New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-01
AMERICANS IN TURKEY.
ATTITUDES OF TIE TWO GOVERNMENTS
TOWARD THEM.

TOWARD THEM.
ANTINoPLE. May z.
The Neg York Word of A~Til contains Demo-
cratic campaign document in the shape of an alleged
interview with Tewfk Pacha. the Turkish Minister
nj Washington. concerning the uDredressed out
rares ON American citizens in Turkey say an
alleged interview because The U0rld ascrbes to the
Inns of Tewtik Pacha himself virulent personal at
tack on General Wallace. 1t is ineoncelvable that
so accomplished gentleman as the Turkish Minis
ter at Washington should forget his privileged
position so far TO the newspapers or the coun
try TO which he is accredited TO attack the character
of that eountrys representative with his Imperial
master. Such an act would be poor diplomacy.
Even the course of the German newspapers toward
Mr. Sargent was not SO startling an innovation upon
diplomatic usage. Doubtless long before this letter
caches YOU the United States will have taken steps
n defence of its own dignity Already 1t must nave
induced Tewfk Pacha TO place on record such state
ments concerning the /" interview" reported IN me
Hord will remove it from the category OF Insults
offered to the United States.
Bnt the statements ascrihed to Tewhk Pacha are
worth noticing when reported with appropriate
headlines and an approving preface by The u Ortd
They would belittle grievances suffered by Amerl-
can citizens in Turkey for the sake of afordlne
ammunition for political attack upon the policy OF
the Republican Administration. The World would
treat a discussion which belongs entirely to the
United States Government and the Porte as II II was
personal question between General Wallace ana
the Turkish Ministry. The distinction IS vital one
TO Americans who have National PRIDE quite as
much as to a Democrat who wishes 10 OeuHe Ic-
publican Foreign Minister.
One of the statements which affords grounds for
the attempt to make light of these grievances Is
that General Wallace demanded redress for the ar
rest of DR.. Pfaum and damages for his lmprlSon-
ment in a Turkish Jail. THE arrest was illegal and
the punishment by Imprisonment, whether ior ten
DAYS or hours, gross violation OF the most
sacred clause of our ancient treaty The result was
precisely what the treaty was designed to prevent,
namely an American citizen with the tastes OF
gentleman cast headlOng among crowd OF cut
throats into prison with the atmosphere OF pest
mousse made sick by his Ill treatment, and ON his re-
lease forced by the disgrace of the thing To abandon
the place and his hopes of an honorable livelihood
there AS have hitherto understood Americans
they have always throught ii matter of boasting
that no Power in the wide world could intict an
outrage on an American citizen without regrettlng
H. But The UOrh sees in a demand for the redress
of this outrage something extraordinary, and con-
sidcTS snch caniuct proof CT deep perhdy on the
part of the Minister,whO makes the demand. If Inc
TJorld represents the foreign policy which would
snfer the platform of Democratic Administration,
il is well to know it.
Another point that shows the trivial character OF
the grievances is that this man for whose wrongs
General Wallace has demanded redress is German
American Think of it, my cOuntrymen! repre-
sentative Of the United States has been guilty OF
ehampioning the rights of a man who is nothing but
Alderman American Perhaps the Martin kosta
ease has passed from the minds Of the staf of The
World. But can remember my own bOyish par
tcipation in the thrill of patriotic pride which
swept over the United States in 1853. when in the
face of the Austrian feet in the Gulf of Smyrna
Captain Ingraham with the little brig st. Louis
cleared for action and doubeshotted his guns, and
thus rescued the Hungarian American from illegal
arrest Perhaps the Democrats would change all
this. Perhaps, under Democratic Administration
German-Americans would be regarded as rldicu-
lousy presuming when they attempt to take adj
vantage of their adopted citizenship"
The World for party ends has in the same manner
travestied the whole of a subject which ought to
obliterate party lines. 1t Affects To dsbeieve the
fact that American citizens in Turkey are in
eopardv through a series of acts of the Turks which
were formally made known nearly year ago to the
President and which yet unredressed Ii Is true
that many of these unrebuked Outrages are cases
that should never have had a place at all among
questions of international diplomacy. But seeing
that the Turkish Government has persstently lg-
nored the claims of Justice the United States has
had no choice. Ii must either make these outrages
questions of diplomatic Importance accep: the re-
sults of IDEAS of equity which would refuse redress
10 open wrong In the case of DR. Calhoun the in
tustce and the violation OF treaty rights clear
Yet the denial of redress was extraordinary that
the American citizens residing in Syria actually
wrote go Washington, charging Gen Wallace with
lack of energy! The case of Messrs Knapp and Ray
nolds has already been described in the public
prints The two gentlemen were travelling on
legitimate business on highway. Several men
suddenly surrounded them. Without a hint of evil
intent or a word Of warning these men knocked one
of the Americans from his horse with club and
cut the other one down with sword. They then
robbed them both and cast them, bound hand and
foot into the bushes by the roadside. Then the
ruffians made of with the horses and property Of
their victims The point of this case is, that while
the robbers are well known the Turkish authorities
have so far, actually protected them from pursuit,
thus taking upon themselves full responsibility for
the robbery The Horld makes light of this case.
Yet the case was deemed Of sufficient Importance to
be reported by the British Consul at Van, with
many graphic details and in several dispatches. 20
Lord Duierin. The British Ambassador Is watching
with considerable interest to learn how the United
States Government will act under the rOngh lessons
IL is receiving at the hands of the Turks
The impression that the United States has no
cloice but 10 take up these and see them set
right Is not limited 20 any small number of persons.
I have before me copy of a memorial TO President
Arthur drawn up in May, 1888, by a convention of
forty American citizens from twenty-five cities in
different parts of Turkey. This memorial points ont
that the number and variety of Illegal annoyances
TO which Americans have been subjected during the
last FIVE years has led TO the feeling that the ati
tude of the Turkish Government has changed; that
twenty years ago it was very uncommon for robbers
TO attack Americans or other foreigners while
u hoo fn-