The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-17
THE SULTAN TO THE FRONT.

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Whatever results the Graeco-Turkish war
may have, and these are likely to be impor-
tant in the way of changed possessions and
boundaries, none will be more remarkable
than the change it is likely to effect in the
status of Turkey and her attitude towards
other European powers. For many years
past it has been customary to refer to
Turkey as 1.-THE sick man of Europe" The
phrase seemed a very apt one to describe
the condition of a government which the
great powers seemed to be holding up and
feeding with a spoon, and which, according
to their representatives, would go to pieces
when they let go of it. Turkey herself
seemed to accept the position assigned her,
though one cannot help suspecting now
that her seeming submissiveness was part
of a deep game. The Sultan took all kinds
of orders from the powers meekly and
promised all kinds of reforms, none of
which were made. Many a shrewd and
dangerous man has feigned sickness to
gain time, to perfect plans, or to recuper-
ate his strength. Whether this was part
of the Sultan's game or not it is evident
that the sick man Of Europe never was
as sick as he was supposed to be, or else
he has convalesced wonderfully. Three
months ago he was cringing before the
powers and it was generally supposed his
government would go to pieces at the first
attack from outside. Now he almost snubs
them and shows by his acts that he regards
himself as a well and strong man who will
not receive orders from anybody nor take
a back seat among European sovereigns.
Having proved his military strength, which
is the foundation of European aristocracy,
he proposes to enter good society on an
equality with the best of them. When all
the sovereigns of Europe were sending tel
egrams of coincidence to the President of
the French republic after the recent terri
BILE catastrophe in Paris, the Sultan sent
one too, just like a Christian sovereign.
When the ambassadors of the powers at
Constantinople all joined in a note Offering
mediation the Sultan replied that he would
discuss the matter after a holy festival
then in progress had ended. In order to
prove that he is as civilized as any of their
Christian majesties he gives out that he
has ordered the commander of the Turkish
forces in Greece to take special care of
the works of ancient art in that country
and see that the soldiers did not injure
them. Finally, he proposes to send his
son to represent him at the Queens jubilee
celebration, which is to take place in Lon
don next month. A cablegram says there
is great Indignation in London over the
matter, but the Sultan will not mind that.
When Pope Leo XIII sent him an auto
graph letter begging him to protect the
Christians in Crete he said in an under
tone in Turkish, Who's this Pope that's
always meddling in the affairs of our
state?" and then aloud in French to the
papal delegate. Tell his Holiness that it
is my constant care 10 attend to the welfare
of all my subjects When he hears that
Londoners are indignant over the proposed
sending of his son to represent him at the
Queens jubilee he viii probably express
himself exclusively in Turkish and in words
not calculated to placate British wrath if
translated.
The truth is the war has been an aston