Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-01

The business of the Sublime Porte during the past
year has been to fend off the continually increasing
pressure of Europe. and to postpone, and possible
evade the fulfllment OF the remaining articles OF
the Treaty of Berlin. The Sultan and his advisers
rested with much confidence for long time upon
the theory that genuine and lasting accord between
the Powers was impossible, and that consequently
nothing but diplomatic threats to be appre-
hended And it certainly looked for several months
as though this was the correct view and as though
any persistent effort bring about harmony Of &C.
ton between the signatory Powers would either
dissolve the alliance bring complications likely
at any moment to result in great war. For
it was plain that the moment coercion sug-
eested each of the Continental Powers began to
think of other matters than the Eastern Question.
When England urged France to resume her old
place in the European concert, and assert herself
formerly Germany at once manifested uneasiness,
and disposition to make trouble The relations of
Russia and France were also subjects OF misgiving
at Berlin while the difficulty OF agreeing upon the
course to be followed in case Turkey should sudden
y collapse under pressure compelled the Powers TO
preface all preparations for JOINT action with the
proviso that actual force to be employed un.
der any circumstances. II under these peculiar
circumstances that the naval demonstration" was
solemnly proposed, as of bringing the
Porte to see the necessity OF surrendering Dulcgno
to the Montenegrins. The Porte was not in the
least alarmed by this vague menace, however, nor
had it any reason to be- For the one dominant
desire with all the Powers that took part in the de-
menstraton, save England evidently was to make
it distinctly understood that they harbored no bel
gerent Intentions and that in fact nothing would
induce them to fire shot in anger. Not unnatu-
rally the general knowledge Of this state Ct mind
detracted from the moral significance of
the demonstration. The unspeakabe Turk
simply took no notice of it. The rest of
the world laughed sardonically. England alone
was in earnest. England a,one-or perhaps we
should say Mr.. Gladstone aone since there reason
to suspect that England would staLd almost any
thing from the Sultan If he would only pay the
interest on his bonds-but M. Gladstone alone was
determined that the Treaty of Berlin should be full
filed, and so he kept hammering away despite the
failure of the demonstration until the order was
given for the surrender Of Ducigno. The Greek
boundary question remains to be settled, and the
indications that it will require several naval
demonstrations to settle it. Meanwhile the Otto
hiAn A~hAthC 10 W pleCco iiOIc idpuiy tNt11
year There is no longer hardly pretense of
systematic administration anywhere The promises
of reform in Asia Minor have in sense been re-
deemed. The finances of the Empire are in an alb
solutely hopeless condition. German fnsncier
of reputation, who sent over to gee what could
be done with them, has recently abandoned the
subject in despair. There is really longer
any government in Turkey. Briganlage 6ourishes
as well as i. in country where pow
erty is the rule The pashas have given
up all hope that the government Of Stamboul VIII
recover itsslf. The army is unpaid, hungry,
ragged mob. The Sultan trihes away time in his
harem. His counselors thieves and rogues.
In short his possessions ready TO fail away from
him at any moment, and the great apprehension of
Europe now ls lest the collapse should take place
before any preparations have been made to admins.