The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-10
STORY or nopEur COLLEGE.
Admiral Farragufs Question That
Alarmed the Porte and Started the
COIIpwe

From the New York Sun.
Lyons, N. Y, Dec 26.--The Rev. DR..
Luther a. Ostrander of the Presbyterian
church Of this city was one of the first
tutors of Robert College, Constantinople,
and his eldest son, lie Roy T.. Ostrander,
is at present a tutor In the institution.
Robert College" he said a day or two
ago, lis situated on the European side
of the Bosphorus, at Hissur, six miles
from Constantinople. No college in the
word has finer site 1t overlooks the
great towers built by Mohammed H. and
commands a view OF the Bosphorus, both
north and south. for many miles. The
American traveller beholds with pride the
stars and stripes flying from that promi-
nent and stately building. The fine site,
F. Hopkinson Smith says, was given by
the sultan, and he adds that the sultan
contributed out of his private purse to the
support Of the college. The facts, how
ever. are these:
DIR Cyrus Hamlin bought the site of
Ahmed Nefyk Effendi, who was in finan-
cial distress, for $1,000. Mr.. Christopher
r. Robert OF New York furnished the
money. He was to pay the money when
the government gave him permission to
build. He had bought one site before for
which he had paid $1,000. but because it
was overlooked by the kiosk or summer
house Of the grand vlzler he was not able
to build. Permission to build was at
length secured, as Ahmed Vefyk Efendi
wanted badly his $1,000. When DR.. Ham
lin broke ground the superintendent Of
public works came and said he could not
proceed until certain formalities had been
attended to.
''What formalities, and how long will
they take?" asked DE-. Hamlin in aston
ishment.
" oh, slight formalities and may make
two weeks, was the reply.
LII "a
could rot get the Turkish government to
attend to. He used every Influence within
his power but to no avail The two weeks
became seven years. They never intended
to allow the college to be built. Ahmed
however, kept the money
AT length Admiral Farragut on his trip
around the world, anchored in the Golden
Horn. His powerful man-of-war and the
great guns that shook the houses of Siam
boul when a salute was fired, as they had
never been shaken before, was looked upon
with amazement. The admiral was in
vited daily to dine with the great pashas
In conversation with Dr. Hamlin Admiral
Farragut expressed a desire to do anything
to aid his work. He was told that he
might do much
" How?' he asked. I am not here in
any diplomatic capacity
w heneVer you are at dinner With these
great pashas just ask, why cannot Robert
College be built?" Do not say another
word was the reply of DR.. Hamiin.
can 10 that certainly said Admi al
Farragdt
That dly, dining with the grand VIZ
lee he asked: Why cannot Robert College
be built? A plausible and diplomatic an
swer was given. But the next day din
ing with another high official, the great
admiral asked the same question. Again
a smooth and apparently satisfactory an
swer was given. But the next day, at an
other banquet the same question was ask
ed of the host. At length these officials be
gan toinquire among themselves: What
does all this mean? He is asking every
one why Robert College cannot be built.
They reached the conclusion that the
United States had sent Admiral Farragut
to look after the interests of Robert Col
lege. AT last DR.. Hamlin was surprised
and delighted to receive from the sublime
porte an imperial TRADE granting him more
than he had dared to expect, not only per-
mission to build but also the right to fly
the American flag A Turkish official aft
erward visiting the college incognito,
frankly said to DR.. Hamlin:
oh, sir, we would never have given
you leave to build your college here had
1t not been for that bloody insurrection
in Crete. When your Admiral Farragut
was here that insurrection was our great
Embarrassment He asked the grand
vizier point blank why that American col
lege could not be built. The grand vizer
replied in friendly terms, and the great
admiral said not a word. But he contin-
ued to ask the same question right and
left. We saw clearly that the United
States government was holding that col
lege question over against us. Better
build we said, a hundred colleges with
our own money than to have one of Far
ragut's monitors coming to the Medter-
ranean, so we gave you leave to build on
this matchless spot. We gave you the
imperiale TRADE which we never give, and
we placed this college under the protec-
ton of the United States as the greatest
compliment to your government, and so we
smoothed 1t all off.
1.-THE corner stone of the college was laid
July 4, 1869, by the Hon. E. Jay Morris,
our minister at that time at Constantine
pie, who also made the fl st address.
other addresses were made in French,
Turkish, Greek, Armenian and Bulga-
rian. The Greek orator, referring to he
neighboring fortress built by Mohammed
II, eloquently said: 1T stands on higher
ground than those towers It's forces are
spiritual and eternal. 1t shall see them
pass away
ut is thus seen that the site of the coll
lege was not given by the sultan as is
asserted by +. Hopkinson Smith, neither
has he contributed out of his private purse
toward its support. This statement is on
a par with other statements made by f.
Hopkinson Smith in regard to the present
condition of things in Turkey. Robert Col
lege was built before Abdul Hamid came
to the throne. Undoubtedly he does not
look upon 1t with favor. 1t is for the in
terest of a desootic government to keep
the people in ignorance. Many Of the men
in the new Bulgarian government are
graduates of Robert College. In the first
national assembly there were twelve OF
these graduates. The natural result of a
Christian education is political liberty and
individual freedom. 1t is, therefore, no
wonder that a despotic government that
will not allow the words liberty and free
dom to be used in public print should look
with no favor upon our American colleges.
The sultan, since the massacre in Septem-
ber has kept a guard OF soldiers at Robert
College. The reason il is still kept there is
not definitely known by the college au-
thorlties. The work of the college is quiet
ly going on, though, on account of the
troubles, the number of students Is natu-
rally less than heretofore. There are $50
students now in attendance made up of
many nauonalites. This college Is not
stricfly a missionary coIlpon. that ic . iu