The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-07-15
Mr.. Wallace on Turkey.

Gen. Lew Wallace United States
minister to Turkey, arrived by the
Gallia yesterday. He comes home on
two months leave Of absence on
purely private business. He declined
to talk upon matters of an official char
acter but expressed his views on the
relations between the two countries,
which he pronounced extremely cor
dial, as follows;
The relations between the porte and
sultan and the United States are Of the
kindest nature. The Turks are n
strange people and are not understood
by US as they should be. They are
fully informed about Us. If anyone
imagines that the authorities there are
ignorant of America they are greatly
mistaken. They are making progress
there under difficulties. Their finan-
cial situation is the greatest obstacle,
but they are striving to maintain the
credit of their government. They
have made what financiers here would
call an assignment. think there is
great misunderstanding in the world
regarding the sultan himself. From
the impression that has gone abroad he
might be regarded as a man Of no ca
pacity. On the contrary, | believe
there is no monarch to-day actually
administering a government in Europe
who is his superior. He is a man OF
great intelligence, and has thorough
appreciation OF the needs Of his empire.
He j. an energetic worker, and devotes
himself night and day to the business
that presents itself My candid opin-
ion is that if he lives he will carry out
the reforms most pressing upon him.
He is man Of acute intellect, sharp,
shrewd and thorough diplomatist,
The people are patient, enduring,
and tolerant. They are suffering in
many ways, but they are hopeful. The
relations between them and our people
could be easily drawn closer The
commercial relations between us could,
with proper steps, be so fostered as to
put our producers and manufacturers
into that field under the most adyan-
tageous circumstances. What is need
ed on our side to begin with is that we
should have ships to carry our products
directly to that country, but there is
no hope for US as long as our trade is
carried there in foreign bottoms. In
the three years that | have been in
COnstantinople, which is a CONNER
cial center, | have seen our flag on two
ships in the harbor. One was the
Namouna, James Gordon Benefits
Yacht, and the other was on the United
States Quinnebaug. This is bad for
Fourth of July orators, but it is fact
which the people might as well know.
never have seen our flag upon a ship
Of commerce or steamer there. 1t IS
matter Of establishment to the Turks.
They know our strength, our wealth,
and our producing capacity, They ask
repeatedly, Where are your ships?"
Where is your fag'n what is the
matter?' There is no answer to be
given to them except "Wait a little
while
Turkey is naturally rich country,
OF from 5000, 900 TO 10000, 900 Of peo-
pie. They manufacture nothing, but
are dependent for tie most ordinary
necessaries Of life upon foreigners. |
know Of no better market to be striven
for in Europe or Asia than Turkey. 1t
is well worth the while of our people
TO give attention to the budget. 1t is
true they are poor and money is
scarce, but they have enough to buy
with.