New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-12
BISHOP POTTER AT HOME.


ITAT.Y's IDEAL KIEG-THE sUITANs MISTAKE
PRAISE FOR THE TRIBvNEs RELIEF WORK.
Among the passengers on the White Star Line
steamship Teutonlc. which arrived here early yes
terday morning. YVES Bishop Henry c. Potter, who
has been abroad for the last three months. a
Tribune reporter him in the afternoon at the
See House, in Lafayette Place.
e, am glad to get home again." said Bishop Pot
ter II have been away for eighty days, and forty
of these were spent on the ocean. ! expect to be
a busy man for some days. Look at this mall"
and he showed a great package of letters. Il have
enioved my vacation very much Most Of my time
was spent in Italy and Turkey. Italy is u much
misunderstood country, and Sicily found most in
teresting Sicily, you know. Is an Island. 1t
has been little Influenced by the uniicotlon OF the
kingdom OF Italy, or In other words the influences
which made Rome Naples. Lombardy and Tuscany
have been felt only feebly In Sicily. The standard
OF education on the island Is low, but when | was
there in 1892 was agreeaby surprised at the prog
ress Sicily had made and by the evident inclina-
ton the people showed to get away from the old
bandit life. But the island Is behind Italy. The
people are easily Influenced by INSCRIPTIONS polti-
cal leaders and by fanaticism. But In justice to
the Scilians let me say that they have grievance
1t il absentee andlordism. the as in Ireland.
1.-THE owners Of estates in Sicily merely draw their
rents and never visit their estates The collecting
of rents Is placed in the hands of agents, with the
result that extortIon is practlsed But at last me
people have cried ont. and | think they are right;
the impression that Italy has no self-control, aud
that the people unable to govern themselves.
This is a cruel mistake. think that the history
OF the last 500 years shows finer incidents of
heroic sacrifice and high purpose In the reforming
OF Italy The italian has great capacity Tor seif-
denial and control. and strong devotion to high
ideals. The Italians have n King who has heart
OF god is devoted to his subjects and Is the finest
qualities. OF all the men | ever knew or heard OF.
In n pamphlet written b. eminent Italian states
mani cannot nov recall his namc-I saw II stated
that the confederation Of Italy had been brought
about too quickly. | agree with this sentiment. II
the Italians had been 4 little slower there would
have been more un!hcniion Of spirit and temper.
To-day there exist jcslous!cs between the different
countries. These jcllouses might be compared to
the feelings which existed between some Of the
Southern Sta'cs-Viryinil and Kentucky. for In
stance These different Italian provinces oppose
each other. sometimes for petty reasons. and again
for State reasons. and the entire country suffers in
The most interesting problem to-day is-what is
to become of Turkey? The allied powers Will DO
no moro for the sultan In constantinopc there are
roughly estimating. $4,000 are Armcnans. 80 there
are more enemies than friends for Mahometanism
IN the city. Tho Sultan made n mistake wnen ne
began 10 copy European methods. ways and means.
The Turkish troops are Gsrman In their uniforms.
even 20 the buttons their coats. ] the great
parade which takes place when the sultan goes to
the Mosque. The troops which accompanied him
soldiers wear and the people did not Ike it. The
picturesque Turkish uniform was abandoned. and
with 1t the characteristics OF the troops
When asked about the prevailing want and dis
trcss which exists here and abroad Bishop Potter
said: AS my travels have been confined 10 Greece
end Turkey. / have heard little OF the distress in
the large foreign cities But / have heard enough
TO know that It IS Widespread"
which a. being done by Tho Tribune. There Is no
place Ike %cwioIk 10 rise IL every emergency
sna .h' nsh2P' an rising from ms cnair' H. eN-
serves all praise ana support