Photo by A. C. Barler 



A GRE;EK 01* CORINTH 



decades, conceivably even till near the 

 end of the present century. 



The only kind of reform which has 

 ever succeeded is that which removes a 

 province from the Sultan's control. This 

 plan succeeded in Eastern Rumelia, has 

 succeeded in the Lebanon, is succeeding 

 in Crete. And this plan, applied on a 

 large scale by successive steps to suc- 

 cessive districts, means the substitution 

 of a regular and comparatively civilized 

 administration for that organized brig- 

 andage which has been the only kind of 

 government the Turks have hitherto be- 

 stowed on their subjects. 



The Turkish Empire stretches from 

 the Adriatic to the Persian Gulf. It in- 

 cludes what were once the most popu- 

 lous and flourishing districts of the 

 civilized world. Its population is now 

 scanty in proportion to the vast area, and 

 is probably (though no trustworthy sta- 



tistics exist) rather declining 

 than increasing. The Mussul- 

 man element is attenuated by 

 moral and political causes and 

 by the drain of military serv- 

 ice; the Christian element by 

 massacre. But once a stable 

 and progressive government 

 has been established, these re- 

 gions will no doubt begin to- 

 recover, and within two or 

 three centuries they may, such 

 are their natural resources,, 

 such the advantages of their 

 geographical position, rival or 

 surpass their ancient pros- 

 perity. The question of their 

 future is therefore a question 

 of the highest interest in its 

 economic as well as in its po- 

 litical aspects. 



Broadly speaking, there are 

 two possible solutions of the 

 Eastern problem. One is the 

 absorption of the existing na- 

 tionality into the great do- 

 minions and great nations 

 which border upon Turkey. 

 The other is the growth of 

 those nationalities, or some of 

 them, into nations and States. 

 European Turkey, for in- 

 stance, may be conquered and 

 seized by Russia, or be parti- 

 tioned either between Russia 

 and Austria, or perhaps between Russia 

 and Austria, with some concessions of 

 territory to Italy and Greece, the Bul- 

 garians, Servians, Vlachs, and other in- 

 habitants, losing after a time their in- 

 dividuality, and becoming blent in the 

 great Slavonic mass of the two empires, 

 and especially of Russia. Asiatic Tur- 

 key may be annexed to Russian Trans- 

 caucasia, or divided between the Tsar 

 and some one or more of the European 

 States which are believed to seek new 

 dominions. 



Such an absorption would undoubt- 

 edly bring some immediate relief to the 

 wretched subjects of the Sultan — Mus- 

 sulmans as well as Christians. (Let it be 

 always remembered that the Mussulmans- 

 as well as the Christians must be consid- 

 ered, and have almost as much to gain 

 by the destruction of the existing system 

 as the Christians have.) Even the least 



I ISO 



