The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-27
The Eastern Matter---Religion.

The war in Eastern Europe presents tc
the civilized world some interesting If moi
instructive views. In the eleventh, twelfth
and thirteenth centuries the Christian ma
tions OF Europe cndeavored to recover
Palestine from the Mussulmans. The de-
sire OF those nations to snatch the sacret
places in the Holy Land from what they
considered the proclamation OF Islamism was
intense, and the armies OF Crusaders thai
undertook TO capture the sacred land per
formed prodiSies Of valor that will gid the
pages of history in all time. The student
OF history who is calm and practical vii
readily discern the physical difficulties
which were insurmountable to the devout
Christians, and which led to the abandon
ment of the enterprise, after the shedding
OF much blood and the loss of many lives
including the flower of European valor ant
chiyalry. The heroism of the Crusade!
has afforded examples that have inspired thu
minds OF men with sentiments and conduc
that were honorable to mankind.
England bore off the laurels in that won
deriul event. That her subsequent achieve
ments and great national distinction were
due in some degree to the heroism and trials
OF her warriors in the Crusades we are sure
Time brought changes upon the chess.
board OF European politics, and England
found that her interests became congenial
with the integrity Of Islamism, the enemy
she had fought. She acquired interests in
India, and imagined that the route to India
was by Constantinople. which, being held
by the most powerful OF Mohammedan na-
tons, she conceived it to be her interest to
maintain the independence and power OF
that nation: the Turkish. England from
that day has displayed a constant jealousy,
especially against Russia, whom she feared
most; but against all European nations, lest
one OF them might dispossess Turkey, the
nation she most confded in. This estab-
lished permanent alliance between the
Cross OF ST. GEORGE and that Crescent
which had waved in hostility over so many
fields where the blood OF Saracen and
Christian had been poured out in defence
OF their different faiths.
England has gradually parted with the
glorious impressions of the Crusades. Her
Christianism has cooled, and although she
keeps up her missions to barbarous lands
and her war upon slavery, she does not
allow her zeal to interfere with her inter-
ests as she understands them.
In the war between Turkey and Russia
there is quite enough to excite the sympa-
thy OF humanity without appealing to re-
Iigious feeling to sustain it. The liberation
of II, 00O, 900 Of Christians from the tyranny
OF Mobammedanism should be an event for
general Joy in Christendom, while every phi
lanthropist ought to desire the establishment
OF the homogeneity Of the population OF the
present Turkish provinces. But we find that
the English press and leading statesmen OF
England have their views and sympathies
Diassed by the political policy which made
England and Turkey sincere allies. The
Turks religion is nothing revolving to Eng
land, while she Is spending vast sums OF
money to eyangelize all sorts OF unbelieyers
and barbarians! IN,
The English Yiews-the English nress-
have their force on the public mind Of ciyili-
cation. Philosophers and Christians are
found In every civilized land who seem to
have ceased to be opposed to Islamism as a
revolving creed, while still in every Chris
tian nation tile missions are maintained
with decided piety and zeal. But few
days since Bishop PgNlcK, Of the Episcopal
mission in Africa, was asking aid for the
: conversion 81 the q bentghted Africans D.
beings who bnYe no systematized belief,
each tribe having it's Fetch worship, with
1920 !,