The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-20
COLONEL STONES ADDRESS.
He Spoke to the Young and Old Demo
Gratis.

Gratis.
Some Original Ideas and Conclusions Re-
garding the Eastern Question and the
Monroe Doctrine.
Col. James NJ. Stone of Kennebunk
delivered very able and interesting adj
dress on the eastern question and its rela-
tlons to America, last evening before the
Young Mems Democratic Club. There
was good attendance of leading Demo-
Gratis.
4 Col. Stone spoke of the great extent of
the Turkish empire and of its geographic
cal position. 1t is the key of the eastern
situation. Tt holds Palestine with its
sacred names and its strange people fan
tically devoted to the religion of the propl-
ct who have of late shocked the Chris
tian world with the horrors of Armenia.
This strongly constituted empire is
mighty barrier against Russia If assailed
at all Russia must be assailed at the
front Its situation is singular one for
a great power. 1t has single port and
that is practically closed by ice during
five months Of the year, and might be
easily closed by any foreign power at
any time. Constadt is its single open
port.
Conssantinople is Of the greatest impor-
tance in the solution of the eastern ques-
tion. 1t was once the capital of the Ro-
man empire. 1t has been an object of
admiration at once of the statesmen and
the great military leaders of the world.
Alexander II said of the city, SIT is
the key Of my house" Napoleon said Of
it that it seemed destined FOR the seat of
o universal empire, and that 100 900 men
we'll commanded could hold it against
the world.
Colonel Stone gave a rapid but inter
esting sketch Of the history Of the famous
water of the DardAnolles. The commerce
of Russia most of it of a character to be
transported by water rather than by land
passss out through channel swept by
| Turkish guns, and through which the
Russian men-of-war are excluded By
treaty obligations. TO keep Russia from
| the Mediterranean has been the great
object of the statesmen of England and
the rising power of the empire is dread
ed by all other powers On the other
hand Russia will never cease to look to
the great and picturesque city of Con-
stantinople as her future capital.
England having an empire in India
with 300,000,000 population is naturally
anxious to secure an adequate settlement
| of no nd Two
with Russia excluded from its waters
the Mediterranean is a British lake. Eng
land possesses q long line of great fort
resses, and the second in strength and
perhaps the first in Importance is Malta.
She controls the Suez canal, and she con-
trolls the valley of the Nile.
| Col. Stone traced the history of this
diplomatic battle in the east and said
that the Armenian question is in reali-
ty an English question. The Christians
of Armenia nre practically under Eng
lish protection and why is England silent
now and why has it been silent during
the long months of Armenian horrors?
The answer ia found in the relations of
Turkey to Russia.
The hour that secs Russia in possession
OF Constantinople will see mighty
change in the eastern question. Once
there she could never be dislodged. Ma.
poleon at the time when all Europe was
arming against him and when the CO.
operation of Russia would have been of
the highest Importance to him hesitatsd
when Alexander demanded Constan.
tinople. He knew that once there
| Alexander could not be dislodged and
he would not pay The great price demand
ed.
| At this time England is the largest
investor in Turkish misrule. and the
murder of the Armenians is allowed to
| SO on for political reasons aud for rea-
sons of self interest This bending OF
Europe before the Sultan has been going
on for 20 years with no prospect of
| change.
"Why not expel the Turk from Europe
is asked, but who is to do it, and who
is to take his place OH the Bosphorus?
When the "Siok Man of EUROPE dies
who is to administer on his effects;
The Turk is patient, he can endure
| hardship without murmur, but touch
his religion and he Is fanatic. He
knows no law but the Koran, and he
converts" Christians with the sword,
following the exhortation of the prophet.
Has this eastern question an American
significance? To certain degree the
Monroe doctrine is involved, and it
will be still more deeply involved in the
future when another great canal, posi-
bly, two are built. 1t involves perhaps the
| settlement OF the Monroe doctrine in the
phase that it will ultimately take. Col.
Stone spoke of Englands possessions
in this continent. Sir Walter Raleigh
on his return from the Orinoco said
that let England seize the isthmus of
Darien and she would have the key of
America. The advice of Sir Walter has
been kept in mind by England ever since.