The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17


sif, and weigh a mass Of almost hopeiessiy
: conflicting evidence.
] shall make no attempt 10 discuss the
so-called Eastern question in its history
and its merits II will suffice for busy
men to consider the present situation, the
tendency Of events and the probable effect
Of their development upon the history OF
the Levant, of Europe. and the world at
large.
The familiar question Is, Shall Ottoman
rule be driven out OF Europe'
The real and greater issue is the rapidly
developing rivalry between Pan-slavic and
Pan-Germanic ambitions
Russia's desire sooner or later to acquire
Constantinople has long been recognized
factor In what is known AZ the European
situation" Germany's far-reachng aspira-
tons, or rather those Of her Emperor, have
only recently come within the ken Of prao-
teal politics.
1t Is the dream OF the Kaiser, according
to the Interpretation given to his policy
by some OF the ablest diplomatists. that
his empire shall stretch In great belt across
Europe, from Amsterdam and the Baltic
TO Salonika. 4 Napoleonic ambition. truly.
and one not to be confessed even to his
most trusted lieutonants during the life OF
the Austrian Emperor
II II exists, then Germnny's support OF
the Sultan during the Armenian troubles
and Turkish reliance upon the ka!ser's
aid In the present crisis are abundontly
explained. Again, il it exists. Russia may
we'll strive to execute her purpose III Euro
| pean Turkey and the Balkans as soon a.
her interests and plans IN tho Far East will
! permit. The life of the aged sovereign
| at Vienna IL q frail contingency upon which
to rely.
| On the other hand. there are those who
| contend that Russia would he satisfied
! with mere outlet from the Black Sea to
| the Mediterranean, which the possession
| OF Constantinople ard the Dardanelles
| would supply and that she would he almost
| indifferent to the presence of a great rival
Power in the Gulf of SaloEica. At all events
it is the firm belief Of every Embassy In
Constantinople to-day that Russia regards
the development of her plans In Manchuria
and the Far East as Of moro pressing neces-
sity than her ambitions in the Levant. This
is coupled with confidence that Russia is
genuinely striving to postpone, perhaps
not for long, serious hostilities in the
Balkans.
Her task has been no easy one. few
weeks ago, general war in the Balkars
seemed all but inevitable. Russian handling
Of the situation. especially in Sofia, has
been a mastery piece of work.
1t may still fail but the danger il dimin-
fishing daily and at most it will disappear
only temporarily. This indeed as will
readily be understood, is also according
to Russian desire.
The world gives little consideration
to the fate of the Turk in the Titanic game
which is being played. He is an AN
achronism in Europe" his expulsion il re-
garded as a foregone conclusion, and the
common belief is that his federation, dur
ing the past generation at least, has been
a reproach 20 modern civilization. His
condemnation and that Of his sovereign
Is pronounced daily in the press and In
the pulpi. Of the Western world.
He has never had an advocate at the bar
Of Christian public opinion. The Turkish
side OF any question ia never presented.
1t has almost come TO be assumed that
such thing has no existence.
Publicly to defend the Sultan in any of
his disagreements with other Powers has
been TO bring instant attack upon the mo-
tives Of the defender, be he German Kaiser
or ordinary observer, In fact, the world
insists upon believing that nothing good
can come out OF Yildiz Kiosk.
And yet the representative Of a great
Power at the close OF long conversation
has just said to me that 1t would be :
nothing less than calamity for Turkey il
the Sultan should presently be gathered |
10 his fathers. ! have no doubt that every !
Ambassador in Constantinople would in
dorse in all sincerity a sentiment which !
/ am afraid will be received with some
surprise by Christendom generally.
Again it becomas necessary. in order
to appreciate the Turkish. or rather the |
Sutan's point Of view, to speak of customs |
and traditions and atmosphere.
Let It be remembered that the Turkish |
Government is an absolute despotism; that |
the present Sultan cams to the throne as
the result of a successful palace plot against !
the life OF his predecessor. His personal |
kno Wedge of the world outsids his own
domnions is limited TO that gained on a
single brief visit to Paris with his uncle
thirty-fvs years ago.
From the day OF his accession he has
been surrounded by schemers and spies
A sovereign must be somewhat more than |
human IL he can make himself really indie
pendent or MS entourage, lie mas faculty
not possessed bv one man in q thousa nd
il he is abla always to distinguish loyalty
from sycophancy.
The Sultan has none Of the opportunities
of enlightened civilization for recruiting his
assistants from among honest men. There
is not even free press TO bring to his atten-
ticn abuses which may be notorious to all
but himself.
The personality Of Abdul Hamid has been
made the subject OF more Islander than has
been heaped upon any other individual
of tho present day. Much Of it is ridiculous
and absurd and yet apparently no story
that can be invented Is too incredible for
acceptance.
Several gentlemen who know the Sultan
with sufficient intimacy to have gained
a considerable knowledge Of him as man
have spoken to me Of him with complete
frankness. without exception, they de-
scribe him as a refined. kindly. remarkably
well-informnd but harassed and over
worked gentleman.
That he is extremely suspicious In all
matters appert aiming 10 his royal functions
In scarcely more than his duty. II is bm
natural also that having constantly in
mind the fate Of his uncle. he should per-