte has had within generation no Min
lister who more sgnally than MIDHAr
pasha exhibits the generous and progress
sivc side of the Ottoman policy, or whose
discernment and experience have com
mandcd a wider measure Of recognition and
esteem. When such a man publishes his
views upon the territorial adjustment which
is expected from the Berlin Congress. they
deserve the most careful attention on their
own account, and it SO happens that their
interest is heightened by many points OF
coincidence with the alleged Anglo-Russlan
agreement printed in the Globe.
The article written by MIDHAT Pasha, and
printed both in French and English in the
current number of the Nineteenth Century, is
pertinent and useful contribution to the
past and recent history Of Turkey. II Is
pointed out. for instance, that Russias dis
interested zeal on behalf OF Christian Eu-
rope against a Mussulman intruder was
conclusivcly impcached by her secret
profIcr Of joint alliance with the UNI
spcakabe Turk after the Treaty Of San
Stciano. We are further told that
Russian statesmen. who may be sup
posed to know Turkey we'll, were so far
from deeming the new Ottoman Constitu-
tion a sham, that the outbreak of the late
war was unQucstionably fastened by its
PRONUNCIATION. We are also asked. with a
quiet. not to say rucful irony, to contrast
the federation at all times extended to all
socts OF Christians by the House Of OrHMAN
with the treatment of Protestants in Catho-
| lie Spain, and the persecution of secedcrs
from the orthodox Church in Russia.
But MIDHAT Pasha has something TO say
about the future Of Turkey. and his re-
marks On this head are in striking accord
both with the policy already outlined by
Lord SALISBURY, and with the surprise be-
| lieved to be- forthcoming from Lord BEAcoNs-
FIELD. The points made by the Turkish
statesman are two, and they are substan-
TALLY identical with those heretofore indi-
Gated IN this Journal lie pronounces it, for
instance of the first Importance to otto
man security. that the new vas-al State Of
! North Bulgaria shall not command the
eastern passes OF the Balkans. or even
the fortres-es Of the Quadrllateral. He
would bound the now Christian principality
on the north by the Danube, on the west by
Servia. on the south by the vilayet Of Rou-
mela and part OF the Balkans. and on
the east 10y the Jantra river. This wide re-
gion. embracing among other districts that
of Sophia, would contain about two millions
of Inhabitants, OF whom Bulgarian Chris
tians constitute Go to 50 per cent. But IL
would not include Rustchuk, SiliStria,
Shumla and Narna, and the intervening
districts north Of the Balkans, hut east Of
the Jantra. whore Tnrtars Circassians and
Mohammcdan Bulgarans form 20 per cent.
of the population. If Russian influence at
the Congress should compel the incorpora-
tion Of this section with the scmi-indcpcn-
dent Bulgaria, then the mountain passes, at
all events from Gabrova eastward, must be
reserved TO Turkey. With some natural adj
vantages thus assured TO their frontier il is
affirmed that the Greek and Moslem clc-
mcnts Of the people would be encouraged to
concentrate themselves to the south OF the
Balkans, and there rear new line of de-
fence against Slayonlc aggression.
MIDHAr Pasha believes that Greek and
Moslem have been drawn together by the
events Of the past year. and that they would
live in unity under the new Ottoman Constl-
tuition. That system, which substantially
roproduces parliamentary institutions, and
thus holds the germ of intellectual and
moral development, has not. Of course, ac'
quircd in Turkey the Conference and au-
thority Of It's Western models. II wants
the weight and prestige derived from Il
universal confidence that resolutc and
loyal purpose will direct Its application
This species Of sanction, whose imperative
necessity is not denied by the Turkish
statesman, be would supply by a collective
warranty Of the Western powers Her,
Europe, which has often veXed the Port,
with unreasonable interference, woulC
have, he thinks legitimate ground ioi
active and constant supervision o
the civic machinery. Let the Congress
solcmnly guarantee the new Ottoman Con
stitution, and to mako its pledge eflectua
LET it delegate one Of the great powers Il
be selected, we presume, byTmkey-t to coun
sci and cooperate with the Porte in th'
enforcement Of reform. We do not need thu
exilcd statesman TO tell US which of tn,
powers he has in mind. 1t IS obvious tina
MDHATs plan of reconstruction, laid beior
= public opinion in the Nineteenth Century
looks toward british protectorate, and "
, shall soon know how far its main feature
fcrcshadOw BEACoNsFIELD's project.
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