New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-06
THE TURK.
A SKETCH OF CHARACTER.

EuRoPE--HIs svpERsTIrIoNs AND CRUELTIEs.
Turkey. just at the present moment. Is occu-
plying the attention Of the civilized world to the
exclusion of almost every other country ana
were 1, not for the fact that the Power known
in Europe as the Sick Man has frequently III
the last hundred years been so near dissolution
that the death rattle could almost be heard IN
his throat. one would be tempted to believe that
his end had come at last. While much diversity
of opinion prevails as TO the rights and wrongs
Of the conflicts in which the Sublime Porte -
engaged just now with the Christian races in
Armenia in Macedonia in Crete and in Leban-
on there can be but one feeling with regard to
the necessity 50 frequently and eloquently de-
scribed by Mr. Gladstone of excluding the Turk
from Europe and RELOCATING him to the Asiatic
side Of the Hellespont. Even his best friends
In the West are forced to acknowledge ,hat his
presence in Europe is both an anomaly ana an
arachronism. He mas no place in the nineteenth
century civilization IF the Occident. civiliza-
ton that is primarily founded upon the doc
trines of Christianity. His civilization. such as
as 1t is belongs to an entirely different order
and is based upon another faith as we'll as upon
principles that are diametrcally opposed to
those which are accepted as part and parcel of
our everyday life in Christian Europe and
America 1t IS civilization. moreover, that
has been built up with a special regard 10 lis
adaptability to the climatic conditions of trop-
zeal countries. and even from that point Of view
Is totally untitled for the entirely different mode
Of existence that necessarily prevails in the
more temperate zones Of eastern as well as
western Europe If this were realized by those
who take an interest in Turkish affairs, they
might be better situated to form correct and
;,,.l0 at fha
fairs in the Ottoman empire. The trouble with
most people is that they judge the Turk from a
Christian and an Occidental standard. This is
rot ONLY unreasonable but also unjust. and is
accountable for much of the misconception that
nrevails among the English-speaking people
with regard to Turkey.
The Turk has many points that are attractive
10 an Anglo-Saxon and some that are exceed
ingly repellant Among the former are the as
tonisbng repose of manner of speech and or
mind as we'll as the courtesy that is char
acteristic feature of all those Orientals VINO
have not been contaminated by European con-
tact Much OF this repose moral as well as
physical comes from n blind and almost patheuc
belief in "Kismet" as they term destiny, or the
Almighty. They are convinced that Whatever
Is the fate to which they are predestned, be II
good or be il evil. nothing that they or that any
other human agent can effect VIII nave the
power to avert it. Never did | see this pecu-
liarity more graphically illustrated than on the
occasion of a rather violent and altogether I'M
usual earthquake at Constantincple was pur-
chasing some rugs at the time when the shock
came. and having recently come from Japan
where not week passes without an earthquake,
or two I paid but little heed thereto Not So
however the other people in the bazaar at the
Svri
the European visitors and tourists all fed
helter-skelter | being the only Christian left
behind Not one of the followers of the Prophet
st,rred or manifested any signs Of terror, While
the old white bearded Turk in flowing robes
with whom | had been haggng about the price
of a beautiful antique rug. exclaimed. And they
think that they can run away from Allan. with
a look of ineffable contempt. as he pointed with
his thumb over his shoulder in the direction OF
the fleeing Christians. That utterance gave me
an insight which had not until then possessed
into the Turkish character. Allah. as every one
Knows is the Mahometan word for God. and
neonle who possess so blind and absolute
faith in the power Of the Almighty. belief SUI
perior to the majority Of Christians, cannot be
so rremedaby bad as most people are READY 10
assert.
A COURTEOUS AND REPOsEFUL MANNER
The Turk is good to his children. kind to MS
9wife and TO the domestics of his household.
= whether bond or free and the cases OF parental
cruelty that constitute so conspicuous feature
of the criminal annals of the Occident are I'M
known in Turkey. He does not drink. and is so
conscientious on the Of usury that ne
ayoids banks and kindred financial institutions,
considering it contrary to the precepts OF the
Koran either to pay or to receive interest for
lnrt h
and breadth of the Ottoman Empire. and, in
fact through all Mahometan countries of the
Old World never once finding Mahometan
banker or monev-lender In fact, all the pro-
fessional usurers are either Hebrews or Chris
tians and It must be confessed that the latter
are decidedly the more grasping. relentless and
altogether cruel of the two The Jew merely
wants the pound of flesh to which he is entitled
by his contract, but the Christian money-ender
IN the Orient is not satisfied until he has ground
every drop Of blood and OF sweat. every vesuse
OF property not alone out Of his debtor but ais
out of all the latter's relatives The Turk never
blasphemes and processes such reverence TOT
Allah that he will not even permit pictures OF
human beings to be used in the adornment of
his bouse because it was said that man was
nade after the image Of God Moreover, the
most extraordinary care is taken TO prevent
paper from being used for any degrading pur-
poses lest the name Of the Divinity should per-
adventure be written thereon The old jewish
ideas about the Nervousness Of the sin com
mitted when removes ones neighbours land
mark prevail among the Mahometans to this
day. and among themselves the Turks are
truthful and honorable. Moreover. they are ex-
ceedngly hospitable. well as given to a gen
crosby of which people in the OccideDt have
but small conception.
HE PRAYS AND is CLEAN
Two more pleasing phases Of Turkish charac-
ter which deserve mention the value at
ched h, q heiieNnr the OF