The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-31
ent to q hell worse than that described by
c-t--~s..

ent to hell worse than that described by
Dante. mean to Siberia"
AS one OF the best illustration of the
kind-heartedness of the sultan" continued
Mr.. Stratus. mot single person has been
executed during his reign. In Turkey all
executions have to have bis sanction. He
has repeatedly refused it, and he commutes
the sentences Of the worst of criminals to
not exceeding fifteen years imprisonment.
He is q very humane man, and this is evil
denced BY the fact that whenever there is Q
famine or any distress in his empire he
always sends q considerable sum from his
own private purse to the sufferers. As an
evidence of his kindness of heart at the
time of the Johnstown disaster, had an
audience with him on some diplomatic
matters. He expressed his sorrow at the
trouble of our citizens, and begged to be
allowed to give small sum to aid in their
relief. The next day he sent me EGO, or
81 600, and believe he is the only monarch
who extended sympathy to US at that time
in such substantial manner"
ASA NAN OF ABILITY.
ais the sultan man of ability?" ''In the
first place the sultan" replied Mr.. Straus,
probably expends more care. anxiety,
time and attention upon his duties, as the
ruler OF the empire, than any other mon
arch of Europe. He is indefatigable, and
his ministers are frequently summoned to
the palace at midnight. to confer with him
upon some question of state. All important
matters pass under his hand. His tendency
is to assume power and work to too great
an extent, rather than too little. Every
thing is submitted to him, and he gives too
little of his work to subordinates. He tries
to inform himself upon all subjects, but he
has to rely upon the information he re-
ceives through the various channels of the
government"
THE SULTAN AS AMAN.
"Tell me how the sultan looks" 1.-THE
sultan is a man of about 4S years of age"
replied our ex-minister to Turkey. land he
looks very like Jay Gould. He has pale
complexion and black beard and NOUS
tache, and jet black hair. He is of an ex-
tremely modest appearance, and he speaks
only the Turkish tongue, in a slow deiib-
crate manner, and in quiet. subdued
tone He has mild and pleasant eye, and
he places those whom he likes at their i'm
mediate ease. His manners, while re-
served, are kind and cordial. He is emf
nently a man of peace, and if a war breaks
out between Russia and Turkey, the provo
cation will be on the Russian SIDE"
THE FUTURE OF TURKEY.
"What is to be the future of Turkey 2"
'That touches the key note of the East
ern question and depends upon the game
that is being played upon the chessboard
of the European balance of power. What
Turkey especially needs is a thorough re-
construction of its finances with a view of
developing her material resources She
needs decided reform in the methods of
the imposition and collection of taxes. She
has made wonderful progress In the adj
ministration of justice in the past twenty
years, by which do not mean to imply
that there is not room for considerable
greater improvement. She has also effected
great improvement in education and in
the establishment of male and female
schools throughout the empire. The
present sultan has done everything to
stimulate education. and has himself
founded a number of special schools. In
short, education is literally encouraged.
This is in strong contrast to the attitude of
the Russian government towards culture.
In the latter country the power of the
government is being used to interdict and
repress education.
IF WAR COMES.
"What would be the result of a war be-
tween Turkey and Russia7"
"Of course Russia is the strongest. She
could put FIVE men in the field to Turkey 8
one, and her financial affairs are in bet
ter shape, but the Turkish army has never
been in SO good condition as it is today.
The Turkish soldier is a remarkable fighter,
capable of wonderful endurance, and the
Turkish soldiers have in all times been re-
nowned for their courage. Their fataIism
makes them strangers to fear. They have
within the last seven or eight years been
drilled according to the German methods,
under the supervision principally of Ger
man officers, some five or six of whom now
hold the rank of general or pasha in the
army. If Turkey should get into war she
will doubtless give Europe a surprise by the
efficiency and organization of her army.
She has recently also rehabilitated her
navy, and has had number of new
cruisers built"
"Then the sick man is getting well?"
"The so-called sick man, which think
is decided misnomer," replied Mr.. Straus.
''is not growing weaker. but is improving,
and gaining strength. Bat Russia and the
small Balkan states are improving their
material resources much more rapidly, and
the comparison of the two is not fair one.
Turkey has made steady progress in
culture and in the development OF her ma
terial resources, but she has not fair
chance to grow, and she has not had, since
the beginning of this century. If she could
be let alone she would work out her own
destiny along the lines of her civilization,
and she would, am sure, develop the
highest possibilities of her land and of her
people," FRANK G. CARPENTER.