Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/139



Here lies one of the curses of Turkish Government. Many things are tolerably good on paper, but the actual practice never harmonizes with the written law in Turkey. The ignorance and unworthiness of the officers may be one of the reasons of this misery, but the greatest defect lies in their principle and character.

1. Bribery. The majority of the offices are merely sold to those who bid the highest. A cadi (judge), for example, cannot stay in the same country more than twenty-seven months at one time, during which period he gets about $1,000 for his whole service. No cadi can have a position without first paying to the higher authorities at Constantinople an average sum of $800, sometimes as much as his whole salary. This mutual agreement upon bribery and unjust taxation is understood in all departments of the government and the nominations settled accordingly. Offices are bought and services, just or unjust, are sold for the highest price.

Every officer has a nominal salary, yet many weeks and months may pass during which they cannot receive a single payment; yet they all keep their places, live luxurious]y, accumulate wealth and never fail to pray for the prosperity of "the Sultan, the