Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-24

latter. were the former to be
to Russian rule it Is not likely that their
lot would be easier See what trouble the
Armenians in Russia are suffering at this
very time l remember some Armenians
who, under specious hopes and promises
exchanged Persian for Russ residence.
They subsequently sent delegation TO
me asking for American aid to help them
escape from Russia or to intervene In their
favor with the car. they found them
selves worse off than when In Persia. Such
matters are more or less rel tive: environ
ment or climatic and geograph C conditions,
too often forgotten by phl1nthropists or
writers economics and history. should
be considered. If to the American mis-
sionary or traveller the oriental la
borer seems greatly underpriced. let
him consider the re.at We value of moneys,
and that the laboring man of Turkey,
whether Christian Moslem. averages
equal or greater comfort than the peasant
of Portugal or the moujik of Russia. Per
STA seems terribly poor to the prejudced
American, and yet the servant, peasant or
carpenter in that country usually manages
to lay by money and seems happier than
man in similar occupations in Engl I'd Or
America. If Greek or Armenian, he should
be told that the American wage-earner is
even more restless AMI d scontented All
Things are relative. 1t should also be re-
membered that men of relatively large for
tunes are by no means scarce among the
subject races of Turkey. Being weak in
finance, the Turks have always selected
their government bankers and treasurers
menian subjects. These financiers have
thus accumulated large fortunes.
Turks Are Tolerant.
AS to the question of religious liberation.
the Turks have led the world. 1t is true
that until the last century death was the
penalty for apostasiZing from Islamism.
But this law did not concern the Christians
of Turkey. From the outset they were al
lowed full enjoyment of their religions.
Each sect had it's representative at the
porte. At a period when the fires of the
inquisition Redeemed the heavens. and the
chief business of the European courts
seemed to be to crush out any creed but
their own, and long before William of
Orange. Henry " and Oliver Cromwell
announced the principle of freedom of con-
science. men Of every creed were allowed
in the Ottoman empire to enjoy their be-
liefs unmolested: they had their houses of
worship, their schools and colleges their
converts and their cemeteries. Even at
the Bagnio the criminal penitenuary at
ConStantinople, church. a mosque and
synagogue were provided. 1t may be ad-
mitted, however, that the Turks have taken
part In prosecuting the Christians in cold
blood when their Greek or Armenian sub
jects have called on them to furnish jails
or executioners for Roman Catholic or
Protestant seceders from those creeds. usu-
ally on trumped-up charges. In such cases
the Turks have sometimes acceded with
grim and almost pardonable exultation.
Christians love one anotherr'
1t has been alleged that the Turks are
naughty and arrogant. This may be, al
though hardly in equal degree to the AFRO
CANT bearing Of German officers and OFF,
Gals. especially Prussans since the
Franco-German war. But admitting the
charge. the Turks cannot yet forget how
Europe once tremhled at the feet Of her
tremendous hosts: how the Christian pow
ers have since disnlaved everv unchristian
trait In their DEALINGS with Turkey: how
destitute OF noble qualities the subject
Christians have often proved themselves to
more apparent than real Sneaking per-
sonal1v. I have ALWAYS found that Asia tics
meet FOREIGNERS with genuine cfvi1ty when
anproa ched EQUALS: differing. perhaps,
IN aims practice and THOUGHT. and with
Great history behind them. thew justly
claim RECOGNITION OF those facts. When re-
siding or travelling in Turkey sin,n1v
civilian, I have renea tediv received from
Turks generous. self-sarriac'ng courtes'es
for which no con,nensa ton was asked
expected and which could not be excelled
in anv Christian land.
Abdul Hamid and His Cabinet.
The sultan and his cabinet are often
charged with ohstinacv and dupicty. and
the charge IS undoubtedly true. AS for the
former. which IN the case of European
Government would he called frmness. It is
sufficient to exnlain that If the Turk were
TO yield readily to the cea seless threats
and demands made hy his own subjects or
nv the powers. America included. he would
he strinped Of every atom of authority
mower and territory in six months. Tur-
lev in fact would he wined from the map
The right OF self-nresnrvation applies to
oil alike AS to his dunlicitv the sultan is
simply following the methods which Euro
naan courts have practiced at his expense
md for his exarple One must sometimes
meet fire with fire.
hn In1 hot yha
Turkish burocracy Is thoroughly corrupt.
recruited as it is largely from the cities
and based on intrigue and favor rather
than merit The great ability of Sultan
Abdul Hamid is generally admitted while
his character is as generally eXecrated in
christendom and by some of his own Turk
ish subjects. But it must also be admitted
that no really knows much about 1t
and that undoubtedly much said against
him Is fictitious, manufactured where the
lies and exaggeration about the Turks are
generally Matched. The difficulties he has
to encounter are such as ne er before beset
a throne, his revenues involved. half his
subjects perpetually restless and revolving
and chrstendom ravening t. rend his en-
pire asunder. AS the califf representa-.
tive of the faith his course is also fraught
with peril If he seeks to introduce re-
forms he jeopardizes his head with con-
sentative Moslems or meets with opposition
from the Christians themselves; and if he
sides against progress he is vilifed by the
party of reform and his life is threatened.
A Slow Improvement.
Notwithstanding these unfavorable condi-
tons, Turkey is undoubtedly advancing.
Those who know her well can see very dis
tinct improvement in the last half century,
although slow as it seems TO US; but it
takes time for an old people to adapt them
selves to new conditions in proportion as
she can throw off the rubbish of habit Gus
tom or prejudice which an ancient people
gathers like the cobwebs and debris about
an old house that needs revamping. Neither
the Turk nor Mohammedanism is yet effete
nation which all along the stages of ap-
parent decadence can produce statesmen
like the two kiuprilS ReScheed Pasha
Midhat Pasha, Murad Bey, Haleel Ganem
Effendi or Friad Pasha, and such generals
as Osman PaSha, such a system of educa-
ton for both sexes now organized for the
empire, although not yet fully in practice
or q school of reformerS such the bright
earnest though sometimes injudicious men
who make up the reform party, a nation
that can still readily maintain and
mobilize formidable army on modern prin-
ciples, is far from being effete, and merits
assistance in it's efforts rather than the
persistent opposition and condemnation it
receives.
But by far the seyerest obstacle the sultan
has to encounter in his endeavors to pre-