The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-29
VIEWS OF MISS PATRICK
SULTAN OF TURKEY NOT so MUCH TO
BLAME AS HIS OFFICIALS.
President of the American College for
Girls in COnstantinOple Discusses
the Eastern Question.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
ELKHART, Ind. Aug. 2S.-Miss Mary
Mills Patrick. president of the American
College for Girls in Constantinople, where
she has been identified with missionary
and educational work for twenty-five years.
and who is spending part of her summer
vacation with her sister, Mrs. Howard +.
Smith, of this city. is much interested in
the developments in the Eastern ques-
tion." She says the pressure of vigorous
nation with a well-denned and unquestion-
able policy is most needed in the Turks
dominions. And the interference of Amer
lea under the guidance of such a fearless
personality as President Roosevelt can but
rebound to the welfare of America and
other foreigners i'm Turkey and of the Turks
themselves. The Sultan is a very clever
and successful diplomat, and has had but
little difficulty in maintaining his interna-
tional equilibrium through his ability to
make the jealousy Of one menacing nation
offset that of another; but so far as his
own nations internal affairs are concerned,
he is helplessly shut up in his palace No
one more greatly than he regrets the out
breaks against foreigners and missionaries,
for he realizes that it brings upon him
last thing I'm the world he would chal-
lenge. 1t is the vast horde of subordinate
officials who countenance outrages and
keep him in hot water.
1T is difficult to imagine she said, "a
general uprising against Americans i'm Bel
rut, which contains the most magnificent
foreign educational institution I'm the en-
pire-the American Protestant College. SUD-
ported by the Presbyteran boardmand il is
that section. There has ben no unrest be-
cause of religious matters in that section.
ana one reason Tor tne absence or friction
exclusively in the colleges and missions
that being the commercial and general
language of the province. However, at
Harpoot several hundred miles east Of
Beirut, the missionaries use the Armenian
language, and this is especially distaste-
full to the Turk, and ii is here that trouble
sometimes occurs.
THE American college at Beirut is pop-
ular with Turkish officials, as well as the
people. and only recently was IL granted at
President Roosevet's request a concession
that is regarded as special mark OF favor.
the government having arranged TO give
the examinations required of foreigners de-
string to practice medicine at the college
instead OF making IL necessary for the
graduates to go to Consta ntinople for ex-
animation The medical department is espe-
cially strong. When Howard Bliss, ID. D.,
was sinstalled as president last Nav there
was an immense and enthusiasts site crowd of
spectators, including the local Turkish OFF,
Gals.
1.-The present difficulties i'm the Balkans
will affect our school the American College
for Girls in Constantinople) TO the extent
that many of the students from Bulgaria
VIII be unable to attend. because of the un-
settled conditions in their own country and
the difficulty in reaching Constantinople.
The college opens In September
The individual Turk is kindly and entitled
to much sympathy. which Americans in
their horror at cruelties laid at his door
withhold. We in this country should be
reminded that the Turk suffers equally
through the mistakes of his government the
oppression of heavy taxes and so on,
though when his patriotism and religious
fanaticism are appealed to he becomes
dangerous element. But there are cruelties
on both sides, as revealed by reports of af-
fairs with Macedonians.