Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-01-16
MODERN TURK IS
FIT SUBJECT FOR
GOOD INFLUENCE
RUGGED COUNTRY ALTHOUGH BE-
HIND TIMES OFFERS ALLURING
ATTRACTIONS FOR CIYILIZA-
TION.
Religion of the Kingdom Holds Pro-
gress of Nation in Check. Turks
Just Awakening to their Possibilities

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 16.-Con-
stantinople, metropolis and capital Of
the Turk, and Mecca, the sacred city
and lodestone of Mohammedan relig-
ious life, are, probably, the two most
definite conceptions of the westerner
concerning the Ottoman Empire. He
has thought of the dome-andminaret-
sprinkled city of Golden Horn as one
whose glories were past, as one few
cred through and through with the
disease of Encouragement, ignorance,
and kismet-lethargy He has thought
of it as the husk of once mighty and
brilliant city.
There are other elements and other
people in the wide sweep of Ottoman
power, however. In a careful consid-
Grafton of Asiatic Turkey, prepared by
Stephen van Rensselaer, Trowbridge
for the National Geographic Society,
the writer advises us to remember that
the individual Turk possesses many
admirable qualities of hospitality,
courage and fidelity, that in many
parts of the Ottoman lands in Asia
strong physiques are developed by
rugged country and a bracing climate
and strong characters as we'll. He con-
tinues:
Although still in the dark ages as
regards science, although under the
handicap of religion which runs
athwart all our modern civilization, al
though well-nigh ruined by the vicious
despotism of the Red Sultan, Abdul
Hamid; although fanatical and ruth
less toward his Armenian and Syrian
subjects, yet it is my strong conviction
that the Turk has in him good mater
ial for manhood The qualities of for
titude and friendship are not lacking.
The consciousness of God is in his
heart wherever he goes and whatever
he does. Among the peasantry espec-
tally there is Spartan spirit of en-
durance which commands admiration.
The reason that the people of the
West seldom think of the vast lands in
Asia in connection with the Ottoman
nation is, Mr.. Trowbridge indicates
because all fruitful, historic territory
has slept a sleep of centuries under
Turkish administration. Constantine
pie has been the sole point of contact
for waking outside world "In the
provinces the Turks have built no
monuments which will abide" he says.
Their seven centuries of occupation
have served to demolish many stately
ruins of ancient architecture; but as
for constructive work not even roads
and bridges have been built"
Yet, according to this writer, all
forms of wealth, the basis for nation
al life of vital world-interest are
within these Ottoman lands. There are
inexhaustible stores of wonderful
cedar forests, famous Lebanon cedars,
with their trunks of from so to 80 feet
in height and their girths often more
than 20 feet. With proper develop
ment, no richer farming or grazing
lands are to be found than within this
same empire, including those fertile
valleys where civilization was Graded.
Experts state that the Mesopotamian
plain, properly irrigated, would pro-
duce a substatial share of the worlds
cotton. Here the silk worm industry
flourishes, and among the most lus-
cious tropical fruits are grown. Yet in