The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-10
THE REVOLT AGAINST TURKEY.

THE REVOLT AGAINST Ihhhf
I. may - Ensisn6's luck 20 gst cut OF
her present unpleasant relations with the
rest OF Europe. bat * viii certainly nos
be due to her skfls In diplomacy. II may
b. that the present administration Is sus-
fering for the errors CT its predecessors,
ard tAas Lord Salisbury hAs been able only
20 make the best os q very bad condttioa
% affairs. Nothing coui3 De more forsun-
ate for England than 20 have general
rising in the old Christian provinces OF
thu Turkish empire. This 10 threatening.
but 4; cannot be sscris&d 20 British STRAIT
egg.
II 10 far more probable that Russian In
trgue. which has kept the resi- OF Europe
a. bay In the Bosphorus. has been al the
same time lending encouragement 10 ths
Greek church. with which Russia Is close
ly identified, and holding out hope TO the
rs-es;ablisafnsnt Of thu reign OF the cross
where the crescent Is now in the ascend
ant.
A cosmopolitan people ike ire ArneTi-
cans OF the nineteenth century cannOs
comprehend the intensity OF religious de-
votion OF Central Europa and II must DO
aided IN order 20 be accurate OF ali the
partly civilized people OF that continent ard
Asia- We know something Of II from the
history Of our coven&nter. Hugrsnot and
Pilgrim forefatherx Much we honor
the steadfastness OF their fafth and the he
rosc sacrifices they made IN maintenance
4. f-L$
within two hundred years learned to re-
greet the intolerance Of their pious bigotry,
ard the injustice wrought In the name OF
religion.
We know By the events in Armenia with
IN the past year how vivid stu IS the ia
naiicssm Of the Mussulman. but we scarce
" realize the intensity OF the spiritual
hope held by the descendants Of the
fathers Of the primitive church Of Christ.
II does not partake Of the warlke charac-
ter OF the Mohamme6an; II is a reveren-
tiai. gentle pfety more nearly in accord
with the teachings Of the Master Himself
than Is TO be found anywhere else on
earth. The Greek church holds steadfastly
to It's claim OF being In the direct apos-
tolio succession and 1t contrasts very
strongly with the church which traces its
origin 10 ST. Peter.
For two thousand years have these peo-
pie been bound together by traditions
which hold them close to the foundation
stone of Christianity. They are inspired
by the hope OF the re-estabIishment OF
Constantinople upon the site of STEAMBOAT.
The Christianity Of Northern Russia Is
,inciured with the faith of the Cloths, but
in Southern Russia, Armenia and much OF
European Turkey. hundreds OF years Of
Ottoman rule have not operated to crush
out the belief that the Turks are intrud-
ers and the dominion OF Mahomet only a
temporary innlction.
Russian diplomacy has no sympathy
with this feeling. except as a means to the
extension OF territory. Russian ambition
extends 10 the Mediterranean on the south
as II has reached out 10 the Chinese sea
In the east. But 1t would be as unfortun-
ate for Russia as II would be fortunate
for England IL war should be precipitated
by too rapid development OF the revolt
against the Turkish empire England
would take no part She has receded
from the false position In which she per-
mitted herself 10 be placed over the Ar
menian troubles: and would be only
spectator until Russia was deeply en-
broiled. Germany could not see the dis
memberment OF Turkey without securing
some OF the advantages, and Austria
would be even less willing to witness the
own frontier.
European war In which England took
no part would be blessing 10 her: a war
with any European nation would be. In
her present isolated condition, disastrous
10 her.