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THE EASTERN
"The

Turks
as

lomats,

must

they

to push
forsooth,
"The Turks must

sit

OLD AND

QUESTION,

NEW.

so say the dip


from Europe;"
council
boards
endeavoring,
the slowly moving
God of History.

be driven
around

ahead

the

from Europe,"
be driven
reply the zealous
as if the pure religion
of Christianity,
of the gospel
should be soldered
soldiers
those
live this side
who
upon
by
"The Turks must be driven from Europe,"
of the Bosphorus.

ministers

cry out the Russians,


Satanlike,
leaving off the last half of
I need scarcely
the sentence, which,
tell, runs, "in order that
we may dwell on the Golden
Horn."
"The Turks must
be
from Europe,"
is the almost
of
Western
civilization.
partakers
Then
do
Is all this true?
why
driven

universal

yet

they

opinion

of all

remain?

the arms

The
are at

and the overwhelming


numbers
troops and
Give but
hand, have been at hand lo these hundred
years!
to pick
and Abdul will
the word,
off
without
scurry
waiting
A
families.
state of affairs is this.
up his innumerable
strange
For years and years a number
of strong
to take an apple from one weak,
wished
not been able to.
It

is not

wherefore

the purpose
of this anomaly,

which,
political
problems
called Eastern
question.

of

the writer

nor

lusty men have


sick man,
and have

and

to discourse

to expatiate

put together,
But how came

upon
make

on

the

the present
up the so

of
these worshipers
to pitch
How
their tents on holy ground?
far have
And
how have
their troops been
their armies
penetrated?
is the object of this
these questions
driven back?
To answer

Allah

paper.

The
average
had but

relativity
man of

of

our

views

is truly remarkable.
The
as
if it
the Eastern
question
a
matter
As
proportions.

to-day regards
just assumed momentous
numerous
of Miss Europe's
of fact it was the pet complaint
States
Before
existed.
ache spots long before
these United

The Eastern
the

boisterous

XIV.

egoized
flirted

Old

Question,

Frederick

the

or Richelieu

93
Louis

before
was,
before Elizabeth

Great

bullied,
of Sweden

or Christina

and New.

of En

grew risqu?e?before
of their countries'
fathers and mothers
any of these fabulous
was
their offspring,
the Eastern
beheld
greatness
question
of in whispers.
spoken

gland

More
to our

than

this,
forefathers,

seems grave,
to us the situation
though
was
it
much
it
forefathers
graver.
To-day

means

in the
its perilousness
with
but little in comparison
armaments
too
serious
became
modern
before
European
days
little
We
Turk.
an obstacle
for the quondam
conquering
cen
in the sixteenth
aroused
realize
the harrowing
feelings
tury

by

the words

"The

Throughout
Germany
colonial
antecedents

Turks

men
feared

feared
the

an

are making
the Turks

incursion."

as our

In the

Indians.

old

solitary
towns

are but relics of the prepara


from the door.
to keep
the Turk
on
the
That plot of land, bounded
Greece
south, by the
by
and by the ./Egean and
and Ionian Seas on the west,
Adriatic
on the east, which we regard as a modern
Black
Aceldama,
one

can still find

tions men

used

used

customs

which

to make

the fringe of the crust

to be but

of the bloody

of the edge

arena.

The

whole

business

miserable

Turks

Seljukian
selves upon

in the eleventh

was

begun

century.

by

They

the

so-called

hurled

them

in Asia

Christians
the Greek
Minor,
dwelling
sun.
the setting
to drive them like sheep toward
and began
or
took
Osmanlian
the
Ottoman
Their
Turks,
successors,
westward
worked
throughout
up the slogan, and consistently
of in
These
latter are first heard
the fourteenth
century.
of
Sultan
Seljukian
the Moguls,
with
of a small, but
the scale was turned by the intervention
when
be
This personage
band under one Ertoghrul.
belligerent,
Patrice:
Pater
Turkish
the
in
became
time
who
gat Othman,
took
from his name that the succeeding
it being
generation
the end of the

Iconium

was

thirteenth

hard

century.
in a
pressed

their nom de guerre, which


has,
into Ottoman.
been corrupted
rior?for

even Turks

The

battle

by stiff-tongued
The grateful

have gratitude?rewarded

Westerners,
war

Seljukian
Ertoghrul

with

The

94

Sewanee

Review.

of land, and Othman


attained
grants
independent
the
in 1307.
of
power upon the breaking
up
Seljukian
dynasty
to
is
out
How
it
historical
Here
figure
diverting
parallels!
we have an interesting
one.
In the first decade of the four
generous

teenth

two events, which


century occurred
to be used for centuries
in compounding
served at the banquet of Western
Europe's

dients
dish

were

decade

furnished

ingre
each and every
rulers.
In this

two laws of counterpoint,


which
have
in every European
concert.
The hu
was followed
of Boniface
miliation
VIII.
by centuries
during
was a mere
which
the Papacy
for the calculating
cat's-paw
discovered

to be adhered

had

of Europe,
whereby
deals. What
political

governors
numerous

can be applied
sanctimonious
can

that
ass

from
to

voice

take
the

and wherewith
is the power
to be answered

the question
for or a lucrative

of St. Peter?is

Father

to

day when

out

the

Not

that

IX., crying
no nation,
blinds us
rode backward
Boniface
of

the

a divorce

before

see can be filled.

of a Pius

sides with

they worked
the chair
behind

the Holy
to the fact
an
upon
till com

crowd's

As

the Vicegerents
of Christ
of
contrariwise
the Vicars

derision

accompaniment
modern
and all the power
of
the Papacy
days
in therewith was to be bought by the
thrown
anathematizing
event of this dec
The
other
bidder.
highest
epoch-making

paratively

ade has already


fell from their
Allah
the

been

indicated.

lofty pretensions,
to perilous
How
importance.
influence of these two events on every

enormous

rose

history.
But it is high time
Ottomans
placed on

to return

subsequent

to our narrative.

