New-York tribune., 1900-05-16
AN APOLOGY FOR TURKEY.
THE CONSUL-GENERAL AT WASHINGTON
DEFENDS THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT.


DEFENDS THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT.
Professor Hermann Shonfeld. Consul-General of
Turkey at Washington writes in this weeks
Golfers Weekly Turkey and the United
States" His article is in part as follows:
ps 4e5y posy Sn P ahe he Of
world the Turkish EPre is along it the
much OF that OF the West as can properly absorb
despite the forces working from the outside 10 dis
turb this benetcent progress 1t is especially pleas
which have always existed between the United
f thai aiG NOTING viii be allowed to occur to dis
turb them. That the Sultan is desirous Of prom promqt- N
his action in issuing trades authorizing the eYten-
reconstruction of the American missions at Har-
poot. which destroyed five years ago. AS
Turkish navy, Ahmed Pacha is now on his way to
the United States for the purpose of placing con-
tract for the construction OF cruiser Tor the TURK
is mo- mo- country W In the world where state church
Exists more tolerant in relieons matters than Tur
key; there is no country whose educational system
ress in recent years. is there a country which
cares less for inherited privileges or gives. quicker
or according TO the tenets of its religion deals out
and low 1t has been Charged that Turkey op-
presses the Christian tia just as it was alleged that hat
2i5 GOO Christians in Crete while it is established
sulmans In the city of Constantinople alone there
3Si $40 Mussulmans and S73 565 Christians in
Guiding 129.2i3 foreigners. While Mahometans form
the vast majority of the population in Asatc Tur-
key, they but one-half of the population in
European Turkey. But whether Mahometan
Christian far they undefiled and not in
cited by those who have an interest in keeping the
country in ferment. the people united in their
devotion to the Sultan, and aside from sporadic
disturbances, which have been occasoned by agita-
tors who have established revolutionary propaganda
under foreign flags, peace and order prevail
throughout the land. AS Indication OF the
ligious liberation of the Sublime Porte, / may point
to the fact that until years ago mostly
Christians accredited Ambassadors to
Western States. and in London alone there served
a gentleman named Missurus Pacha. a Christian,
who remained as representative of the Sultan for
forty-four years. The present Ambassador in Lon
don. too is Greek and Christian: the
Ministers in Brussels and The Hague. and only
Gently in Washington. While the subject Of
religion | may add that the Turkish Government
recognizes the adherents Of -Mahometan
creeds-I1atins. Franks or Catholics, who the
Roman Liturgy, consisting of -Genoese and Vene-
tan settlers In the empire. and proselytes among
Armenians: Bulgarians and others: Greeks: Arme-
mans; Syrians and United Chaldeans: Protestants
consisting of converts chiefly among the Arme-
mans, and Jews These religious denomina-
tions are invested with the privilege of possessing
their own ecclesiastical rule and are interfered
with IN no way by the Turkish Government The
work OF their spiritual advisers is supplemented by
that of missionaries. who allowed. without
hindrance. TO enter the country. and whose
have been aided by permission given them by the
Sultan TO establish missions.