New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-25
SOCTHEASTERN EUROPE.
A LECTURE BY f. A. FREEMAN.
He ENGLISH HISTORIAN BEFORE THE LONG ISLAM


| HE ENGLISH HISTORIAN BEFORE THE LONG ISLAND
HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
Edward 4. Freeman, the English historian,
read paper last evening before a large audience IN
BIooslyH, under the auspices OF the Long Island
Historical Society. Among the prominent pc
pie present Ex-MayOr Hunter, TX
Senator Henry C. Murphy. the Rev. J. W. Chad.
wick, Joshua " Van Cott. John Wnsow the Rev. Or.
Hall, =. 4 Low and Judge Gilbert Joshua NJ. Van Colt
presided and introduced Mr. Freeman, who spoke sub
stantially as follows:
design to speak TO you this evening South East.
ern Europe Past and Present" BY that name, though
vague prefer The land south Of the Danube
and some just north Of the Danube. commonly known as
the Byzantine Peninsula for a reason which will appear
later Historically, this portion Of Europe is the Oh
Roman Empire. When that broken pieces was
known a. the Land of the Turk. except the territory
held by Venice aud Mon.cne Up TO within q com
paraye late period the Turk dominated these lands
as a fore -u oppre@sOr.
We speak o. the Turkish Empire; but
The thing which we mean by that name.
ia very different from the same thing in
Europe. There it means Europe in bondage to Asia,
civilization eusayed by barbarism, Christianity ruled by
Iam the supplanted by the Crescent II Is for
this reason that the Eastern Question the eternal
quc.tion-abiIes and avs viii abide while the ntrd
ing Turk keeps his foot the of helpless people.
When Old Rome sank into ruin, New Rome-Constant
noplerose in ts place. and for LOO years stood as
buwark alike against the Saraccn aud the Sldy, IL IS
around this New Rome that my history centres.
The earlier history Of south Eastern Europe is the
history Of the breaking up of the East
cr Roman Empire, not by d,sensons
from within. but from without Province after
province was taken from f. and were hell by its enc
Constsntuope i'm I453 the Eascrn Fnuire was real
tIne II stin kept upis old traditions and remained
me "arbarTsn of the North Again and again
! hpli
most succeeded in winning back what II hai lost.
Its two great enemies the say ana the sartoen
INT must be remembered that the Sav though a. rst
an cuemy capable ~ being conycrcdt 10 Oh" villa
ton and religion Empire and matter of tact
was converted. They were half conquerors and hlif
Bnt the saraceD was different. nc not simplvA
PAGAN the wdS. lie was Mohlmmttan, repro
scu.iuy alien civilization and religion, intensified Dy
The slavs Russian scros ana Kroats who conquered
provinces OF the Empire were very soon converted 10
the Eastern Church, aud made common canSr Win he
! GgCth Romans against the common Zoe t-Id. bt1
| province. and what was thus lost 10 me lui-
! pire, was lost hnay ana ,r me nm n,iS'.ani ,
syria and Africa cast upon them the blight Of ls1n'm
from which they have not recovered 10 the present DAY
fd ,ith fic earlier Selioa T2rk seized all the south
eastern group states had been raised upon tie
! Constqntinople, favored by its situation. held ou5
for a long time but was also Obliged to cnptnals nni
| ke .'ps he TURK in Europe to-day.
YpU viii now gin 10 see why have used the round
about phrase south Eastern Europe" II l. because
object 10 the use of the word Turkey designate en-
shaved and oppressed Greeks ScryiaUs Bulgaans anu
! R0umanian3. The word Turkey Is a missioner;
People see Turkey the map as they see France ana
bn of fbc land Of the Turks "a, they think Of The land
OF the Franks We hear OF the interests OF lurkey the
| sovereignty Of Turkey, the honor, dignity ana s1s-
~ Of Turkey the debts OF Turkey "a Tor INC
interests Turkey the only interest II bas - 10 Too
| and de,pOil the people. Its honor and az
nifty are myths. and us sGscep1lDitt,,os
| need not he considered. And n Christian
men will lend the Turk money TO enable nm 10 OppIt'7
Christian populations, all have to say IS that they de
| serve to lose II. al. 4, ,.o+
The rule ui the Sultan is not government II IS NOT
even ms government He has no more rlght IN Lli"po
than the burglar bas the goods which he pund,rs
| from Your house. And the people arc
! untitled TO act towards Inn, "a you
would act to the burgar-hand him over TO the nearest
nnIicr officer The government IN Europe is better
man the Turkish misrIle the socaled sovereign OF
rusl1yrd CrccCe and eHslavcd Bulgaria. Is an h,par
| allie obstacle to all reform. The very Religion
| of Islam would make equal rights lmpossIpie
| When the Turk shall be driven Out, Jh'l
Governmcnt will begin. And his dly IT, surely coming
mo mlss of Europe has been changed since $50 auu
vii .non bc changed again We know not "hai Jay
may bring forth. Ere are aware or II another MAJ
Than may come Tor these oppressed nations Lel U oFo
| for tue best, ana God de end he right