We

has

been

page

of

saw the

their own

zeal
feet, eager for conquest,
from the sunny shores of Italy and
and the Dan
the vine-clad
of the Rhone,
the Rhine,
valleys
it was nip and tuck
ube. Throughout
the fourteenth
century
Turk and the dissolving
Eastern
the evolving
between
empire
ous

to oust

the Christians

can give so dignified


of Constantinople?as
danelles
and the Bosphorus.
we

?if

ants

The
of

the

first

siege
fifteenth

a name, to
to which

of Constantinople
Not
century.

the wretched

would
was

the might

control

inhabit
the Dar

in the opening
year
of Christendom

The Rastern

and New.

Old

Question,

95

from the East which


inrush
city, but a Tartar
called away the besiegers.
'half century
the city
For another
on the straits was to be called Constantinople;
for fifty more
was to be preserved
the memory
of the Great Emperor
years
in the name of his new Rome.
But soon the long-syllabled
the

saved

was to be perverted,
to have in place
and we were
For men?,
Istambul.
but more euphonious
the less suggestive
on
was writ
of Sancta
the walls
men?,
tekel, upharsin
large
no
arose
and the
to
Daniel
translate
there
but
it,
Sophia,
memorial

that great
city failed to make
were
was
time.
there
The Turks
of

Nebuchadnezzar
tions

while

prepara

drawing
ever increasing.
Hear
and closer, and their confidence
them boast:
"We will yet feed our horses with hay piled up
on the altar of the Pope,"
"We will yet put down the Chris
tians from their seats, and exalt the name of Allah!"
yet

closer

Some

of the old

text-books

in the year
history begins
is concerned
of the Turks
be

and

dissected,

out

apportioned
of Constantinople

So

us

inform

school

that modern

far as the modern

1453.
this is true.

But

history

cannot
of the Weltgest
the workings
The
months
and
and
years.
days
an
event
was
world-wide
of
in 1453
all its blood and iron it was no more

into

but with
portance;
in abolishing
fectual
dweller
the humble

history
is not to

than

order

the old

in Strasburg.

At

the

ink and

be
fall
im
ef

lead of

time all the world,


blossoms
forth with

this

if by a preconcerted
arrangement,
and acts and facts momen
and theories
innumerable,
are
that the
to remember
we
bound
tous.
While
However,

as

ideas

was not
fall of Constantinople
in the last half of the fifteenth

the only
century,

event

of

importance
for our present
pur

it is of epoch-marking
proportions.
poses
are in Europe
and they first put their
The Turks
to-day;
our
house at this eventful
the door of
turbaned
heads within
time.

From
have

years,
ture. What

1453

to

and fifty
four hundred
1903, exactly
home of cul
that erstwhile
uncivilized

they kept
reams of paper one could fill moralizing
upon
those four and a half centuries!
now got our Turks within
the pale of civilization,
Having
let us

take up the thread

of

the tale and

see how

they hence

The

96
forth

Sewanee

the next cen


Broadly
speaking,
to 1566?finds
Islam in all her glory;
the splendid
(may Allah be praised!)

themselves.

comport

Review.

is, from 1453


tury?that
for in this time we have

the Magnificent.
reign of Soleiman
How
to be endowed
by posterity!
our
"the Great
than
prosaic English

a title with

What
much

more

which

to be desired

!" Under
the Magnificent
all the fol
forward, crushing
surged
to oppose
lowers of the Cross who had the temerity
it, but
we
most
not
for
who
those
did
resist;
treating
humanely
is
to remark upon
the fact that the Islamite
ought honestly
the Crescent

Soleiman

about

as desirable
At

Christian.

or neighbor

a bedfellow

the

end

as

of Soleiman's

the Eastern

reign
masters
of Greece,
of the Balkan
Peninsula
(present
of
the
of
and
hitherto
the
Genoese
Crimea,
firma),
and at one time it looked
sions of Kaffa
and Azov;
of Christendom

terra

in

posses
as if the

the might
of Islam,
once
and her priests be forced to cry an "Alia Akbar"
where
even
Marias."
"Ave
But
had
their
droned
Turks,
Mag
they
are mortal;
to
went
and in 1566 Soleiman
nificent
Turks,

whole

bow

were

the Turks

would

before

meet

his prophet.
before
Perhaps

be of

of them all,
this greatest
leaving
to know
of
character.
his
something

interest

it would
An

old

and insisted
says of him: "He was a rigid Mussulman,
on a strict observance
of all the precepts
He
of the Koran.

writer
was

in his

temperate
himself
chiefly
he was

with

diet,

ate

hunting.
to humble

accustomed

little meat,
In his moments
but

himself

before

and

amused

of depression
God, and com
his nothingness

in which he compared
hymns
in keep
of the Almighty.
He was scrupulous
never wronged
ing his word; he loved justice, and knowingly
a
one
and
such
the
Under
splen
religious
political
anybody."

posed
spiritual
with
the power

dor

of

Turk
many
tianity.
But

the Turks

though he was,
a contemporary
sun

the

words

Spencer's
she reached

her

its zenith, and the selfsame man,


nearer
of God
than
the kingdom
Chris
ruler reared under Western

reached

of

was

Islam
and

was

say

equilibrium

on

that,
at

or
the wane;
evolved
having
this

time,

shall we
to her

and we may

use
limit,
now

The Eastern

expect
signs of dissolution.
a
to increase; but
little
yet
seems

to lessen,

and New.

Old

Question,

97
is destined

she
Geographically
the moral
force behind

as if the blast

of Allah's

the waves

force.

her armies

breath

of

had

invasion

Henceforth,
though
and do most
tainous,
rage and beat upon
horribly
heads of Western
yet save for occasional
Europe;
in the defending
walls, the tempest
to take new heart.
and men begin

breaches

porary

weakens,
The successor

of Soleiman

was

Selim

the Sot,

its

lost

are moun
the bulk
tem

and

gradually

under

which

Islam's might
upon the sea was
propensities
never
was
and
to
the control
claim
she
able
blighted;
again
of the Mediterranean.
This was the result of the famous bat
ruler of bibulous

tle of

light-hearted
fleet

greatest
drowned
ward,

in

that
1572, when Don
John of Austria,
the
of
ill-fated
annihilated
Spain,
prince
ever
had
assembled.
the Porte
Though

Lepanto,

but

on land, ever pushing


on
and once
into Hungary,

at sea, she waxed, vigorous


and again
again
crowding
to besiege
imperial Vienna

at once the
itself?Vienna,
of
the
heart
outpost
Papal Europe.
were but spasmodic
in emulation
efforts
These,
however,
cen
of the deeds of Soleiman,
and the close of the sixteenth

daring

and

tury marked
ning of the
retreat

limits

the

of Turkish

advance.

the retreat
century
continues
that
to-day,

seventeenth

which

and where

still

of which

is in itself

this question
is at bottom
to do with the land which
Turk.

