DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4752#0159
IN ASIATIC TURKEY 149
against England. For my own part, I cannot
blame them for making their gain from our loss.
The policy of Russia was clear and intelligible
throughout, and not any more selfish than ours
had been.
In this sketch I have attributed to the Sultan
intense religious enthusiasm, patient and far-sighted
adaptation of means to gain remote ends, extreme
watchfulness, and great powers of work, sufficient
to hold in his own hands the direction of the entire
course of policy, internal and external—qualities
that are as opposite as possible to the Turkish
character. Further he has always been greatly
averse to inflicting capital punishment on any
individual ; now, under the extremely centralised
system of administration, no criminal can be exe-
cuted except under the Sultan's warrant; and, as
this has been almost impossible to procure, he can
with perfect justice claim to have abolished capital
punishment ; and this has been a fruitful cause of
disorder, for the most serious crimes have often
gone unpunished. This also is a characteristic
most unlike the Turkish nature. Again, the Turks
are not a deeply religious race : on the contrary
they are as a rule far from assiduous in the cere-
monies of the mosque, and readily take any excuse
for omitting prayers ; but the Sultan was said to be
a member of the Rufai (Howling) Dervishes, and
against England. For my own part, I cannot
blame them for making their gain from our loss.
The policy of Russia was clear and intelligible
throughout, and not any more selfish than ours
had been.
In this sketch I have attributed to the Sultan
intense religious enthusiasm, patient and far-sighted
adaptation of means to gain remote ends, extreme
watchfulness, and great powers of work, sufficient
to hold in his own hands the direction of the entire
course of policy, internal and external—qualities
that are as opposite as possible to the Turkish
character. Further he has always been greatly
averse to inflicting capital punishment on any
individual ; now, under the extremely centralised
system of administration, no criminal can be exe-
cuted except under the Sultan's warrant; and, as
this has been almost impossible to procure, he can
with perfect justice claim to have abolished capital
punishment ; and this has been a fruitful cause of
disorder, for the most serious crimes have often
gone unpunished. This also is a characteristic
most unlike the Turkish nature. Again, the Turks
are not a deeply religious race : on the contrary
they are as a rule far from assiduous in the cere-
monies of the mosque, and readily take any excuse
for omitting prayers ; but the Sultan was said to be
a member of the Rufai (Howling) Dervishes, and