The sun., 1881-11-27
The state of Things in Turkey.

That tho Ottoman empire, instead OF re-
pairing its losses and reorGanlllng It's re-
sources, has gone from bad to worse since
tho treaty OF Berlin. Is n TACT moro or less
distinctly perceived by all observers. But
by what fatality docs it happen that the
Turks wholly fail TO profit by the lessons OF
advorsity aud the opportunities OF peace
which Russia turned to such good account
after the Crmcan war, ana by which France
has SO sigually proiiLed since ia7la his
question is raised and answered in the Re
rue d.s Dcur MJnies by NJ. GABHIEL
CHARNEs, vino has availcd. himself OF his
residence In Constantinople to make o care
full study OF tho Qroman situation.
The ruin of TulHoy is inevitable, because.
as NJ. CHARNEs Demonstrates. there we're
but two conceivable courses by which lis
dissolution could be prevented or delayed,
and Mother Of thcae is now practicable. One
plan was suggested by MIDHAT Pasha, and
supported as it was by the Young Turkey
party, which that statesman organized, it
seemed to have for moment during the
short reign OF MUEAD, a chance OF applic2-
ton. The essential feature of this pro-
gramme was the complete separation OF
MURAD's spiritual authority as caliph or
temporal power as Sultan or head OF the
State. In his capacity of caliph. the Otto
man ruler, assisted by his spiritual deputy.
the Sheik ul Islam. would watch over tho
religious concerns OF orthodox Mohamme-
dams in all parts OF the world; but his secular
functions were to be delegated to Prime
Minister, responsible. not to the Sultan, but
to national Parliament. As a matter OF fact,
Parliament was convoked, and its pro-
ceedngs provoked good deal of ridicule
but from ono point OF view 1T was anything
but farce. 1t is true that tho National
Assembly did not evince much indepen-
dence, but it was controlled. not by the Sui
tan, but by his Prime Minister, and would
have furnished a pretext for enforcing tho
permanent divorce OF tho spiritual from tho
temporal power. Had MIDHAT'' scheme
been carried out, q thorough secularization
of Turkey would have be3n accomplished.
every Mohammedan continuing to recognize
the caliph as the head o. his religion, but
every Ottoman subject. Mo5lem and Chris
tian alike, obeying in civil matters secu-
larized Sultan. represented by Nizier. who
would practically be as independent Of his
nominal master as is an English Prime
Minister OF his Sovereign. Ihat this plan,
had it been practicable, might have arrested
tho decline OF Turkey Just as Prussia was
rescued from collapse py the reforms of
STEIN and HARDrSBERd and as Austria was
saved after Sadowa, may perhaps be admit
ted but MGDHAT's designs vera never np-
proved by any large fraction OF the Turkish
population, and they were inconsistent with
tho fundamental principles OF the Koran.
which cannot acknowledge tho equality OF
Christians and Moslems bofore the law.
Theoretically, tho secuarization OF a Mo
hammsdan State Is impossible. aud in prac-
tica the attempt of MIDHAT WAS total
failure. There remained but one expciient.
and it was to this that ADD Ell HAND has
had recourse. though, owing to causes OF
widely different nature, with like result
The alternative policy. 10 which of late
ADD Ell HAND has devoted himself with
"a stiess energy and fanalical feryor. inn
plies an aim precisely opposite to that
which MIDHAT had In view II involves hot
SO much the fusion OF ths sultanste with
tho caliphate rs the complete absorption OF
the temporal in the solHtuli tito, tn" latter
being once moro Invested with tho futl sig
| niiicance it boro In the eighth century, when
| the cliiph was not only tho high priest. bat
the Judge. the governor, aud tho Champion
OF the faithful. Instead ~ the - ulnr 1t Is
the theocratic type uf gpvrra,acdt wh'2h
the present Ottoman ruler pT,S'aso' tn es-
tablIsh in its most rigid and DISTINCTIVE
| form; aud he hopes in this way not ouiy
| to consolidate his own domlnions but to ac-
| quire such influence over orthodox Mosiems
| In other countries as will more than COM
pensate for his losses in Europe. 1t Is in
| furtherance OF this object that the Turkish