For

the Eastern

In

the begin
the
commences,
retreat

the

else but a problem


will be vacated
eventually

three hundred

For

question.

naught

how

of what
the

by

the Moslems

have

retreating
years
been moving
from those regions
of which
bag and baggage
in the days of their glory.
they took such jubilant posssession
The event to which we refer was the treaty of Sitvatorok
in 1606, upon which
henceforth
the Holy
Austria

need

no

of paper
it was writ
that from
piece
German
and Archduke
of
Emperor
thousand
longer remit to the Porte
thirty

for being allowed


per annum
(think
of the word)
to retain under his Christian
ducats

Hungary.
possessor
7

Austria
of

now

this Eastern

being
outpost,

the

of the humiliation
rule

a portion

of

and unhampered
proud
a long and
there begins

Sewanee

The

98
bloody
Danube.

with

struggle

Review.

the Moslem

we

know

Though
an der Donau,
rather, Wacht
the spirit behind
the modern

for

no

the

control

the

of

am Rhein,"
or,
as a popular
air of those days,
for as
song was then paralleled;

of

"Wacht

and France
for the Rhine,
Germany
fought
teenth century did Turkey
and Austria
battle
of the conflict we shall not
Of the severity

so

seven

in the

for the Danube.


to

tell, in order
than the tale

of
for what
is more
avoid monotony;
tiresome
same
same
the
the
wars,
atrocities,
always
always
for since
results?
unchristian
the same
Christians,
always
Soleiman's
have been unprofitable.
days Islam's victories
not an acre of land
the
end
of
the
seventeenth
century
By

Turkish

on

the north

of the river between

bank

in the possession
of the Turks
were
not
the enemies
military

remained
Hapsburg

all this.
complished
"ifs" is debatable;

Just how far one


but I should
like

In

the

this

duel
have

would

for
bit

Sobieski,
John
blooded
Turkish
what

would

of

that
sack

have

land,
in 1683.

happened
have
lady would
and expelled
satisfied
siesta
have
poor Austria
emerged
venerable

she

not

would

on

Danube,
dust had

the

the
it well,
; but mark
and avengers who ac
can play with historical
one here.
interject
one
Austria
occasion
to

it not

been

saved

Vienna

If John

for Poland,
a
from

Europe?
aroused
herself
from

infidel.

not

had

to

the

and Pruth

the Theiss

done

Probably
from her
But

the mess?

for
full

how

so,
that
self

would

Perchance

at
all as a geographical
emerged
if
had
this
what
would
have
Again,
happened,
been
in Germany,
the effect
in feverishly
and
ambitious
and in Poland,
the land of national
And
France,
dyspepsia?
so our little "if" opens
the dikes and breaks down the levees.
have

division.

How

be a history written
with "contrary
as data!
But let us not speculate
further,
lest we emerge
as to whether
into some such details
Gari
baldi could have been an assistant
liberator
of Italy
if John
Sobieski had never been born.
return to our narrative,
We
which
has reached
the end of
entertaining
to fact" conditions

the seventeenth

to Poland)
well
century, with Turkey
(thanks
march.
As we enter the eighteenth
century
scene changes
and a new actor
is introduced?an

on her backward
the whole

would

The Eastern
actor

as

talents

yet

comparatively

for

to the world

99

but endowed
with
unknown,
the villain which make
all aspiring
Our new friend is one who would

impersonating
lagos pale in comparison.
not only be Thane
of Cawdor,
the honorable
and dishonorable
known

and New.

Old

Question,

as Peter

but Thane
son

of everything
else,
and Natalia,

of Alexis

the Great.

after
up this new phase of our subject?for
all
old
be
the
will
order
appears
well,
passes away?it
of clearness,
for purposes
to give an outline
of this historical
I take it that we may divide the Eastern
movement.
question
Before

taking

Peter

into several
In
tian

phases

its first
control

is, Shall the Turk or Chris


The
Europe?
reply is to be found in
at Sitvatorok,
shall."
and it is, "The Christian

stage
Western

the year 1606


The
second

or acts

the question

becomes,
stage begins
here, and the question
or Turkey
The decision
control
the Danube?
as a
in 1699 at Carlowitz
in favor of Austria,
when,

Shall Austria
is given
result of

she recovered
all Hungary
and
almost
treaty,
Croatia
and
of
Sclavonia.
larger part
to enter,
The
in which Rus
third stage we are just about
but ir
and
monster,
sia, that Briarean
begins
slyly
slowly,
arm
to
out
her
and
then
stretch
hand,
resistibly,
finger,
the

the

the

see

in later days,
she
how,
her whole body out, leaned too far on one occasion,
stretched
and fell; and the memory
of that fall has not yet passed
Common
understands
away.
parlance
by the expression
toward

"Eastern
which

it

Turkey?"
a totally

south.

question"
is asked,
Let me
new

British

shall

We

latest

this

Russia

"Shall
also

add

stage.
be

late

phase has arisen


of the Persian
Doctrine

Monroe
us glance at this third
so change
Because
affairs?

in

is the phase
to gobble

up
appear that
in the promulgation
of the

that of

Let

That
allowed

it would

Gulf.

does Peter's
stage. Why
he is the first Russian

arrival
ruler

to

to the policy of expanding


his coun
give primal prominence
of Azov
in 1699 begins
the
The acquisition
try southward.
bear's first taste of Turkish
It is the Russian
tale.
blood,
and

that

one

"more Turkey"

taste

fixes

is Russia's

his

appetite

never-ceasing

for aye.
desire;

Since
and,

then,
despite

ioo

The
in the

diversions

far East,
is the
theory

old English
for the Golden
longs
any possible
To return
"Sick Man"
Romanoff
not

build

yielded

the white

that

the horns
value

the
Czar

of plenty.
to her than

the

century, what will he not yield to Hapsburg


plus
in the eighteenth?
But Peter
the Grand
could
in a day, and before Russia
can turn an
Rome

irresistible

force

upon
household.

of her own
is his

one,
all

above

that

century gives us
eighteenth
same
If the
the
toward
point.
pressing
to the House
in the
of Hapsburg
much

to the narrative:

and Austria

seventeenth

correct

Horn

believes

still

the writer

is of more
the Bosphorus
place on the Pacific.

