New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-10
COURTING THE TURK.
guIcHEvER suIroR is ACCEPTED, THERE

rrouns of European Powers show anxiety Tor
clear definition of the attitude which Turkey VIII
assume in case of a European war. The lurusn
Empire is not rich, as wealth is recSoncd IN west
ern lands. It is not powerful, in the sense !"
which that word is applied TO Germany OF nus
STA Yet in the present combination OF forces HN'
many a body of no greater intrinsic sls''
in other circumstances, it may hold 'he o"''D
power Neutral in war between husSi' CO,
of the other Powers il would serve "s q nrss;a,,
defence to the most vulnerable parts VI VIZ ii.
Fmnre Allied with Russia it would be 'he salS
mort of an impregnable POSITION ~
Mediterranean. Allied with the enei",'' u ~
sia IL would serve as the door Oh "o'"e" "PO Wv
aanl, Of the Russian army. Hence Tue Su'''
.'nN os a courtship which the Powers are
rressne upon the Turks. Bo'h sl"es WISH ~ y. -, 90
- ,hat the lot of the Turkish Empire Will De
son their own especial arm of the balance
a. Gov the Turks. they wish that they might rest
ror both scales at once, and so be delivered from
,bo inexorable need TO make some choice.
TT Turkey casts herself into the arms of the Gen.
trail Alliance. il must reckon with Russia Russia
has feet on the Black Sea that can control 10.
She has an army in Asia which is In position 10
make the defence of Asiatic Turkey a task worthy
of for greater abilities than Turkey is supposed
RI command She has standing grievance against
Turkey in the form of the indemnity for the war
of 1871 which is always in arrears She is now
nleading in the most dulcct tones for Turkey 10
enter into closer relations, and so to avoid the
danger of being guped down by the equally
friendly coalition that rallies about the standard
of Prince Bismarck. The Turks are in the frame
of mind toward Russia of a man who is medltatnS
compromise Of a suit brought against him by a
rascally adversary 1t is entirely possible that
they may at the last moment decide 10 JOIN RUSSIA
rather than Germany. In favor of such course
is the influence OF France, always beloved ana
copied in all superficial beauties by Turkey. For
the Porte TO take step which would shatter the
romance that surrounds the relation of Turkey TO
France would terribly strain the confidence OF The
people in the stability of the universe.
On the other hand if Turkey were to join Rus
sia by any bond of Northumberland which would
compel it TO make common cause with Russia
against Austria and Germany in a war, 1t would
have to reckon with Germany, of whose power all
Turks are spellbOund in admiration. They feel
toward Germany as the small dealer feels toward
one of the princes of the same line OF business
They are military, if anything, and they know
that Germany breathes an atmosphere ana speaks
thoughts in its overfowing martial enthusiasm
which they can understand. They have Germans
"a watch the drill of their soldiers, Germans to
give legal opinions the policy OF the fore'
Germans TO supervise the details OF the dehclt i'll
the Treasury The growth of admiration OF Ger
many has been fortified by the fact that frince
Bismarck is ostentatious IN avoiding that harass''s
inouirv into the darker mysteries of Turkish in
ternal administration which has so great charm
for English statesmen, especially when they are
out of office and in need of weapons wherewlth 10
scout themselves worthily as the Queens OPPOSE
ton From this point of view, all tends to lead
the Turks to feel that they cannot take course
that will make an enemy of so powerful ana dell
cate a friend Moreover, the position OF Austria
by the side of Germany in the coalition, and on
the flank of the Turkish positions IN Europe
.;ghs heavily in favor of % policy that will set
aside all question of test of the strength OF
tbpse positions What shall Turkey do? That
is the great question of the day. IL cannot even
hone by sacrifice of dignity 20 secure the separate
support of the good old Bono Johnny OF yore'
for the Turks know perfectly well that whatever
Lord Salisbury may be willing to do In the line
Of fighting over the ruins of the Empire, he Will
never burn one ounce of powder TO save 1t from
ruin. The problem of the wise choice of ways
pmid such dangers is of the largest ever forced
upon the Turkish brain. The cOurtShip is one Of
those tropical ones where tae disappointed Suitor
may be relied upon to whip out his revolver as
soon as he has been told his " No."
For those who like the Turks. are cOnstitu-
tonally opposed to deciding anything, middle
course is the only safe one. When they see be-
yond peradventure which way the cat is going
TO jump they too, by proper display OF agility.
can land themselves at the right point. But the
European Powers seem to deny the Turks even
the privilege of declining to make up their minds.
Proposals of the most unassuming character, such
as the proposal to recognize formally Prince Fer
dinand as Prince of Bulgaria. or such as the pro-
posal 10 seek an understanding with England con
corning the status Of Egypt, are pressed upon
them in the interest of peace and prosperity ana
internal strength and prove on examination 10
contain all the essential parts of a decision OF
the weighty question whether they VIII side
with or against Russia. And now the unexpected
within Of the Emperor of Germany TO visit Con-
stantnOple after the Athens wedding is recog-
nized as another move in the direction OF press
ing for the adhesion of the Sultan to the interests
which the Emperor Of Germany represents. On
the other hand, the Russians are at this moment
concentrating great force on the Asatic IRON
tiers of Turkey. Supplies for 100000 men are
being piled up in the dep0tS OF the Caucasus and
the roads Of Russian Armenia are full or the
ammunition trains which imply crushing blow
on that side Of Turkey, which adhesion TO the
Central Alliance could not avert. With such
force on the Turkish frontier, and with the 1ur |
klsh fortresses in that region undermined, and
relying for their provisioning Oh the lapse of |
several weeks between declaration of and |
the beginning of serious attack. the Russians |
could occupy the whole of the highlands of
tootih iuiNcS nithiH lNO Weeks dllef the OUT !
break of hostilites. Aid from Western allies |
could not arrive on the scene in a months time
and no diversion elsewhere could ward off the |
fate reserved for this part OF Turkey if il does |
not walk with Russia in the day of contest /
Hard indeed is the problem now presented TO |
the Turkish Government. No satisfaction de- |
rived from the National pride from the new sense
Of importance can compensate them for the fact |
that the choice before them is the choice be- |
tween being mauled by Russian or by Austrian |
executloners.
The visit Of the Emperor Of Germany is fixed |
70, next week. The interval is being spent in |
giving a coat of whitewash 10 whatever is IN |
slightly in the architecture OF the prominent
streets and squares of the city. All public build
ings are being made 10 shine IN a new dress Of
huff, even where such thing as paint or white
wash has not been know 10 have touched them
aNrinc lie Let ten uea n The naYemrnt OF the