The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-12
TIE PROSPECT or REFORM IN TURKEY

ferring to the reforms projected remarked i'm
significant tono to foreigner in his service.
Givc me five weeks moro and | will prove IN
you TINT am in earnest" So far rs regarfs
the intentions Of the Turkish sovereign. the
pledge seems 20 have been fulfilled by a COM
pete reconstruction Of his Ministry. How
sweeping the change is. and how forclbly il
points to liberal and progressive measures.
may best bc tested by glance ut the new men
raised to power aud tho policy with which they
are identified.
In general 1t may be said that tho recent ap-
pontincnts imply wholesale infusion Of now
blood into the Ottoman Administration. They
represent n crushing defcat Tor the so-called
Party OF the Pashas-in other words. for tie or.
ganized and corrupt bureaucracy which nas
heretofore contrived 10 bulk all wholesome in
novatons. Tho elevation Of Khareddin Pasba
deserves particular attention. A Crcaasian bv
birth he is an Arab by education. and much
light is thrown on his leanlngs md opinions by
his preference for expressing himself In Arabic
or French though he understands the Turkish
language. Khaireddin was formerly Prime
Minister to the Boy Of Tunis. and first became
known ut STEAMBOAT by n book in which he
sought to provc that modern ideas Of liberty
and progress are not ut all inconsistent with tho
cardinal principles OF the Koran. as exponnded
by the most learned doctors Of the law in tho
enlightened ages OF Islam. lie distinctly init
mated that tho contrary opinion was engen.
dored by tho narrow and bigoted spirit which
came in with the Osmanlis and declared IL had
no place under tho Caliphates OF Bagdnd and
Cordovn. or under tho tolerant rulc Of the Ed
risites at Fec. From the Mosem injunction,
which prcscribcs justice and good government
for men OF all crceds. rs that rule may BE-
interpreted by Saraccnic ,precedents, he
Of other religions are entirely competent
10 flll any position in the Ottoman Administra.
ton Tho influence OF these advanced views
Is distinctly ,raceable in tho new Ministry, and
the whole Cabinet will doubtless take It's tons
from the Grand Nizler all tho moro because he
Is known to have won the implicit confidence Of
his mastcr 10y his recent services at the head Of
the Commission to inquire into the Turkish
finances In choosing him tho Sultan seems TO
have shown not only discernment but much
llrmnrss OF purpose, for tho mere suggestion
Of Khnrc1dins name provoked vehement Cd.
position among the official classes.
Other members OF the new Cabnetare avowed
representatives Of the view that henceforth
Moslcm doctrines must be developed in accord
ancc with modern conceptions of civilization
and progress. Such is Essad. commonly known
US Mouh Efcndi now promoted to the head
ship Of tho religious hierarchy as the Shckh.
III. Islam. Such Is Said Pasha. recalled from
Broussa TO become Minister Of Justice. n man
OF the strongest English sympathics. and who.
indeed. was educated in England. Djevdet
Pasha Is another Of those Turkish statesmen
who believe the solo means Of rescue for the
Ottoman Empire lies In the application OF those
liberal ideas which once made the Arabs the
most highly civilized nation Of thcr time.
Munif Pa4ha Is known to be sincerely enlisted
on tho same side. AMI for that reason has been
suffered to retain the portfolio " Finance Minis
ter. Munii is one Of the best educated mon in
Turkey. reading English. speaking French and
German. AMI having a profound knowledge OF
tho Arabic Persian. and Turkish literatures.
For timo he was an editor. and he is an
author in his way. having some years ago trans
lated into Turkish part Of Noltaircs philo-
sophcal works But the most conclusive prooiof
tho pacific revolution effected nj Stambou ia
the nomination OF Caratheodori Pashn. a Greek
Christian. to tho Department OF Foreign Az
fairs. II WIS shocking enough. in the sight Of
the ruling caste, when this accomplished
lhanariOtc was sent to tho Berlin Congress as
one Of the Ottoman Observation-Disclosures but with
his present appointment the barrier has been
wholly broken down which shut out Christians
from the foremost dignitics OF tho empire.
II may fairly DO said that the nomination OF
Homogeneous as it is. should be taken as an
assurance OF sincerity and persistent energy in
tho prosecution Of reform. It was scarcely in
onlco before European inspectors were ap-
pointed to supervise tho innovations in Asia
under the convention with England. and Khai-
rcddin Pasha is now engaged in framing a
new imperial hiatt continuing a scheme
Of equivalent measures for European Turkey.
The changes projected. it Is said. will follow
closely the broad lines traced by Nubar pasha
FOR Ammonia. and will group themselves under
the throe heads Of judicial. administrative and
nscul renovation. or course. nobody expects
tho Ottoman dominlons to bc transformed INTO
u model State within u twelvemonth but mod.
crate Improvement in all directions will suffice
t. demonstrate the purpose Of the new Govern.
ment. Indeed. the appointment Of European
assessors upon tho civil tribunals and the I'M
provenent in tho system OF taxation in Asia
Minor. already offer grounds for encourage.
mcnt.
We must bear in mind that Turkey is by no
means so utterly Frustrated as her enesaiCs
would have us suppose. The net loss 10 tho
income ~ her treasury. entailed 10y the resent
territorial changes, does not exceed sl2.500W1.
There are s,in slOo,0O0OO0 LETT. and the SUDAN
has lately consented 10 reductions in the cstil
list which will lower tho expenditures b5
f-,D'u,fl. nc Ohun'e Whlrh would mus ap-
pear available for distribution among tho cred-
tors Of the state amounts in round numbers 10
S32 joOOo1. win which sum they must bo con-
tent until n wise and economical imam.
cial administration may augment il. For
pressing temporary claims. and tho adj
lusimHnt Of the Russian indemnity the
assistance Of British capitalists may be re-
quirod; but that all will probably be forthcOm-
Ing, provided Lord Beaconsneld remains in
Office. and the present Turkish Ministry is al
lowed 10 carry forward the task il has begun.
The lntt'rs plans, ut all events. are uulikcy to
encounter serious disturbance from within or
from without; the instruction in Macedonia
has been put down. while Euslaud's success IN
Asia and Rus-ias troubles at home have
worked together 10 improve tho Ottoman stu
alton. Il is true that palace intrigue, TO-
mentcd By the Party Of the pashas. might
abruptly change the face Of things. But Il
Egypt is capable Of redemption. So. we may
conclude is Turkey In either case tho roqui-
site seems To be vcrspicacty and uuAlu.h,ng
seh-denial on the part OF the sovereign.