Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-02
TWO VIEWS OF THE TURK.

Rev. Dr. George Washburne, presi-
dent of Robert College in Constantine
pie, in an address before Hartford The
illogical Seminary this week, gave a
view of Turkey and the Turks that is
interesting. as touching matters now in
dispute between Washington and the
Sultan.
According to DIR. Washburne the
curse of modern Turkey is racial antag-
onsms, which have survived racial
Characteristics in many instances. and
lie at the bottom of nearly all the dis
orders in the Empire. The Turk regards
himself as the war-lke conqueror; the
Greek remembers that he founded the
byzantine empire: the Armenian feels
that he is n martyr; the Bulgarian
prides himself on being member of
the great Slavonic people of the north;
and each of these races have Il most
cordial hatred OF all the others. The
curse of Turkey is its past. and it was
with n view of softening these racial
animositics and producing a homogene-
Gus people that Robert College was
founded.
The means by which this homogenei-
ty was to be brought about were cdu-
cation and revival of the ancient
Christian churches which formerly
united the empire. There was at first
no intention of founding a new church
and though this has been done, the
main hope of the missionaries is still in
the resuscitation of the old churches.
Touching upon the matter presently
the subject OF negotiations between the
United States and Turkey. DR.. Wash
burne said that the missionaries do not
ask for the sending of ironclads TO
Constantinoplc. Such a course. if pur-
sued at all, will be on the initiative Of
WASHINGTON and not a the suggestion
of missionaries. In its influence upon
the future of the world he thought no
capital would be so important as Con-
stattnople. which was destined to be
the battle-ground between Slav and Teu-
ton for supremacy in the East. Dr.
Washburne took n rather pessimistic
view of Turkeys future. declaring that
its division among the powers can alone
restore internal peace.
In recent number of Golfers Week
ly Prof. Herman Schoenfeld. concul
general of Turkey. presents a somewhat
different view. He combaIts the gencr-
ally prevalent idea that the Turk hates
Western civilization; declares he is most
friendly to the United States. which he
regards as formeost in commerce and
industry. and that our Increased trade
with the Ottoman Empire has followed
as n. result. He defends the Turk
against the charge OF intolerance:
I'm spite of assertions made to the
contrary, which thus have become cry
Stali2cd errors. there is no country in
the world where a state church exists
more tolerant in religious matters than
Turkey; there is no country whose cdu-
cational system from crude beginnings
has made such rapid progress in recent
Years, nor is there Il country which
cares less for inherited privileges or
gives quicker recognition to patriotism,
intclligence ana industry. or according
TO the tenets OF it's religion. deals out
justice with more even hand to rich
and poor. high and low
Prof. Schocnfeld agrees with Dr.
Washburne that the real salvation of
the Turk lies On the Introduction of n
modern school system among the d.
versified races.