The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-09-02

IN. o. Times Democrat


Oriental diplomacy is confessedly
as slow and sleepy as the Oriental
himself, and yet, with d shrewdness
and cunning about it that deceives
the wisest statesman of Western Eu-
rope. The Turkish politician. as he
sits crosslegged in his divan, with
heavy. half-closed eyes, and stupid,
sensual face. pulling away at his pipe,
is the very picture of imbecllity, and
yet this fat, lazy imbecil has hood
winked Europe for. something more
than q century and thus retained
possesession of its most fertile prov
inces, despite the fact that-all his
peighbors covet these rich lands.
just as Turkey has retained her
European empire by her slow diplo-
macy, SO has she played with Eng
land in the present crisis. More than
a month ago Abdul Hamid began the
ardnous task of preparing procla-
nation of few dozen words, declar-
ing Arabi Pasha q rebel. He has
been earnestly at work night and day
on it ever since and his trade is only
just completed, and, as yet, unpro-
claimed and of no account.
Much prompter and very unorien-
tai is Arabs sudden and dashing re-
Spouse to the threat Instead of
waiting for this tardy proclamation,
he gets his trusty ulemas together
and, at word from him, they depose
the Sultan from the Caliphate aud set
up the Sheerif of Mecca in his stead.
1t is, if true, q serious threat, this
deposition. The Sultan claims the
leadership of the Mahometan world
as Caliph or successor of the prophet;
but he has very weak claim resting
only on the right of conquest. Ma
hometan traditions and law require
that the Caliph should be lineal
defendant of Mahomet-and sport Q
green turban. Abdul Hamed is none;
he is not even Of the holy race, the
Arab, but descendent of the abhor-
red barbarous Tartars.
The Sultans have been very touchy
on this point of the Caliphate. Es-
peciaily have they feared the Sheerifs
of Mecca, sort of Mohametan pope,
who have claim to the green tur-
ban, who are the centres of the Ma
hometan religion, claimants to the
Caliphate aud always dangerous r.
walls. 1t WAS only few years ago
that one of the Sheerifs was murder
ed by order of the Sultan, who feared
bis rivalry and his influence over Is
lam, and Turkey has always looked
with suspicion on this religious neigh
Dor.
The Arabs of Egypt and Arabia,
the Syrians of Syria, and the greater
portion of the Mahometan world
heartily dislike this interloper, this
officeholder, the Turk, who supports
himself on the people he rules. The
fellahs OF Egypt are as anxious to gel
rid of them as of the Europeans, who
have fattened on their land. This has
been the aim of the Egyptian Ma
tionalists for years. They drove the
Turks out of the country once, wher
Europe interfered they are anxious
to drive them out again.
1t is not probable, therefore, thai
1 the Sul.ain's unpublished trade vii
cause Arabia q moments uneasiness
if, on the other hand, bis friend The
Sheerif, who lie bigotted Mussulmar
of that orthodox school that believes
in the old fire and sword theory o
; speaking the Koran, can be persua
ded to accept the nomination Arab
tenders him, we may expect as livel,
a scene throughout the Mahomedai
world as during warm Presidenta
, election. It is not improbable in sucl
an event that the Arabs should agar
: acquire the leadership of their ma
} tional religion az they have held j
: in the past, and that THE interlopel
who has lorded it over the Orients
, world should be deposed. For fou
!, centuries this Tartar has been 50
. preme in Islam; under him the civil
, cation aud the learning that the Sal
. acenic race produced have rapidly ia
: ded away !; under him all has bee
decay, ruin aud famine.
b It is said that Arab Pash adopte
: his present name as q compliment I
: the Arab race, formerly supreme j
! the East but now the servant of tn
: Turk, and his great aim is to restor
l it to its old supremacy.