Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-15
THE gREATY SIGNED.

position.
THE gRE4TY SIGNED.
The European plenipotentiaries in full
court dress-knee-b reeches, silk stockings,
tinsel and periwigs signed the final treaty
of peace on Saturday, and the war cloud |
that for so long has overcast the continental
sky, has for the time being blown over.
In the absence of a full copy of the treaty |
the net results of the deliberations cannot be
summed up at present. Sufficient is known,
permanent peace is greater than was hoped
for at the outsetS
Few tears will be shed over the obiitera-
ton of Turkey. That empire has been dis
tinguished in the past as simply bulwark
against the advance of civilization. Its
rulers have been corrupt, sensuous, cruel and
despotic. The few privileges accorded by
them to Christians and Jews have been ex-
torted at the cannon mouth, and there was
| at no time security against descent of
Bashi-Bazouks upon the little communities
that sought to worship God in accordance
| with the dictates of their own conscienees.
| Murder, rapine and spoliation were the mis-
sionary agencies employed by the followers
of the prophet. Citizenship and the right
| to hold property were denied to all who
failed to cry "Great ia Allah," and even
the sacredness of their wives and children
was denied. By generations of sensual in
diligence the ruling classes had become
effeminate, but abated nothing of their in
nate cruelty or religious intolerance. Their
extravaganza plunged the country into debts
their lack of commercial honesty allowed
the obligations of the government to go to
protest; the exactions levied upon their
subjects sunk them lower and lower each
year in the depths of poverty and wretched-
ness. Industry was crushed, manhood
among the masses blotted out. The nation
had outl1ved its usefulness and it was fit
that it should be 'aotted out of existence.
The states that have been created by the
congress are practically Independent OF
Turkish domination. They have the priv.
ilege of self-government and guarantee tc
all citizens both civil and religious liberty
Mehammedan, Christian and Jew are placed
upon the same plane of citizenship, and GER
tain protection is given to property and
encouragement to industry. Their flu
ture has been removed from the realms OF
doubt, and we may look for the speedy re
vival of trade and commerce, growth O
!, intelligence, and the spread of enlightened
citizenship. If he who makes blade O
grass grow to-day where none grew yester
day, is public benefactor, how much NOR
to be commended is the congress whic]
makes half score of nations to spring u
where but yesterday all signs of nationa
life were dormant-where all effort at hu
, man progress was promptly stifed.
The transfer of portion of the dominion
of the Porte to Austria and England canno
: fail to be productive of great benefit to th
2 inhabitants. 1t will be the especis
8 mission, and is the settled polio
; of both of these nations t
: stimulate public enterprise and private thri1
; among their subjects. They accord pract
a cal free government to each of their depend
8 encies, while the nature of the compact mi
which they have entered in this case give
them the burden of defense rather than tt
e gain of tribute. The commerce of Bosn
e and Herzegovina will no doubt witness
q wonderful revival under the intelligent ru
r of the Hapsburgs, and the natural resourc.
% of Cyprus and Asia Minor under Britain
r fostering care will ere long make them rie
y and prosperous principalities.
a The emancipation of the Turkish poop
~ will date from the conclusion of the treat
3 of Berlin. They will no longer be distin
e lively national but can aspire to still higl
t. er place among the peoples of the glob
t. They can attain to higher civilization
d more perfect freedom-than would ha,
n been possible under the domination of Il
~ Sultan: and when the time comes-and
l. may come ere long-when they shall be CO,
10 federated into powerful empire OF republi
d their union will be based upon the theory
the equality of all men before the Jaw, al
k every citizen will be granted the privilege
8, absolute and unquestioned liberty OF col
3 science, combined with a guarantee of b
l. right to the products of his own labor.