The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-06

The Porte and the Powers.
The unspeakable Turk IS probably laugh
ing in his sleeve al the assurance Of the
European newspapers and the disappoint-
ment Of The powers that protested against
his way OF managing the Armenians. and
demanded certain reforms IN the govern
ment Of Armenia. The newspapers were
so sure that the porte would aceede 70
the demands OF the powers-they saw no
way for IL 10 avoid doing so-that- prema-
ture but well assured" publications %
the effect that the reforms would be grant
ed were printed and cabled 10 this coun-
try According TO the cables published in
the Morning News yesterday, the porte
has no idea Of permitting England France
and Russia 70 say how Turkey shall gov
ern a considerable part Of her territory.
The demands OF the powers were virtual
dictation Of how Armenia should be gov
erned. and the plan upset almos entirely
the system that now prevails. Reforms in
the administrative financial and judicial
systems were demanded. II was required
that the governors of the six Armenian
provinces. or "vilayets," should be Chris
tian or Mahomctan. according TO the ma
jority OF the people, and that the vice
governor should belong to the minority
party. The boundaries Of the subordinate
districts were 10 be rearranged and so ad-
justed as TO group together as far as pos
sible the People OF the same faith. The
taxes were to be gathered by civil agents,
and not by soldiers, and the tax rate was
10 be fixed by a provincial council Eacn
subordinate treasury was 10 retain what
was needed for local expenses and send
the remainder to the district treasury. The
district treasures were TO send their sur
plus to the national treasury. The whole
tax system was 10 be the reverse in opera
ton OF the system-of the Turks. In judi
cial matters, the whole court system was TO
be reorganized, with the judges divided
among the Christians and Mahometans,
according to population. Arrests we're to
be made only on due warrant, and trials
were required to be held speedily The
police were to be divided according to
population, as between the religions. The
Kurds were to be retired from bearing
arms, except in drills, in review or in ac-
tual war.
There is nothing in the plan. as set forth
that is Objectionable to western ideas Of
civilization. Indeed. it seems that they
are based on justice. But the Turk cares
little for western ideas, except when he
thinks it likely that he would get into seri-
Gus trouble by opposing them. The sui
tan is a shrewd diplomat, and has the as
sistance Of others quite as shrewd as he
His religion is a part OF his politics, and
his religion teaches him that all who be-
lieve in any other religious faith than the
one he processes IS an unbelieving dog,
and should be prosecuted or exterminated,
and that it is the best thing that could
happen for the unbeliever that he should
be killed by a AIussulman. Furthermore
Armenia helps largely to keep money in
the sultan's Golfers, and he is opposed to
instituting any reforms that might have
the effect of reducing the sums wrung out
of the Armenians. For both religious and
political reasons, and as well for personal
reasons, therefore, he was opposed to ac-
cedins to the demands of the powers. If
the powers eventually secure any reforms
they will have to do it through protest
and demand that are a little stronger than
protests and demands on paper. Paper re-
form for Armenia would hardly amount
to anything in a great many years.