Geographically

Russia

Review.

Sewanee

the

planting

the Turks
The

she must

settle

chief

the

affairs

of Peter

then

importance
from which
is to grow

seeds

within

her

realms

power of such intensity


that, grown
up to manhood
under his successors,
she will,
like all new-blossomed
nations,
com
The Hapsburg-Romanoff
wherever
she can.
expand
bination
does not as yet assume menacing
but
proportions;
none

the

less a new

phase has begun.


are working
to
and conspir
1774 the Russians
1690
in 1711, and tried to fix
Peter was rash on one occasion,

From

ing.
the whole
ficient,

insuf
blow; but his resources were
an ace of losing heavily.
But he
to recuperate
losses, and was enabled

in one

business

came within

and he

quickly made good his


in a foolish war with Persia.
whilst Turkey
became
involved
at this time, she
Had
she kept at peace with
the Persians
success
the
Russia
with
have
attacked
well
during
might
Polish
leaders
often

war

succession
have

been

attributable

in 1733; but since Soleiman's


and her defeats
shortsighted,

to her own

days her
have been

errors.

re
between
However,
1736 and 1740 we have a war which
are in
us of the days of Turkey's
minds
The details
glory.
courts
of
of
the
involved
the
there
tricate,
schemings
being
Russia,

Austria,
of note:

worthy
new
with
Charles

VI.

two birds,

and
Sweden,
the Turks
That
and

inflicted

vigor,
and
of Austria;
and
Sweden
Turkey,

France.
seemed

blow

after

that Russia
with

one

are
things
a
infused
while
for
blow on Emperor
Two

was

to kill
trying
France
whilst
stone,

The Eastern
was

ioi

and New.

Old

Question,

ever

so busy
her finger
into the pie.
The peace
getting
the war shows what
At Bel
its effects were.
was
it
covenanted
that Austria
should yield up much
grade
as Bosnia
land?such
and Servia?
choice bits, for example,
and as a boundary
set
the two nations
there were
between

which

ended

down

the Rivers

just now.
she
fortunately

in Russia

interested
affair?

and

Danube

Most

But

Save.

did

How

lost nothing,

we

are

primarily
she get out of the
and even gained

a few
advantages.
All this seems

and Romanoff
unable
strange.
Hapsburg
a
to get a bit of Turkey?
has
in
but
there
been
Ay,
"nigger
to
all the time, and this is of special
the woodpile"
interest
we have asked before,
not been
have the Turks
us! Why,
out bag and baggage
Because
of jealousy
long ago?
we
see later, of England's
have to
Now
jealousy.
war
her
Ville
this
deal with France.
diplomats,
Throughout

turned
?we

shall

neuve

have been pulling


and others,
every wire
they could
the
of
"the chef
is
hands
and
their
on,
Belgrade
Treaty
lay
in
the
d' uvre of French
century."
diplomacy
eighteenth
not control
it into her head that Russia must
She had taken
and

the Euxine,
in the

the success

treaty
upon the blue waters
to see clear evidences
tection

which

curity

this

Thirty

of the Black
of

that

is the wherefore

side

years

opportunities
cords and

of her policy

that no Russian

read

of

is evident

we

when

to be allowed
ships were
we
at last
So
Sea.
begin

Franco-English
coming
of the Turks'
enjoyable

pro
se

the Bosphorus.

of peace
are given

strengthen
not?
The

in which
golden
thirty years
to "lengthen
their
Islamites
not.
this
did
but
stakes,"
they

follow,
to the
their

reply is to be found in the fundamental


that poli
has remarked
Turk.
of
the
Somdbody
philosophy
are but outward manifestations
tics and all that goes therewith

And

why

of a nation's
we

are busy

ourselves.

conception
destroying
But certain

of God.

Now
we

is deep, and while


had best not drown

this

the Turks,
it is that the Mohammedan

creed

is

of that faith have had


The adherents
of progress.
Per
a
firm
to
and
found
numerous
chances
lasting power.
so
of
has failed to take advantage
op
many
haps no nation
destructive

I02

The
What

portunities.
is hostile

Sewanee

is the

to progress;
and inventions

Review.

trouble?

and

while

that their
Simply
the world
has been

faith
ad

innumerable
have come to aid man
vancing,
one
to accept
these
of
the
have refused
God
kind,
worshipers
or me
and adopt
modern
any
improvement,
sociological
in
not
it is
chanical.
Because
mentioned
forsooth?
And why,
the Koran.
town.

to Constantinople
to-day
(but call it Istam
see
of the
and
antediluvian
the
condition
there),
an instance,
is no electricity,
and cameras,
there
an invention
At any
of the devil, are forbidden.
Go

bul while
As

considered

rate, the thirty years' chance is neglected;


find troubles
arising, we shall see Turkey

and when

next

with

we

far less

fight
than in 1738.
strength
The anticipations
wThich we felt when Peter
came to power
in this new phase of the subject which
find their realization
we now enter. We
find on the throne of Russia
that Benevo
lent Tigress
with
the Great.

erine

six
Her

lovers whom

has called Kath


posterity
to the Eastern
question
it as you like,
Kainardji
(spell

contribution

was

the Treaty
of Kutchuc
means
"Kutchuc"
"little," so we can call it "little Kainardji").
was one of the
But "little Kainardji"
things that ever
biggest

in Eastern
The Russians
had whipped
the
happened
Europe.
Turks
in a short war, and the terms of this treaty represent
status quo.
the resultant
Several
fortified
towns
of weird
to
mouth
were
the
of
the
ceded to
names,
adjacent
Dnieper,
and
Russia,
to Turkey.
pendent
itself and

to all

intents

The

treaty
and
principality,

and purposes
the Crimea
stated
that
to be
it was
"The
not

Sublime

Porte

to introduce

was
an

further

lost
inde
binds

or support
no governor

promises
solemnly
any
or armed
or
force," and "to appoint
garrison
. . . but to leave them in
officer for these states,
perfect
ex
But note, Russia
liberty and independence."
promises
same
are
the
Russian
however,
actly
things;
they
promises,
are of less value
even
the which
than Turkish.
Another
was gained
of the
great
advantage
by the free navigation
the
of
straits
the
to
the
and
further,
Euxine,
Czar,
by
opening
over Moldavia
established
and Wallachia.
by a coprotectorate
These

dry-as-dust

facts

are given

to show

how

tremendouslv

The Eastern

Old

Question,

and New.

