Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-07


nlhcant Of any OF his u,terances, and
extremely peaceful in tone. In reference to
foreign affairs the only declaration OF impor-
tance was that Germany would cooperate
with the other powers to preserve peace by
maintaining existing treaties This, OF
course. refers to Turkey, and indicates that
there is no disposition 10 begin the parti-
tion of Turkey in Europe or to do anything
mora thsn compel the sultan to protect his
subjects under the terms Of the Berlin
treaty. 1t was especially declared III the
speech that Germany was in perfect harmony
with Russia and France, Great Britain not
being mentioned. This lends color tc the re-
port that Great Britain, the chief power
heretofore in the east, is being quietly ig-
norsd and that Russia, Germany and France
together intend to dictate the policy OF the
porte. The program announced for the ses-
sion of the Reichstag deals altogether with
local affairs Of no great importance outside OF
Germany. Among The bills to be presented
are two relating to the manufacture and sale
of olecmargarine and sugar.
The fact that jerusalem has been occupied
by Turkish troops. that Palestine is also
filled with them, and that they have raised
the green flag of the prophet will doubtless
arouse interest throughout the whole of
Christendom. Modern Palestine is u part Of
the Turkish empire. and is included i'll the
viayet of Syria. The Monammsdsns const-
tu,e majority of the Inhabitants. and the
Christians are almcst entirely of the Syrian
race. The great body of the people are de-
scended from Arab, Syrian and Greek an
cestors. Outside of the reverence which so
many millions of the human race have for
Palestine and Jerusalem, a great deal OF ro-
nance Is associated with both that country
and city, and they have been the scene of
many famous military conflicts For six CEN
turtles after the beginning OF the Christian
era the Roman and Byzantine empeto ors ruled
over Palestine; Mohammedan Egyptians and
Arabs held it for four centuries, and then
came the days of Peter the Hermit, of the
crusades, around which hangs so much
knighty romance, of the taking of Jerusalem
and of the election Of Godfrey de Boullion
as its ruler The Christian kingdom was
overthrown by Sultan Saladin reganed by
Emperor Frederick III, recaptured and held
by the sultans of Egypt, and then in 1917
conquered by the Turks, in whose possession
it has been ever since. The raising of the
green flag Of the prophet is cminous, and
may lead some people to fear that the Mo-
hammedans are about to wage religious
war against Christendom. There are nearly
two hundred millions of them in the world,
and their invasion of Europe frcm Asia is
something which would compel the great
powers to forget their mutual jeaousies and
make common cause against such vast
horde of fierce and cruel fanatics.
Far in advance of any other nation in the
number of Moslems under its rule is Great
Britain. In India alone there are about Co.
900, 900 Mohammedans, and they outnumber
all the subjects of the sultan more than two
to one. Besides, England rules Mohamme-
dams in other parts of her vast empire.
though not many in any one place. The
queen is the sovereign of many million more
Mcslems than Christians. China is believed
ntrxy in hnh h tn1 "a
followers of the prophet. The number of Mo
kammedans in the Chinese empire is estl
mated all the way from 30 1000 900 to 5O,OO0,-
900, and the smallest of the guesses is more
than Turkey can match Holland, also, has
nearly or quite 900 Mosem subjects In
her populous and rich East Indian posses
sons. Java has fully 25,OOO,O00 people, and
nearly all OF them are Mohammedans. The
Turkish empire Is supposed TO contain about
81, 900 900 Moaems, counting the portions of
Arabia in which the authority of the sultan
is not very well established, and is in danger
Of being destroyed at any time. Therefore it
is apparent that unless great errors have
been made in estimating the number of Mo-
hammedans in the Chinese empire. the sultan
is only fourth among rulers of great bodies
of men and women who believe in Mahomet.
But among countries which are dominated by
the MOslem element of their population and
are under the sway of a Mohammedan ruler,
the Turkish empire is easily first, in num-
bers and in power for evil.
The ceremonial coronation OF czar at the
Kremlin in Moscow is magnificent court
drama outrivaling in pomp the storied splen-
dtrs of the Field of Cloth of Gold. The
preparations for the crowning of Nicholas ii
in the spring have already begun and give
promise of a pageant of unparalleled bril-
liancy. 1t might be supposed that the most
fitting ceremony to accompany the formal
I,,,,o nr tIA ahcNl, orNIn nf
the largest. standing army of the world would
be n great military spectacle, but while sa
lutes and oaths of fealty to their emperor
from Russia's armed hosts will form a part
of the display, the army will play only
subordinate role in the proud show. Pomp
and power are indissolubly associated in the
minds of Aslatics, and the coronation Of the
White Gear has become a means to dazzle
the eyes and impress the imaginations of the
princes and chiefs of the motley array Of
tribes and nations who owe allegiance TO the
ruler Of all the Russias. The barbaric splen-
dor of the pageant at the Kremln will be a
reminder that the czar is not only Euro
pean sovereign, but the mightiest monarch of
Asia as we'll.
The little commonwealth of San Nnrino.
situated on one of the eastern spurs of the
Apennines, in Italy, and which claims the
distinction Of being the oldest existing repub-
Tic III tne WOTlu, lS IN VI lOSlHB 1lS
independence. The treaty with Italy guaran-
teeing the liberty of San Marino provides,
among other things, that the republic shall
coin no money, but adopt the currency of
Italy; owing, however. TO the scarcity of Ital-
ian money, the tiny commonwealth has been
compelled to mint gold and silver pieces for
the use of its people. This violation of the
treaty has besn seized upon by Sig. Crlspi
as pretext for summarly annulng the
guaranty of the independence of San Marlno,
and after having survived the vicissitudes
Of fifteen centuries the little republic seems
destined to be merged into the dominions Of
King Humbert. Be 1t hoped that the Genius
Of Liberty will take San Marino undsr her
protection and preserve the venerable repub-
lie from its impending fate!
The population of Japan in 1894 was AZ 000.
900, and, including Formosa, 1t is now esti-
mated at 45.OO0.O00. The area of Japan
proper Is about one-fourth larger than that
of the British islands. In population, If
China be excepted as a negligible quantity,
the japanese empire ranks as fourth power of
the world, or the fifth II the colonies chiefly
inhabited by men Of European race be in
cluded with the population of the British
empire. European Russia. including Poland
and Finland, has about 99, 500 900 inhabitants;
the United States, with its 7O,O0O,0OO people,
comes next; then Germany, with 45,5OO,0OO.
The population of the British empire, exclud-
ing India and it's Asian, African and other
in ha hitp by alien races Is about