The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-23

afiirmS, TOO, tnhJ inc ByHlpuJnlcs vi Jne bO-
called sentimcntallst are not more cOnspicu-
Gus for forvOr and intensity than for correct
ness of direction. They arc evoked, 1t seems,
not by words. but by facts; arc never fed
by Ignorance or prejudice, but appeal
tn the most upright and far-reaching in
buttons Of the public conscience. IL may
be- said that this il rather the definition Of n
prophet than OF II statesman. however sontl-
mental, and certainly IL does not conform TO
any current notions on the subject. IL is
commonly supposed in England that Mr..
GLADSTONE and his supporters, during the
past two years, have been moro distin-
guishcd for vchcmcnce than for clrcumspcc-
ton; that their sympathies, though lively,
have been strangely onc-sdcd not TO say
misplaced; and that while they have holly
| cumbated tho Eastern rOlicy Of the Minis
| try. thoy have never offered substitute
which, under any conceivable circum-
stances, give the faintcst prospect Of con-
summation in fact.
Prof FREEMAN does not say explicitly
that the European powers convened In
| the Constantinoplo Con eronce ought To
| have handed over tho Ottoman domnions
in Europe to the Russian Car. IL is curious
| indeed To note how skilfully he avoids com
mcnding the northern empire in any single
feature, political religious, or social. He Is
| too thorough ~ student not to know that the
worst vices Of the Turkish administration
| arc aggravated In Russia. He knows that
! there Ia far more federation toward religious
! dissent, more local independence, a more
equitable dispcnsation Of justice, and n
wider diffusion OF documentary education
under the rule of the Sultan He knows
that Protestant missionaries fail utterly TO
make converts among the Turks for the
reason that Islam is itself an austcre
and lofty faith, while their propa-
ganda thrives among the lower orders
of Crock Christians, whose worship has
been debased into corrupt idolatry. We
can see by his curt reference to the conquest
OF Grim Tartary how familiar he is with the
fatal blight which followed the displacement
of Ottoman by Muscovito authority in that
region. Less than century ago, the penin-
sula lying between the Sea Of Azof and the
Black Sea was garden Of fertility, one Of
the most popuous and productive areas Of
Europe. while now, with the exception OF
two or three seaports, II is II waste. 1t
would not require, as Mr. FREEMAN thinks,
very ingenious but merely candid stu
deut TO point out the striking parallel be-
tween the results OF this Muscovite crusade
and the ruin drawn on Spain by the conquest
OF Grenada, and the subsequent persecution
of the Moors. We may add that throughout
his article the Professor does not once mem
tion the name Of Poland. although Russia :
treatment Of that country Is pertinent
enough to the discussion OF her further pre-
tensions. Times have changed since the fate
of Warsaw used TO be the stock theme of
sentimentalists, whose dreams, we are told,
are the realities Of the future.
The tacit recognition In this article OF
Russia's grotesque untitness for a civllizng
and Outstanding role Is the more signih-
cant because IL was notorious at the Con-
ference that no other power would lift its
hand to deliver the Sultans Christian sub
jects. Prof. FREEMAN is we'll aware that a
demand on the part OF England for the re-
construction OF the Greek empire would
have been prcposterous in the face OF the
secret understanding between the three Em'
"'Hr"v''''' 'vvy''V v'vn'S 'stVN'V ...~
IRENE difficulty OF apportionng the Sultan'G
domnions between phanariote and Slav
Nor can we for n moment suppose him ig
norant of the fact that the outrages perpe-
tratcd on the Christians in Bulgaria and
Bosnia were in no instance due to differences
OF race. There was scarcely a single Turk
among the Bosniac Boys, and very few OF
Ottoman descent among the land owners
OF Bulgaria. He knows that the Moslcm
proprietors whom he would expel from
those provinces, hold their lands by an
hereditary title, older by centuries than the
first appearance Of the Turks in Europe
They differ In no wise from the surround
ing peasantry except in their religion,
which, as we have said, is purer and
higher thing than the wretched picture
worship and Journalism of their dependants
Neither will the Professor deny that south
OF the Danube there is not one village priest
or so-callcd pope in twenty who can read
the Bible, whereas there is scarcely a
mollah in the Sultan's dominions who can
not read the Koran. But il facts like these
are known, they ought not to be SUP
pressed. and sentimcntalists cannot com
plain II practical men in the face Of such
dsingonuous suppression decline to credit
them with the gift Of prophecy.