103

she
her grip on the Euxine,
that grip which
an
to
and
the
op
tightening,
give
seriously-minded
of consulting
their historical
atlases.
portunity
or Azovs,
or rivers,
But it was not in Yenikales
in Crimeas
that the importance
of Kainardji
is seen, but rather
in that

Russia

tightened

is still

of it relating
to the Czar's
Article VII.
jects of the Porte.
lime Porte
promises
constantly

ligion, and
the minister
occasions

to the Christian

relation

part

sub

ran: "The Sub


of the Treaty
re
to protect
the Christian

the Churches

belonging
of the Imperial Court
as well
representations

to it ; and it also permits


on all
of Russia
to make

in respect
of the new
as of those who
of Constantinople
to it, prom
belong
to
as
them
take
into
consideration
from a per
ising
coming
son in the confidence
a
of
and sincerely
neighboring
friendly

Church

power."

Article
on

XIV.

the street

states

further

may erect a chapel


is to be under
the

that Russia

as Bey Ogen,
of the Russian
Minister.
known

which

protection
seems
This

harmless
this granting
of permission
enough,
a particular
church in Pera.
The first clause quoted,
it will be noted, granted Russia
to make
the right
"represen
on behalf
tations"
of the "new church."
This
refers to the
to erect

on Bey Ogen
es Petrus
seem

edifice
Tu

Street.

So did the
Harmless,
say you?
men
to
harmless
the
of the Ancient

but the ambitions


of bodies politic and the
Church;
cupidity
of bodies
can gain out of words
ecclesiastical
of love motives
for deeds
of hate.
The
for this
right of oversight
granted
on a certain
church
street became,
of
by Russian
sleight
into a permission
to exercise
hand, metamorphosed
general
over all the Greek Christians
the
supervision
residing within
of the Sultan.
dominions
As we have said, the territorial gains of Russia
at this treaty
were
of inconsiderable
with
the issue
importance
compared
which
out of these apparently
evolved
and
definite
simple
religious
we have

For out of the


regulations.
to came the iniquitous
alluded

the Crimea,
and more
than
sources of friction
extending

that

forced

concrete

interpretation

and

of
bloody war
case innumerable

over a half a century.

If it were

The

I04

Review.

Sewanee

of
to give a conscientious
of this paper
the purpose
digest
of this subject, we should have to enter
the entire history
at once upon the barefaced
of
into a dissertation
dishonesty
we
But
of the treaty.
after the signing
Russia
immediately
that Iscariot was a traitor, or
ink in proving
need not waste
jus tifie th all sorts
imperial end of Russia
we
and
shall leave details
and so
of means;
into generalizations.

and

the

that
tions
more

far we

condi
once

enter

as divisible
the Eastern
question
the advent
with
last
into three phases,
phase beginning
are concerned,
so far as events
it
of Peter
the Great.
Now,
with
to begin this last or Russian
would be more precise
phase
to show,
but as we have endeavored
the treaty of Kainardji;
of
in
the
events
warrant
would
this, yet
growth
though
So

have

shown

the

we
cannot
date.
the earlier
disregard
aspirations
our tabular view, we would
to continue
say that

political

Therefore,
after
1774 we
of our
division

enter

a second

subject.
are the chief points
now
of Russia
objects

What
the

and

acute

phase

to be noted?
are

of

third

the

In the first

place
and clearly
openly,
that
she tells the world

avowed

Tauntingly
by all Europe.
herself
and wet nurse of Eastern
the guardian
she considers
or Irade or
no Firman
To
be
she
issued
sure,
Christianity.
discerned

never wastes
; for Russia
dilating upon her designs
But after
she signs a treaty.
1774 all
paper,
expect when
that St. Nicholas
had his heart,
knew
the world
soul, and
set upon Constantinople.
mind

Manifesto,

Now

hears

England

the

and most

plenipotentiary
in awe-struck
France

to remain

Mussulman
Golden

Horn.

self-appointed
is, hearkened
so they,
sufficient
condition
status.

And
and

taunt,

and,

extraordinary,
tones that surely

through
begins
it were

her envoys
to
to whisper
better

for the

in Europe
than for Russia
to have
was
in those days
not
who
France,

the
the

to Russia
that she now
pawnbroker
to the jealous words
of Britannia,
and
no
for a quarrel but finding
anxious

servile

eagerly

schoolgirl-like,
After
cause, just keep on nudging.
of affairs gives us our first glimpse

the
Kainardji
of the modern

The Eastern
Naturally,
adversaries

we

Question,

Old

and New.

105

of Islam's
say, the increased
power
a
matter
to
the
whole
termina
bring
speedy
in the language
of Artemus Ward,
"quite the re
should

will

tion.

But,
to the contrary"
is the fact. And why?
Because
what
been a comparatively
local affair assumes
had previously
(so
think the English)
to
and we begin
importance,
European

verse

at the council

hear

of Europe
that the Whole question
of the balance
of power.

boards

must

be weighed
in the scales
of Power!"
What
"Balance

in that name!

