, 1880-01-03

the public service is an evil that has grown
to enormous proportions within 30 years a;
10 short, the Turks themselves are well
aware that the only word which adequate
" describes the condition OF the body
polite is corruption, and they have com.
mon sense enough to draw the conclusion
that such a state of things cannot long
continue.
When travelling in the mountains to
the West Of this place not long ago, a
poor, ignorant Turkish woman came to
my tent to ask me if it was true that the
day of judgment was near. 90 question
ing her as to her reasons for making such
on inquiry, I found that she had heard the
villagers, especially the leading men,
express the opinion that the last days of
Islamism had come and that the whole
world is about to be judged for it's wicked
ness. To-day l have had a long converse
ton with a Turkish Cadi, or Judge, the
dfifs of whose conversation took the same
direction, He seemed we'll convinced that
England and Russia are working in perfect
harmony for the ultimate overthrow of the
supremacy of the Sultan /; he declared that
nothing could convince him that English
statesmen played an honest part during
the late war and at the Berlin Congress.
He seemed also to be persuaded that Rus
STA will at last prevail and establish her.
self in Asia Minor, despite the protests and
opposition of the world. These two per-
sons represent the extremes of society
among the Turks, yet they agreed as to
the decadence and probable collapse of the
Turkish power. Of course, between these
two extremes o great variety of opinions
may be found; yet II remains true that
a large majority of the Turks are despon-
dent. Their dependency is rather %increas-
ed than otherwise by seeing their Christian
neighbours hopeful and increasing in pros
perity. The recent changes in the condi-
ton of the Christians in Asia Minor have
been SO small that it is not easy to see on
what ground they are so hopeful, yet that
they are hopeful and actuased by new
energy is evident to the most casual obser-
yer. | can compare their present appear
ance and bearing to nothing so we'll as to
men who find themselves recovering from
certain disesses-fever, for example, AS
strength returns and healthy blood begins
to flow through the system we know we'll
how such men are stirred with new hopes
and with earnest desires to 60 about their
work this is the precise condition of the
Christian races in this part of the Turkish
Empire. Centuries of subsection to the
authority of the Moslems have utterly
crushed them; their hopes are revivipg,
and they ore looking in all directions to
see what they can do to prepare them
selves and their children for the new era
that seems to be dawnirg upon them. 1t
is interesting and encouraging to see how
anxious meu are among the Christians to
send their sons and daughters to the best
schools in the country. Many who even
ten years ago had no desire to educate
their children are now eager to place
them in the educational institutions
established by the American missionaries,
or in the schools OF the Jesuits and Sisters
Of Charity at Aleppo, Beyrout, Smyrna,
and Constantinople. When / ask the
Christians about me how the hoped-for
changes are to be introduced they cannot
answer, but they have an impression that
somehow England will be the prime mover
in efecting the results so much desired.
The hopes OF a vast multitude of Christians
in Asia Minor will be bitterly disappointed
if the English Government does not hold
the Porte to the thorough execution of
the long-promised reforms. Certainly the
Christian races in Asiatic Turkey will be
ready to cooperate with England or any
other European Power ia any practical