The Two Treaties; or, Hope for JerusalemHoare, Edward
Religion
The Two Treaties; or, Hope for Jerusalem
Hoare, Edward
Bible -- Prophecies; Second Advent
Look first at Europe as re-arranged by the treaty of Berlin. If you
compare the new map of Turkey in Europe with the map before the
commencement of the war you will find that it is not one third of the
size. Montenegro, Servia, and Roumania are no longer tributary States;
Bulgaria north of the Balkans is independent of Turkey; Bosnia and
Herzegovina are virtually transferred to Austria; and a considerable
portion of Thessaly is handed over to Greece. Then again the position of
the remnant that is left is entirely changed. The New Roumelia is to
have an independent administration. The remainder of Thessaly, Thrace,
Macedonia, and Crete, are all to be placed under constitutional
government, to be arranged with the concurrence of the great powers of
Europe. The power to oppress is therefore at an end, and as far as man
can judge, for ever. The Ottoman was let loose from the Euphrates as a
scourge on Apostate Christendom. He has done his work, though not for
God’s glory, and is now laid aside by the same hand that raised him up.
He was appointed for a given time, and a given work, but now that time is
expired, that work is done, and he is wasting under his predicted doom.
But how is it in Asia? Let the treaty between the Porte and England
answer the question. In that treaty, and in the letter of the Secretary
of State explaining its object, there is the clear recognition of the
complete defencelessness of the Turkish Empire. The treaty was made
because there was no power of self defence left in the Ottoman, or in
other words, because the Euphratean flood was almost dry.
The very existence of the treaty is therefore a proof that the power of
self-support is gone. But that is not all, or nearly so. According to
the treaty, England makes itself responsible for a complete reform in
Turkish administration. Turkey in Asia is henceforth to be governed, if
not as an English protectorate, at all events under English counsel. Is
it possible to imagine a greater proof of Turkish decay? If there were
any life left, would the haughty Turk submit to such conditions? If he
did not know that he was helpless, would he ever have consented to such
terms? The conditions of the treaty are a self-evident proof of his loss
of power. But that is not all; for is it possible to suppose that
England will be responsible for the continuation of Turkish misrule? Is
it likely that England will hold those treaty powers, and not use them?
Is it to be supposed for one moment that we have undertaken the
responsibilities, and are now going to look on as passive spectators on
all the corruptions of the past misgovernment? But if England secures a
complete reform the days of the misrule of Turkish Pashas are numbered.
The death warrant of the whole system is signed and sealed, and the fault
will rest with England if Turkey in Asia is not in a very short time
virtually free.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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