What

crimes

been

have

untold

committed

of blood,

outpourings
to uphold
have been caused
and yellow
blood,
stone of all selfishness
! Deep down in the breast

blue
that
of

blood
touch

the Welt

a demon,
name
is Bal
and that demon's
from
of Power,
and his object
is to prevent
the world
as
not
I
the
evolve.
God
have
it
do
would
evolving
good
to sermonize
too tiresomely;
state
wish
but let me briefly
there

geist
ance

dwells

the reason

If
is the evil genius
of Europe.
this theory
why
we accept
the theory of the Survival
and all
of the Fittest,
to
that runs cognate
it
follows
that
endeavor
therewith,
any
thwart
this law is to oppose
human progress.
Communism,
absolute
but

socialism,
red-capped
equality,
stem
to
the
of
evolution.
tide
attempts

are to the
attempts
the Balance
of Power

and
history,
into years of misery,

anarchism

Now

what

are
these

such is the theory


of
State,
to Europe.
It would
defy the law of
"Thou
not
shalt
says,
prevent
thy

individual

the
law which
God;
from improving
brother
see how

and

Read Europe's
opportunities."
this demon
and Italy
allured Germany
and put off the time of their national
his

ization.

so it is that this evil spirit enters the Eastern


question.
we are expecting
When
Russia
to bring about a
and Austria
sent back to his kennel
and to see the Turk
speedy
solution,
and the whole matter
instead we see the
easily terminated,
And

of progress
of evolution
held up;
the process
blocked,
and we enter that period
to agree that
in which we feel bound
there is one thing worse
than a Turk,
and that is a Christian

wheels

w<ho has become


of Power.

inoculated

with

the bacillus

of the Balance

io6

The

Sewanee

Review.

the strength
of evolution
However,
more
of
power
any bacilli, and if
slowly
retreat of the Turk goes on. We
need

yet just as surely the


not enter into details,

but can at once

of the

Russia

creeps
to her?

imperceptibly
of Kainardji

lines

ary

to the next

turn

nation.

any healthy
mere
fact that

What
one

Given

it signs

phase
forward.

its name

with

What

than

the

situation.
are the bound

are boundary
lines to
a fixed
the
purpose,

to a document

that

the handwriting
will stifle
a few years we find the Crimea
into Russian
land.

nifies

is mightier

in no way sig
so
its aspirations.
And

within

practically

converted

so Russia

One
is always
weeps.
creeps and England
attitude
to moralize
the subject of England's
when
the Eastern
should
is
up. Why
brought
question

And
tempted
toward

to Greek Christians
of Rus
and Russians
grudge
Anglicans
to constitute
of Greek
themselves
sia the right
protectors
when
that ter
in contiguous
Christians
especially
territory,
was
to
the
the
Not
that
Chris
Greek
ritory
dogs?
going
but if it was to be extended
surely
protection,
one
over a thief.
set a thief to watch
will
Perhaps
had far deeper meaning
the question
than the mere

tians deserved
we

should
that

reply

protection

of worshipers;
Eastern
plans.

England's
and say so and cease

that

it meant

life and

death

to

then, did she not come out


Why,
But he who
sanctimonious?
the
posing

for consistency
is like the man who
to find agreement
the
reads philosophy
among
expecting
not
care
that
announced
Had
she
did
England
philosophers.
reads

history

for

and

looks

the

side of the question,


she might
religious
for hypocrisy.
condemnation
the God of
escape
However,
hides
his
to
face
when
rulers
History
European
get
bickering.
Let us leave the eighteenth
century and enter the nineteenth.
twopence

The

has finished
his skyrocket
career, his
genius
last game of chance has been lost, he has been expelled
from
on
the club of autocrats,
and his name is writ
bulle
the
large
tin board as a bankrupt.
The executive
committee
sits about
the

Corsican

table,

like children

on

the

of Europe.
Poor
fools! poor
will
rise again.
Metternich,

sands, making
children!
they
suave

and

anew
forget

well-dressed,

the map
the tide
pre

The Eastern

and New.

Old

Question,

107

sides over his

the way to arrange matters


betters,
indicating
so neatly
ever afterwards.
that they will all live happily
In
sular Continentals,
see
not
the
Turk!
they
forget
They
the giant
has been chained
that, though
up, there are yet
innumerable

pygmies

to break."
than

But

the dawn

it wTas something
that was beginning

thing blood-red
nineteenth
century

less

Says
to
be

fair and more

to break.

Some

for the
sad and ghastly,
something
was aris
of the Eastern
question

and ugly,

phase
of Napoleon

were
to be forgotten
in
of
Christians.
iniquities
European
of the ins and outs of this century
is
any account
unless one goes to very great
Our
pur
length.
terrors

the

and

ing,
the hypocrisies
To

life miserable.

on his gloves
as he prepares
precisely
pulling
as
a
looks
the dawn of
better day were
though

Metternich,
leave: "It
ginning
roseate

can make

who

give

and

impossible,
features,
pose all along has been but to touch upon important
and to this we must hold in the present phase of the subject.
from
have no time to tell of the complications
We
resulting

into
Russia
and Turkey
revolt, and how it brought
we
once more
must
to
but
mention
the
;
pause
concluding
Its advantageous
treaty of that wTar, that of Adrianople.
the Greek

war

terms mark
Czars,

and

portance
the fact

than
that

practically
for Russia's
pendent
Turkey
The

in the southward

notch

another

the backward

march

of

the Turks.

the

places
unspellable
and
Roumania
Bulgaria

independent
emissaries.
and

nation,

still

pushed
next
actor
Mahmud

of the
progress
im
Of more

is
acquired
by Russia
are new-erected
into

back doors wide


with
States,
an
In '32 Greece
becomes
thus we enter the fourth decade

farther
to appear
IL, whose

open
inde
with

eastward.
arose
in
who
prophet
ideas
and
civilized
enlightened
is that

Ishmael,
so scandalized
the Turks
that they rise in revolt
opinions
under Mehemet
AH.
The
for help,
sultan in distress
appeals
and Czar Nicholas
is there on the instant, and an alliance
is
formed
tectorate.

which
The

Skelessi,
goads
the paper peace

all but made

culminating
to a madness
England
they make,

and

a Russian

pro
of Unkiar
treaty
which
than
lies deeper
or for worse
for better
a

Constantinople
the
event,

io8

The

is generated
in that

public

opinion
and
plomacy
Crimean War.

necessary
causes brought

isolated

of Unkiar-Skelessi.

all ephemeral
of medicine,

di
the

about
this strife;
of Kainardji
in 1774 and
so long as
quo was
impossible
to keep
it their duty to God

result

status

The

outlives
dose

an inevitable

was

the conflict

which

ends

No

Review.

