The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-06
The Preserver of Christsndom.

1t is now more than two hundred
years ago since Kiuperli, the Turkish
general, replied to the Austrian am
bassador, who ventured to remon-
strate against the seizure of the great
fortress of Grosswardein by the Otto.
man troops: 1.-THE lion, my master,
fears no longer either fire or water,
and If all the christian powers united
by sea and land wish to try his
strength, let them do It," The bold
ness of this defiance was occasioned
by the wonderful successes which had
attended the Ottoman arms In Eu-
rope and Asia when Kara Mustapha
was Grand Vizier, and which had
made the Turks so vainglorious that
they even entertained hopes of sup
planting Christianity by Mahome-
danism throughout the world. A few
years after Kiuperli had thus thrown
down the gauntlet to the Christian
world, the Ottoman forces attemp-
ted to cousummate their ambition.
They Inundated Hungary, and spread
themselves along the Danube. Sue
cess still attended their arms. Fort
ress after fortress was taken by them,
and the best generals of Germany and
Italy lost their lives in the vain at
tempt to retard the advance of the
Ottoman legions. 1t appeared as if
nothing but miracle could save the
Christian nations of Europe from fall
ing under the uncompromising power
of the Turk. But there arose man
who saved Christianity from this dis.
aster. That man was John Sobeski.
the Pole. whose memory is now be-
ing honored in Vienna by professions
of thousands and music and fire.
works. The service which John So
bieski did was one not especially to
Vienna, but to all Christendom, and
Christians, whether Protestant or
Catholic, who now enjoy the free
power of worshiping in their churches
or their chapels. may well reflect that
had it not been for that hero's slen-
did qualities of head and heart they
might not now be in possession OF
that inestimabIe privilege. Lamar
tine, the French historian, calls So
bieski the shield of Europe. He was
the shield of Christianity as we'll and
indeed, in every church in Europe he
was at one time praised as the "Buck.
Ter of Christ"
The hero whose deeds are now be
ing sung, recited and honored on the
broad Prater of Vienna. was born in
1924, in the Carpathian Mountains
and belonged to singularly heroic
family. EARLY on the morning of'the
14th of July, 1888. the Tartar van.
guard of Kara Mustapha's army Of
invasion appeared before the walls Of
Vienna, and at once commenced op
erations by massacring $500 people
who. led by beautiful girl, crowned
with flowers, had come forth to sur
render under promise of safety
For seventy days the city was be.
sieged by 100000 Turks and Tartar:
and its churches and houses were in
ashes, while the inhabitants were
dying from wounds, disease and star
walton. Meanwhile the rest of Eu
rope seemed to be paralyzed at thu
Mahomedan invasion, and did moi
move to help to raise the terrible
J siege. At last John Sobieki raised E
small army in Poland, and on tht
11th of September he appeared IL
rear of the foe to Christendom, Tht
F Turks disdained his small force, bu
early the next morning he attacked
them with so much fury and audacity
cheered onward by cries of "for Coz
and Poland" that the Turkishh hos
fled in confusion, and Vienna, Europ
and Christianity were saved. All tn,
men Sobieski had with him number
ed only $4,000.
Sobieski died on the 18th of June
, 1896. AS this bi-centennial anniver
sary in Vienna attests, his mem
ory has ever since been veneratet
, throughout Austria and Poland. Th
, latter justly regards him as the mos
!, distinguished king she ever had, ant
her sons, scattered all over the worlt
still keep his memory green in thei
, hearts. as the festivities recently hell
in Philadelphia, New York ant
, throughout America amply testified
PltiLdCleiDIstn Press.
The Irish Potato.