ance. Then came the struggle to keep instead of to acquire.
Hungary and Poland were torn from her, and the dismemberment had begun.

With these losses came loss of prestige at home, and revolts and internal
disorders. The Janizaries could no longer be trusted. They were open to
bribes, intriguing, and a source of danger rather than strength; and
finally a reforming Sultan touched a mine of gunpowder which led under
their barracks, and they were exterminated, the bowstring and sword
finishing the few which had escaped.

At this very time (1826) the Greek peninsula had just wrung her freedom
from Turkey and was electing her new king.

Servia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Bulgaria (1876), one after another revolted,
and was made autonomous, or self-governing, by the Powers of Europe. Thus
was formed a group of states known as the Balkans, which made a bulwark
of neutral territory between Europe and the dissolving and decaying
Empire.

* * * * *

In 1850 Nicholas, the Czar of Russia, determined to take the Christians in
Turkey under his own protection. This gave to Russia a virtual
Protectorate over the Turkish dominions, and excited the jealousy of
England and France.

Affecting to think it was an unfair advantage, and an infringement upon
the rights of Turkey, those two countries united in a great war upon
Russia. This was known as the Crimean War, which ended disastrously for
Russia and placed the persecuted Christians under the combined protection
of Europe.

England and France have made little use since of a right which they
purchased with thousands of precious lives!

The present Sultan, Abdul Hamid, is the thirty-fifth in descent from
Othman.

He is the most luxurious and the most powerful barbarian in the world!

As he sits surrounded by six thousand attendants, eating his pancakes
without table or plate or knife and fork, he is sovereign over lands in
three Continents.

Absolute lord over some of the richest provinces in the world, surrounded
by a fabulous luxury at Constantinople, he is still one of the most abject
and miserable of beings.

This man, known as the "Great Assassin," whose will is law, and whose nod
is death to millions of people, is as ignorant as a child, as nervously
timid as an hysterical woman, and as he cowers in the palace of his
ancestors, he trembles at an approaching footstep.

It is his own subjects that he really fears. The Powers could depose--but
h