The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-08
MEANING OFCAPITULAHONS
Turkeys Demand that American Citizens Should Be Subject
to the Jurisdiction of Her Tribunals.

7 Greeks who have transferred their ale
glance from their native land TO the
Porte in the vain idea Of facilitating
thereby their financial and commercial
! operations. Indeed, there are probably
twice as many Greeks in COnstantinople
as there are at Athens. Yet they are
subjected to all sorts Of prosecutions, an
noyances, and indignities on the part Of
the authorities. Known by the generic
name OF Rayahs-that is 20 say. non
Moslem subjects OF the Sultan-they are
despised by the followers Of the prophet
10 such an extent that until the inaugu-
ration Of the present constitution a year
and half ago they we're not considered
worthy Of being allowed 10 serve in the
| imperial army. having to pay a heavy
personal tax in lieu thereon
America has already, as I have men
toned above, large commercial interests
in Turkey that are rapidly growing. She
has also many educational establishments
there, including the wOrld-famed Robert
College at Constantinople, where so
many Turkish, Bulgarian. and Servian
statesmen OF note, and even members Of
the reigning house of Osman, have re-
ceived either their education or else the
principles Of Western civilization.
Then there are missionary stations
which dispense not only education. but
also medical care. scattered all over the
empire which have done much to spread
Western enlightenment and progress
The work they have accomplished. their
property, their personal safety. and their
powers OF good for the future would all
be gravely jeopardized by the abolition
Of the eapituIatons.
For Turkey has not, like Japan. a new
civil and criminal code, founded on all
that is best in the laws OF the United
States Great Britain, France, and Ger
many-that is 10 say. in reality based on
the principles Of Christianity The Turk
ish code is derived wholly and entirely
from the Koran. II has been in exist
ence since the days Of Observation-Disclosures
and the times Of the Arabian Nights. is
known as the Cheriat. consists OF a
blending Of the scriptures OF Islam and
OF the reported teachings Of Mahomet.
and is incapable Of modification as long
as the Moslem faith endures.
II has no elasticity. does not take into
account the changes that the world has
undergone during the last twelve hun
dred years. and il is 20 the last degree
incOnceivable that any American-bOrn
citizen should ever be subjected TO irs
Jurisdiction. II is a relic OF barbarism IL
spite Of the wisdom Of some Of its teach
iugs, and no civilized Christian govern
ment. least Of all the government Of the
United States, should ever dream OF per-
hitting its subjects TO be rendered amen
able TO the jurisdiction OF purely Moslem
tribunals. the principles Of justice OF
hich are wholly at variance with West
ern civilization.
/ Their is no equality before the law IN
/ Turkey. where the Mahommedan will al
: ways have the advantage over the Chris
tian. and particularly over the foreign
. Christian. in the eyes OF the judges
Moreover. the punishments are cruel and
+ the prison systems worthy OF a country
STEPPED in the lowest depths Of bar
/ barism. The idea Of subjecting an Ameri-
Can-bOrn citizen 20 confinement therein
lis altogether intoIerable.
/ Then. too. the. present constitutional
government has been in existence but
I eighteen months. Sultan Mahomet. in
deed, completed only last week the first
year Of his reign. The new regime. while
/ pTOclaimiHg itself a friend Of progress
/ and of reform. has perperuated many OF
/ the abuses so rampant in the DAYS Of
Abdul HGmid. especially in connection
/ with the Imprisonment. the Punishment.
and The conhscation Of property without
I any judicial process.
/ There is no guarantee that il will last
! or that some popular Moslem movement
will not overthrow the present govern
! ment, do away with the constitution. and
restore the autocracy Of the Padisha in
/ all its medieval despotism.
/ In one thing at any rate we may take
comfort; it Will need the consent Of all
the great powers TO secure the abolition
| Of the capitulauons, and so pronounced
just at present are the rivalries in what
IS known as the concert of nations that
| there is but small prospect Of their COM
ing TO an agreement for the grant OF the
demands just made by the Porte on the
United States
Copyright. 1910. by the Brentwood Compary.)