New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-23
let the missionaries alone although they CONSTITUTE
a very important factor in Turkeys troubles
THE TEACHING OF THE KORAN.

THE TEACHING OF THE KORAN.
We are told that the Armenian Christians fire.
quenty receive their choice of becoming Mussui-
mans or having their throats cut Also. that no
Mussuman In Turkey dares to become a convert TO
Christianity. as 1t would be followed promptly by
his death. The absurdty OF these declarations Is
calculated to cause a Mussulman to smile. 1t Is an
accepted fact that the average Mussuman holds
the Koran in the most profound reverence as the
word Of God and his guide in life. All Isiamic laws
and customs are based upon the precepts OF this
book. and its direct commands and admonitions are
held nviolablc by all classes. The Sultan OF
Turkey the Caiph of Islam and the recognized head
Of the Isamjc fraternity OF the world. would be
the least liable to violate Its commands or permit
their violation within the limits Of his dominions.
Here two quotations from the Koran:
sura x, ss-Let there be no forcing IN re re-
xl9n ane iron from w he wrong one
Sura H. verse 257-If the Lord had pleased an VINO
% on 6 6n e w9ua to e can
believe but by the permission OF COO, anu nj mnt
understand.
We ought to be very careful-that Is, those OF US
who really desire to know the truth and to act
justly-how we accept without question all that APP
pears In the cable dispatches to the press concern
ing the Turkish situation. We should bear In mind
that committee Of Armenian revolutionists are IN
London for the sole purpose of arousing public sen
ment against the Turkish Government and In faVor
Of their cause. 1t is by no means Impossible tha'
they may have methods and opportunities by whch
They may. at least, color some or these cape as
patches Those who are familiar with the inside
workings Of both sides are clearly convinced that
some Armenian influence Is at work on the WIRES
Almost every one knows OF the Bulgarian atroci-
ties" journals like to call them IN lo'o wheh
the fanatical and intolerant rawlings OF MT. Eiad-
stone caused the murder of over million OF ue
peaceful and industrious Turkish people Of the
Dale ~fa
were outraged. tortured and slaughtered ruthless!'
and the horrors of that event stand almost I'M
rivalod How did it come about? Let bulgarian
revolutionist tell the story:
I'VE were too weak to gain our independence In
anv other way. or by fighting the Turks directly.
so we had to TO strategy: and IL was desperate
strategy too. Our plan was to provoke an attack
from the Turks and then call upon Christian Europe
for help We arose and burned village after village
until we had marched clear 10 the balkans EVERY
body in our path was slaughtered ana every nouse
burned The horrors OF that march make me so"ie
times ashamed 20 call myself a bulgarian vi
course the Turkish troops came to crush u.s. put
the cry OF religious oppression had already been
raised and Europe was aroused to the necessity OF
protecting the Christian Bulgarians. VINO were pc
ing massacred by the Moslem Turks-the crue'
Moslem Turks. Well, we gained our end put on al
what a cost,
Religious prejudice is a powerful factor. but 1t
must be nursed and handled with great care. The
Rulgarians used II skilfully and successfully put
they swan through sea OF blood Tne question
that occurs to me at this moment Ia Are the Ar
menians as clever diplomats as the Bu'garans!
TURKEYS WAR FORCE.
There &c another important fact that truth-lov-
ing Americans should know Our people are rum
ming away with the idea that all that VIII be neces-
sary to wipe Turkey off the map will be for an Eng
fish or Russian gunboat TO fire shot or TWO NJ
nj
of the East" as some Of our mcagrely informed
writer's love to say. In of war she could sho"
an active army of $4,000 men, reserve force Oh
100000 and a territorial army of 100000 win
million men In the field with l.5l2 campaign ana ''V
mountain pieces. she would manage to make mat
.ors Interesting to a foreign foe for a few minutes
t least In 1883 an English firm received contract
from the Ottoman Government to furnish the latter
with 800 repeating rifles for the Infantry ana o-V"
for the cavalry and nearly all these weapons nave
been delivered.
have a letter written by an English Moslem
now residing in South Africa to THE rransvaol
Advertiser" in which he says;
During a pilgrimage to Mecca, and subsequent
quarantine in the vicinity Of Mount SINAI; I'M mao
mvsef an opportunity Of judging OF the caiiprs OF
the Turkish soldier and the Egyptian recruit. Inc
former is acknowledged to have no superl3r' MIL,
the latter has IN MN lre "''N'''e -
The Sultan of Turkey is well known 10 be an ape hS
ruler and administrator beloved ana Sod ~
his people and warmly Acknowledges az Ine .au ~ p
orr religion by some 3WWO.WD iollo"eIs VI II III
Prophet Mahomet. His weekly Journey rom h ,is
palace to the mosque amid the huzaas OF inc nonus
sands of soldiers and the prayers OF the popuace.
Who line the streets together with MS SupsequeIls
ro.vrn almost unattended and often driving ms
own horses will | deem be sufficient 70 dispe any
ANXIETY concerning his fear of assassination1 .,
| arr inclined to regard the position OF turkey 10
dav az strong and safe one. and far from trent
Linz in the balance. The French have the perna-
neui influence in Turkey their lang Deiiis I'll III
Turkish in Turkey and the Arabic in Egyp,. AZ
nolitcal move a Mahometan mosque Is apoul ~
be built ir Paris for the use or visiting ~
Tho followers of the Prophet are being courier ~
again is not likely to be an aggressor her iateiy
acquired friend China. has some '0Vov OF vi ussui
mans within her borders. In European RUSSIA IL
also a large Nussuman population. VINO nave az
ready refused TO bear arms against a,inn,
also be pointed out that Afghanistan Is olstlnG.
Niussumap country, the Car has little 10 gam
NJ this period by a with Turkey ,,
The turkish Empire may one DAY De Glsin ZEN
hered hut | venture to say not without a isn'. uui
INC which the millions OF Islam will have 10 De
reckoned with.
The foregoing facts should be carefully consdered
before Americans begin to clamor more Loudly LOT
Turkish blood The Armenans have never oeeh
onnressed by the Turkish Government nor nave
thev been massacred even prosecuted on account
If ther religious BELIEF. and no one Is better &c
ou,inted with this fact than are the inemoers vi
tt,a Armenian Revolutionary Committee In London,
,rho are the prime movers In this unholy agitation
In view of all the facts, the patience ana loIpea
ance manifested by the Sultan toward ms ,uruuI,
lent Armenian subjects are most wonceriu. am
enitle him the plaudts OF the Occiceh' i's'ea Vi
It's 'o'''e MD. ALEXANDER RUSSELL WEBB.
Ulster Park y. Y, Dec. Il, 1888.