Sewanee

leaders

proclaimed
England's
and England
in Constantinople.
The Crimea passed,
Allah
Russia?Frenchmen
nothing,
helping?and
gained
whipped
to
it was
that she gained
for a poet an opportunity
unless
a League
What
Onward."
folly has England
was said
than that war? What
drawn into greater
can equally be said of the
of the Light Brigade
of the Charge
affair: "Somebody
blundered."
whole
"Half

write

ever been

But

we must

leave

Balaklava

to the fourth

turn

and

making
that which
ing the century,
to us because
is of interest

and

Franco-English
of the wound
reopening

love
dur

in 1871. This occasion


occurred
then a series of hap
there was
one of the events which have been

quite reminding
is to say, a condition
of
in the past year.
That
Massacres
shows itself!
and collective
turbulency
garrulous
as
come
of
reform
schemes
and
notes,
outrages
proposed
penings

transpiring

and

thick
Elysian

days
which

powers
But one

as

fast

is to find
have

has to

All

snowflakes.
two

the same

that

is wanted

to bring
and two

which
agree,
proposals
ideas on the salvation
of the East.

in vain for international


congenialities.
we
have
murder
and the
This past year
had the Salonika
in '76 the French
consuls were
and German
Beirut
attempt:
one.
at Salonika.
This was irritating
item number
murdered
came
Herze
then
the
Now we have had the Albanian
rising:
look

This
time we
govinian.
lective note, and then was

a delightfully
futile col
the
Note,
enjoyed
equally
Andr?ssy
and ineffective.
Bosnia
rose, and Servia and
high-sounding
declared war upon
the Turk,
and men
said, as
Montenegro
a
must
said
Turk
"The
to
few months
be expelled
ago,
they
have

had

In the meantime,
in 1876, Abdul-Hamid
the land."
pacify
the
of
the
his
IL,
mantle,
present
disgrace
prophet's
began
to
climax
The
have
seemed
nefarious
arrived
when
reign.
the

Bulgarian

atrocities

horrified

humanity,

and

tens

of

The Eastern
thousands

Old

Question,
were

of Christians

slain

and New.

in cold

109

and

hot

blood.

as to-day, Abdul
Then,
reforms, and then, as to-day,
promised
motto
he lied. Abdul's
from first to last has been divide et
impera.

On
on

the

Turks,
Abdul

the 24th of April,


II. declared war; and
'yy, Alexander
of
the
March,
3d
'78, having
whipped
sufficiently
there was arranged
two
these
Eastern
by
gentlemen,
the famous Treaty
and Alexander,
of San Stephano,
null and void by the other powers,
declared
and
was forced to accept
the Treaty
of Berlin.
But what

was

which
Russia

upon parchment,
of the future of
a bold
Let
garia
stifled

is of more

in the heart

is writ

and
that

permanence
the abrogated
peace
land than the Treaty
is none

but

all their

pelago,
comprising
day term Macedonia.
come

the

would

have

from

controlling

remember

whereas

former,

By Stephano,
Bulgaria
to the Adriatic
the Danube

of the Balkan
power
and Western
in Eastern
have

that

is

by the writer.
and aspirations
of Bul
Berlin
to be
Archi

her present
boundaries
plus what we
This greater
have
would
Bulgaria

rejoiced
the government
could
we

This

of Berlin.

was

ambitions.

stretching

is put
indicative

less believed

statement,
us see why.
Because
the hopes
and Russia were voiced
in the

a country

when

the

than what
is more

been

stable

a Russian

Peninsular,
seaboards.

to
be
and

That

we

cannot
doubt,
of fifty
thousand
There were other

army
to preside over her infant operations.
of course, but this one was of overwhelming
provisions,
sig
It meant
control
nificance.
would
and Bulgaria
that Russia

was

the

debatable

would

have

land,
ensued.

and prosperity
peace
comparative
have been
Eastern
would
question
of
the still
and
thirty years
uncertainty

and

The

and the past


settled,
more
future would
enigmatical

be avoided.

all into
Taking
than the checker

would
it not have been better
consideration,
of Berlin.
board and positively
arrangement
impossible
Let us now look at Berlin and see what
the present
official
status quo is. Bulgaria
East
became what
is
with
she
to-day,
ern Roumelia
as a southern
but
boundary
theoretically,
actually with Eastern
was given
to Roumania

Roumelia
to pacify

added

to her.

her, whilst

Russia

Dobrudscha
took Bes

no

The

Sewanee

Review.

were
to be in
and Montenegro
Roumania,
Servia,
were
of ?the Porte,
and Bosnia
and Herzegovina
dependent
we
see
were
taken
from
it.
So
that
slices
taken
virtually
huge
sarabia.

our

under

brethren's

care,
backward.

driven
siderately
ized to "preserve

order"

was very con


that Turkey
was author
In Bosnia, Austria

and

for an indefinite

she has done most

way,

and

time (which, by the


the people have been
say Austria
gained

effectively,
so one can practically
vastly benefited),
this territory.
In addition
to Bessarabia,
because
of the Kishineff
Russia
massacre,
Batoum
cause

it

Throughout
busy

in Asia,

which

is her

first

is of more

than
toward

great
step
this arrangement
England
this wire and that, and no

notorious
gained

to-day
and

interest be
passing
the Persian
Gulf.
had

been

small part

pulling
of land was
position

Kars

furiously
of the dis

due to her "suggestions."


and
the latest results of
prosaic
dry facts represent
new arrange
of the Eastern
the evolution
question,
though
ments may be made before this goes to press.
have fol
We
These

seen

the story
the Turks

seen

the phases

lowed

to Abdul-Hamid

from Ertoghrul
begin,
of this

from magnificent
now shrunk until

and

IL, and have


fail. We
have

vast

and how,
they have

succeed,
finally
curious historical
anomaly,
and

prospects
a few valueless

dominions,
are the only

places
to put it in the
the two
geography,
and ninety-seven
hundred
years of retreat have seen estab
lished
the following
States,
Roumania,
Servia,
Bulgaria,
left.

