Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-12
Little Nations in Their Places--SerNa
Whipped--Greece Frightened
Into Subsection.
international Jenlousies the Strong
Defense Of Turkish Rnle-A
Religious Bulwaik.
A Bnrarupt Empire WIZ a Fleet Vastly
Hrpcrior 60 the United ststcs Navy
Awful Possibilities.


the Bulgarian aud Serylan war has
clarified the atmosphere Of Southeastern
Europe and the immediate danger OF
general contest has passed away, IN,
Turkish empire Is permitted 10 draw .
long sigh OF reliet There can be no gain
saying the fact that the status OF afii
in the empire has not been 80 cheering
for many years Turkey knows now with
whom she has 10 deal. All the powers
concerned Ia the struggle for tae Balkan
peninsula have made fair showing O
their intentions and ambitions. The
restless Servlans have been severely
punished; and, though still agltAted
have learned lhcir place. Greece has
been taught q healthfnl object lesson
which ehe Ouaht not soon 20 forget. II
Servia has been so decidedly checked by
young Bulgaria, and that too with Aus
tria behind her, there cannot be much
doubt OF the Issue II Greece should
attempt sinRle-handed 10 cope With Fur-
key. BULGARIA. has most Unexpectedly
presented hurself as an efficient bulwark
against Russian ambitions, and II II prob
able that Prince Alexander would fear a
Russian army OF occupation quite az
much as he would a Turkish army. Now
that the discussion concerning the union
Of the two Bugarias is practically over,
Turkey Will undoubtedly make such terms
with Prince Al, xander as shall make Bull
garia a fIrm friend 81 the Turks.
IL has been obvious for the last hall
century 10 anyone who has paid any at
tentiUn TO the Eastern question, that the
chief bulwark of the Turkish rule has
been the jrAlousies Of the European
powers. Indeed, Turkey may thank En-
gland that she has any territory tU-day on
the map OF Europe. In the present crisis
the refusal Of England TO second the at
tempt Uf the other powers TO cause East
ern ROom-Elee 20 return 10 the status
quo ante, and the consequent delay in
affairs, largely contributed TO bring on
the Seryian war. These international
lcalonsies ARE as fierce to-day "a ever,
and VIII remain IN the years 10 come the
strongest defense OF the Turkish rule.
Next in Importance 10 the jealousies OF
the European powers as n defence TO the
Turkish rule come the mutual iealousies
of the various Christian sects scattered
throughout Turkey. Again aud again 1t
has been demonstrated that there can be
no cffeciual co operation between Greek,
Armenian or Mironite sectaries. The In
ternational jealousies have entered
the empire IN this subtle disguise
We have the spectacle of many
nations within the boundaries of
one nation, whose hatreds have been
aggravated and embittered by long
heredity OF civil strife, In the midst OF
this chaos OF enemies the Turk rises
easily 20 the mastery To say that the
Turk Ia the dominant race Is much more
than 70 utter felicity OF speech; it states
I a profound fact. This state OF affairs
must continue until some strong foreign
power steps In or until the Christian
sects can act with Christian unanimity.
The Ottaman rulers can point back to
centuries Of dominion. The Christian
sects have grown apart rather than TO-.
gether. ISLAM In Turkey has kept solid
front.
This leads me TO mention a third and
more fundamental element Of power In
the Turkish empire aud that Is the Mo.
hammedan religion. Church and state
We're never more firmly knit together.
The porte ms the recipient OF the prophets
mantle unites the highest powers OF
church and state IN himself, From a
thousand mlnarets come the frequent calls
TO prayer, from thousand pupits
are preached the commands from
headquarters, We hear good
deal nowadays of a decay OF the pure faith
OF Islam. II Is true that 'Fraukn clviliza.
tion has affected many OF the ports OF the
Mediterranean and the adjacent waters.
But II Is very doubtful II Monammedan-
ism was ever In purer state, at least
since It's Vide propagation. In It's very
earliest days we hear OF drunken caliph,
and all along we read a stil more revoltin,,
story OF ranine and slavery with all their
attendant horrors. II anything, should
call these the purer days uf Islam. The
stern nnitarianismotM ohammcdanism has
as yet been proof against the arguments
OF Christian missionaries and remains n
puzzle 10 The church, No one claims that
Islam could control by the sword alone
such eonelomcrate Of nations. The
koran rs equally powerful, and without
u The Turkish-einpire would vanish In a
night Despite the many sects into
which the followers OF Mohammed are
divided they all have common hond m
the ''inspired book In a
previous letter found occasion 10
speak o. the Turkish army The fact that
none but Moslems, or those who are
counted rs such, can enter the army
places great power IN the hands of the
MObammedans. Except in few districts
like tho Lebanon section there arc no
Christians under arma In the empire
This makes II possible Ter the government
70 put down local insurrections In any al
tho Asian Valigets with the creates, ease.
and 10 limited extent this Is true OF
Turkey Ia Europe.
The Turkish soldier ON many hard
fought battle-hrld has shown himself ef-
tioient though cruel. The fatalistlc prln.
ciple makes him careless OF his life and
no is taught 20 anticipate paradise ms one
Of the alternatives on the lleld OF battle.
OF late years he has suffered much from
poor equipment aud bad management.
But there has been marked improve
ment since the German officials went at
the work OF organization, heginping
January 1, 1886. A Turkish regiment
equipped aud oflcered IA NOR,
than match fur Russian or an Austrian
regiment. not ia speak OF Greek or a
Serylan regiment.
The Turkish navy IL notin az good con.
iifion as the army. Most OF the sechnl-
cal work Is done by foreigners Yet this
bankrupt empire has a tieet that il vastly
superior 10 the Uniied States navy. She
las flfteen large afmor-clad ships, most
II them new. The crews are raised
'artly BY conscrlptlon and partly by vol
lntAry enlistment.
Another element OF power Ia the Turk.
sd empire Is the equality by birth Of all.
'eiievers, There ~ here no dangerous
cf aristosracy. The
oclalIetic elements tnat threaten the
lie 81 Che European powers will not IN
ads Asia for wears 70 come, A man here
M rise from ihe lonestepndl'lone 20 The
iRhest, Nowhere IL the world is The