The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-30
DIR. Depew and His Turkish Policy.

We read with little surprise in the
columns of a yellow contemporary the
bloodthirsty advice which the junior
senator from New York is reported as
giving to the President. Under the
head, Batter Down Old Beirut! Cries
Senator DEPEw," that statesman is rep
resented as urging the Administration TO
lombard Beirut-to batter the walls
about their ears" as he fiercely ex-
PRESSES it, or, at the very least, If more
temperate measures should be deemed
advisable, to force the passage of the
Dardaneles and menace Constantinople
itself with American battleships,
Senator DEPEw's reasons for melting
he Administration to violent proceed
ings, even now when it ia known that
Vice Consul MAGELssEN was murdered
only in an error in the diplomatic cipher
code, are thus reported:
From my own knowledge OF the Turkish char
acer say that unless prompt and forceful measures
are taken by this Government 10 overcome the
Turkish Governor and soldiery there. the attempted
murder OF our national representative will be but
9 beginning Of the dreadful story"
He is then reported as explaining how
his own knowledge of the Turkish charac-
ter was acquired 1t is tale to freeze
the marrow;
In company with the late CORNELIUS WANDER
RILr and his two sons, the present CoRNBLrus and
WILLIAM II. VANDERBILT started from Vienna
Tor Constantnople II seems that II became nolsed
throughout Turkey that the VanderbDts and my
self making the 10 u uey and extensive prepar
Ions were made to take is prisoners.
a powerful faction n the Balkan Mountains
assembled at one OF the most Sequesercd and
desOate points along the railroad and projected
to remove a section OF rail from the track.
Fortunately for MS they mscalculatrd the
train were on our own having passed before
the rail- was removed But wealthy Berlin broker
aud I'VE com panons were made prisoners
What wonder the junior Senator from
New York wants to batter down Beirut
or any other Turkish town which Ameri-
can guns can find pretext for bonn
harding? The memory of the horrible
incident in his own experience, and the
thought of what might have happened
il the powerful faction in the Balkans had
torn up the rail at that sequestered and
desolate point before instead of after
his train had passed, are ever present in
Mr.. DEPEw's mind, and color his judg-
ment as TO the proper international pro-
redure in the present case
Senator DEPEw remembers, shoulders,
Judges Turkish character by events
that exist only in the past potential and
wants to lombard Beirut.
But is it quite fair to the people of
own where Americans have for half
century or so enjoyed privileges and
immunities unusual in a Mohammedan
country, to punish them so severely
for something that did not happen in
the Balkans, and for something that
did not happen in Beirut, but which Mr.
DEPEw thinks may happen unless their
walls are battered about their ears?
The COMMANDMENTS Chief at OYSTER
Bay, who needs no spur to energetic
action in the Mediterranean or elsewhere,
will do well to take counsel of the
Hon. JOHN HAY, rather than of Senator
DEPEw, in shaping a firm but decent
policy with regard to Turkey.