vilayets
of
language

Or,

Bosnia,
Herzegovina,
same time Austria
Turkish
quondam
civilization.
And
Before

at the
and Greece;
while
Montenegro,
and Russia
have brought
large strips of
own
under
their
territory
supposed-to-be
so the story of the Turkish
retreat pauses.
let me indulge in a prophecy.
We
have

finis

writing
so long a time that we
the Turk moving
out of Europe
the habit of thinking
have acquired
it to be a necessary
part
seem to think the world would
of politics.
We
stop revolving
if there were no Turk
to curse, no Mussulman
to defame,
no
seen

Eastern
pushing
of Asia.

question
by hook
But?and

to arouse
and

our

to keep
ire, and no Islamite
crook
to
back
the
woods
especially
by
this is too evidently
true to be called

The Eastern
time

prophecy?the
have to seek

in

and New.

Old

Question,

is coming when European


for some butt, some

diplomats

will

elsewhere

which

to

words,

the retreat

exercise
of

transportation

upon
scapegoat,
in other
or,
ingenious
hypocrisy;
is some day bound
to be concluded
by the
all harems
to the other
side of the Dar
their

danelles.

But wrhen the demand


of the politicians,
and
preachers,
the populace
has been granted,
and evolution
(not politics)
has driven the Turks
from Europe,
what will have been done
with

that debatable

land?

Two

laws will

the situation

control

in the future:

and secondly,
the
international
First,
jealousies;
of the Fittest.
Survival
So long as the law of jealousy holds
it will until man
farther from the ape^?
evolves
sway?and
to absorb
will not be permitted
the Balkans.
Russia
She
get

might

the Golden

Horn,

but

even

that

is highly

im

assume

that

probable.
Let us,

of the argument,
then, for purposes
never get the so-called Macedonia.
not England,
be the lucky one?
Certainly

Russia
will

will

have

bitten

off the

earth more

than

nor France,
she has not the muscle
nor Germany,
for that to England
some
Yet
unendurable.
certainly
world
tain

is going
that some

one

she

can

then,
Who,
she seems to
chew

to accomplish
and France

already;
the feat;
be
would

the
appear;
power must
cer
not backward,
and it is morally
forward,
have
left hut
judge will arise in Israel. We
we
us
see
what
let
power, Austria-Hungary;

probable
can get out of this.
we must
take
Now

an ugly gulf of guess


a leap across
a
man
that
has postulated,
work,
many
postulate
on
the Dual
is
its last legs.
It may
survive Franz
Empire
and
Franz
other
and
Ferdinand
several
too,
Franzes,
Joseph
and

what

was not
that whole
is an anomaly.
Austria
partnership
nor
most
has
she
attained
and
great,
greatness;
but,
she has had greatness
her.
thrust upon
but,
emphatically
crown put
of old had an unexpected
Rudolf
in his hands,
hut

born

Ottocar

of Bohemia's

that

accidental

ating

in luck.

him Austria,
and from
she
has
been
luxuri
to-day
or other I have seen the Austrian

inefficiency
until
beginning

Somewhere

gave

The

112

Sewanee

Review.

as the "least whipped"


described
of all her
Radetzky,
A
of Austria's
reveals
survey
superficial
history
the grounds
remark
the
which
has
made.
been
With
upon
one or two brilliant
as
such
and Laudon,
exceptions,
Eugene

general,
soldiers.

when

did Austria

win

career

of her

cidents

her own
in the

fights?
sixteenth

over

Glance

in

the

cen

seventeenth

and

see how

in aiding her
large a part fortune played
to hold the purple.
It took a Pole
to save her in 1683, it
took the Russians
to preserve Hungary
for her in 1848, and
turies

and

the political
after Sadowa.
ume

to further

Now

with

could
Examples
the argument.
this unmeritorious

in which

ground

perative
epithets
the morrow
will

for her

be multiplied

past,
Reichsrath

what

a blessing
into a vol

is her

present?
a play
is principally
learned Herrs
exercise
vitu
get
slinging
and inkpots.
seems to know what
No man
circles remarks
forth, and in political
bring

confused.

Hopelessly

were

of Bismarck

schemes

The

the weather
have been replaced
with
the question,
upon
"Will Hungary
remain true after old Franz Joseph
I
dies?"
an interesting
believe
will soon be merely
the Ausgleich
his
torical fact, and Pan-Germanism
will triumph
in the annexa
to the German Empire.
tion of Austria
If this is so, what will become
of the kingdom
of the Mag
of Hungary
The reply is to be found in the condition
yars?
is
she
is
She
she
is
liberal,
prosperous,
up-to-date,
to-day.
and

has

a genuine
attack
seems more
nation

of American

"hustles."

No

Eu

one

'the
among
ropean
ready to become
and Herze
Bosnia
What
then? Why,
fittest
than Hungary.
way of misin
govina will, by the new and typically modern
be claimed hers
treaties,
Thus we have a large,
into the solution
entering

terpreting
of Berlin.

according

to the Treaty
and energetic

powerful,
of the Balkan
nation
problem;
she will
and on the Adriatic
needs seaports,
this new kingdom
will
of the Eastern
question
get them, and thus the solution
be

found
But

in the rise of Hungary.


of the smaller
will become

what

and Montenegro?
and the
under,

In
land will

the

such as Servia
States,
for
survival
they all go
struggle
out
between
Bui
be apportioned

The Eastern

Question,

Old

and New.

113

to this gen
friends.
One
garia and our Magyar
exception
we
eral swallowing
would
make?Greece.
up
"The Isles of Greece,
where
all except
their sun is set,"
as long as classical
of them?
what will
become
Probably
it long do so!) Greece will re
(and may
learning flourishes
a good-for-nothing,
main what
she is to-day,
meddlesome,
little kingdom
its grandfather's
hat.
She
gossipy
wearing
owes

her

to her past reputation


and the
present
position
her
of
and
classicists,
English
sympathy
quasi-independence
for many
in the strength
will probably
centuries
yet continue
of her Parthenon

and her

8?8o>/u's.
Arthur

Sewanee.
8

R. Gray.

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