The text of the Turkish " reforms " was published
in London on Monday ; and if there were any chance of their being carried out, they would probably ameliorate the condition of the Christians. Their main principle is that the municipal authorities, police, and gendarmerie shall be appointed from each of the two creeds, in proportion to the numbers of those creeds residing in the town or district. That seems just enough ; but as there are everywhere a few Christians tamed by the Turks, its only effect will be that the Christians, when oppressed, will seem to be oppressed by their co-religionists. The officers in real command will, we shall find, always be Mahommedans. A High Com- mission, it is true, will always sit in Constantinople to watch reforms ; but its President will be a Mussnlman, as also will the High Commissioner, who is to be sent on tours of supervision through the provinces. This official, with whom in reality everything will rest, may, it is expressly provided, when on leave or sick, be replaced by another Mahommedan selected by the Sultan. The travelling High Commissioner will, therefore, be a respectable man usually on leave, and always in bad health. It will not be his business, that we can see, to stop outbreaks of the mob or the soldiers, or to call out troops to protect Armenians, or to punish assassins when their work has been done. Practically, the Armenians gain nothing except an amnesty for all prisoners not accused of criminal offences. Every prisoner in future, therefore, will be so accused.
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