The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-06
The Eastern War.

Late intelligence from the seat Of war in
Europe seems to indicate the Turks are
meeting with partial success after long
period of reverses, nevertheless, the gen.
eral results Of the last few months opera
tons would appear to foreshadow the fnal
result, aud indicate that Turkey, unaided,
will ultimately be compelled to succumb
to her more powerful adversary The
soldiery Of the Turkish armies have fully
sustained the heroic qualities of their
ancestors, and have exhibited as much
valor and endurance upon the battle field
as their enemies have ever shown, but their
numbers are becoming gradually killed
and wasted away, aud their reserves are
no where to be found in number sufficient
to replace the waste. The contest has
therefore become, like many another war,
a case where the longest purse and the
heaviest battalions win the day.
The sympathy OF the civilized nations of
Europe and America has been largely with
the Russians during the present war, more
we are inclined to believe on account of
traditional distrust and dislike of the
Ottoman race, thanfrom any well grounded
belief in thessuperior justice or righteous
ness of the Russian cause. The historical
interest which TOR many centuries has
attached to the city of Constantinople, the
story Of its capture by the Ottoman
Turks, and the varying incidents of war
which have playedl conspicuous part in
European affairs and which haye conferred
in or around this removed capital of ancient
and modern times, will warrant us in pre-
sentiug to our readers an extended sy-
nopsis Of "theistruggle between Christian
"ity and Mohammedanism," or "tbe reli-
''gious aspects Of the Eastern Question"
taken from discourse of John Cotton
Smith, and which is by far the best ex =
hibit OF the contendinR forces and the in
tensity of the struggle that has lately
fallen under our observation.
He says, l know of no subject which is
more fraught with significance as TO the
future of Christianity; know Of none in
regard 20 which, in view Of the interests
OF Christianity, it is more important that
there should be thoroughly intelligent
sentiment throughout the Christian world,
These are my reasons for bringing the
consideration of this subject before you at
this time aud in this place, More than
seven hundred years ago Greek writer,
whose works are still extant, spoke of a
prophecy which was already ancient in his
time, that in the last days the Russians
should be masters of CQnstantinople. On
the tomb of the Great Constantine, the
founder OF Constantinople, is an inserip
ton to the effect that "the yellow-haired
race shall overthrow Ismael" These facts
are but indications Of deep seated antici
patton on the part of the Russians and the
Turks that the great city, founded by the
trst Christian emperor, would at some
time fail into the hands Of the Gar
Therefore, it is that in each generation
one of the Grand Dukes of the imperia
family of Russia bears the name, because
1t is anticipated that he may be called tC
succeed to the imperial throne. 10 the east
OF Constantine. The Gar is theCasar o
the east because he claims the succession
OF the eastern Roman Empire, and Turk