Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-08-18

Mahometan countries to prove seri-
GUS danger to the peace"
The "unfurling of the green flag is
form frequently used, probably be-
cause the dag In question is not green
and cannot be unfurled. 1t would be
refreshing, indeed, to find any two au-
thorities quite agreed upon the subject
of this banner. Mshomet's earliest
standard ives the white turban which
ne captured from Boreide, and he
adopted subsequently, the black cur
tain which hung before the door of his
wife, Ayesha, which passed to Omar,
the Abassides, Selim l., and finally to
Amurath Ill. who took it to Europe.
This ''black eagle" which is inscribed
with the words "Nasrum min Allah
The Help of God"-was instituted,
dlt-on, in contradistinction to the great
white banner of the Koreishite. An
other account insists that the sand ak
i-sheriff
Is GREEN FLAG,
brought down from heaven to the
prophet by the angel Gabriel, and it is
kept, in fair covering of green tatfets
lnclosed In a case of green cloth, IN
the Mosque of Ayoub at CONSTANT
nople. A third authority recites that
it is carefully preserved in the seraglio
in case built into the wall. "The
standard, we read, sis twelve feet high,
and the golden ornament, a closed
band which surmounts it, holds copy
Of the Koran written by the caliph, Os-
man LII. In times of piece it is guarded
in the hall of the Noble Vestment."
where are preserved the prophets
dress and other relics. Still another
authority declares that it is "an inno-
cent faded silk. which used to be cover
ed with sacred writings, and which was
once green in color. The only leglble
word remaining upon it is 'Alem'-
'world'-which appears in secluded
fold near the staff. The flag is never
unfurled-nor, indeed, can it be from
rottenness-but it is kept rolled on its
staff and covered with a green satin
cover, the whole packed away in a
gold or gilded box. When the holy
standard is to be brought out. ii is car
rled in its green cover through the
streets of Constantinople, and after the
city walls are passed it is sin the field
1t is then slowed away in the gilded
box once more, and this is carried to
the army much as the Jews used to
carry the Ark of the covenant to the
wars. When it is in the field every
Moslem is in duty bound to follow in
Its train. The usual proclamation is:
"This is the prophets banner, this is
the standard of the Caliphate. 1t is
planted before you and unfurled lover
your heads, o true behevres, to
announce to you that your religion is
threatened, that your Caliphate is in
peril, and that your lives, your wives,
your children and your possessions are
in danger of becoming a prey to cruel
enemies. Any Moslem, therefore, who
refuses to take up arms and follow this
holy flag is an infdel amenable to
death" When the flag was brought
out in 1868, according to Baron Tolt,
the Christian had no difficulty in rent
ing windows and housetops to view
the ceremony, but when the proclama-
ton was made: 'Let no infidel dare to
| profane by his presence the holy stand
ard of the prophet, and let every Mus
selman, if he sees an unbeliever, in
stant!y make it known!" their hosts
pushed them over the roofs or drove
them out of the houses, to be butch
cred by the soldiers and mob. The
scene was different when, few years
ago, in order to obtain Christians as
volunteers, ''hags of brotherly love"
were paraded through the streets of
Constantinople, which bore in white
upon crimson ground the cross and
| the crescent.