Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/146

 One of the most ridiculous, injurious and deliberate movements against liberty is the present system and practice of Turkish censorship. It shows the ignorance of the ruling race, the severity of the enslaved officers and the miserable condition of the oppressed people.

1. The Censor. An infidel Turk, or, it may be a Christian subject, a wretched slave to the arbitrary will of his ruler, is appointed and forced to examine all the publications and report the result to the higher officer. Such a one must be acquainted with the languages of the country, also with French, and especially with English, which is supposed by the Turk to be the most dangerous means of circulating the seeds of freedom.

We are in a large provincial city, the weekly mail has come, all the books, newspapers and letters for Christians are brought before the Pasha (governor), to be examined before their delivery. The stern Pasha is in his arm-chair smoking his cigarette, several officers are before him to attend his excellent will. The examiner, most probably a Christian young man, is called and seated between the Pasha and the watching officers. The mail-bag is emptied upon the floor, and everything is handed one by one to this young