The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-11


the victory greatly aiding the Greeks
In achieving their independence.
AS the Christian powers have nd-
Nanced the Turkish empire has corre-
spondingly retrogressed. It has been
shorn OF more and more OF its territory
IN each century for the past 800 years
until II rs now protected only By its own
weakness, while II inspires no SUSPICION
OF dread and has become an object
more OF pity than OF fear. yet sufficient
ly powerful as a mischief maker 10 set
al Europe ablaze from one end to the
other
rake the Crimean war for example.
Turkey dates her admission into the
political system OF Europe only from
ls40-l and has been associated in poIite
society for scarcely 60 years. IL came
ABOUT somehow that the integrity OF
turkey became a cardinal principle
OF European diplomacy. This was
strengthened by the coalition of Eng
lsnd' France and Sardinia with Turkey
against Russia. resulting in the Crime.
an war. the discontinue OF Russia and
tne naturalization of the Black sea by
the treaty or Paris. 1856. France and
hngland fought shoulder 10 shoulder
with Turkey in the Crimea. but in 1850
french army and an English fleet
were Obliged 10 interfere 10 bring 10
an end the massacre Of Christians at
Damascus and in the Lebanon.
The Moslem invaders OF France were
turned back more than a thousand
years ago. from Austria 200 years ago:
turkeys naval prestige was DESTROYED
800 years ago. her territorial disintegra-
ton began more than 40 years ago.
with the rise OF the Danubian princi-
palities. Servia gained her independ-
ence more than 30 years ago. Since
then Bulgaria and Roumania have fol-
lowed after her. together with several
minor affairs, all carved from territory
that had al one time been the Turks
Yet the Sick Man OF the East" still
sits astride the Bosporus. holding the
key 20 the eastern situation and snap
ping his fingers In the face OF Eu-
rope!
While France was incapacitated by
the war with Germany from rendering
aid TO the porte Russia endeavored to
gain the ground lost by the treaty OF
Paris and in 1871 abrogated the articles
restricting her operations in the Black
sea. few years later Turkey virtual
ly lost control OF Egypt by her conces-
sions 10 the khedive, who became al
most an absolute ruler. and in 1876, the
Turkish empire being seemingly threat
ened with dismemberment. the five
powers who had signed the treaty of
Paris proposed a scheme of reforms.
which the sultan accepted as to the let.
ter, but violated in spirit.
Revolts in Herzegovina were followed
by atrocious massacres OF Christians by
the Turks and the murder OF the
French and German consuls at SALON.
ica. Then followed the Russo-Turkish
war, the ostensible cause or which was
Russian interest in the porte's Chris
tan subjects. though the true cause
probably was Russian desire to acquire
territory in the Balkan peninsula and
ultimate possession of Constantinople
After repeated repulses the Russians,
with the aid of the Roumanians. were
finally victorious at Plevna They
the Balkans. captured one
Turkish army at Shipka, routed anoth-
er and in January. 1878. entered Adri-
anople.
As the porte had already begun to
negotiate for peace, the treaty of san
stephano was signed in March. lS7s by
which Russia obtained practically ell
she asked for at the time. This was.
however, subjected to review ana modi-
tication at the Berlin congress OF the
powers the following June-July. That
congress at Berlin in 1878 set a seal
upon the sentiment quoted at the open-
ing or this article-that Turkey is a
necessary evil, 10 be endured for diplo-
matte reasonsi that is. that she is nec-