The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-01-18
THE END OF A DESPOT
THE RULE OF THE uNSPEAkABlE
TURK IN EUROPE WILL SOON END.

4 Resume u the Rise and Decadsncs Of
rAis Aohammsdan Dynasty In Europe.
ce.stantinopis No Longer the Ksy to
AaiA-what II May become.
All the signs indicate that the Turk.
ish empire as one Of the powers Of the
world has reached its end. Whether ii is
to be partitioned among the European
powers or is to be kept in nominal life
under a government TO be constituted by
those powers. as one Of the latest reports
indicates. the result will be the same.
The great Mohammedan empire, which
ct one time threatened all Europe, has
existed for the past 40 years only by the
liberation Of Chriseendom. and is now
reaching the end, and will be practically
buried by its own corruption and vices.
1t is instructive to recall the rise and
fall Of this Mohammedan power. Re-
cruiting its strength from the wild and
fierce tribes Of Asia. it overthrow the
etfete and decaying Greek empire and
wiped it out by the taking Of Constanti-
nople eight centuries ago For many
generations after that it was the i'm
pending threat Of Christendom. 1t
reached its high tide at the siege Of vi
emma in 1888, nearly a century after the
last Of the Saracens had been expelled
from Spain. and when the kingdom left
by Ferdinand and Isabella was already
falling into weakness. Since then its
power has been slowly ebbing, until
now it is on the verge of disintegration.
At the same time the process Of decay
has afflicted Mohammedanism nearly
everywhere. The two exceptions indi-
cate the extremes Of the scale. In the
Sudan the pristine fanaticism and saw
agery which gave it the original vigor
is still extant. In India the spectacle Of
more Mohammedan subjects than Tur-
key ever had living under the same gov
eminent with Christians and Buddhists
shows the possibility Of the reconcilia-
ton with civilized government of that
ancient enemy of Christendom.
Exactly what will become Of the coun-
tries included within the Turkish en-
pire is a puzzle. But it is possible that
the charm which has for centuries hung
about Constantinople may be dissolved
by actual experience. From the time Of
Constantine to that Of Alexander II the
possession Of that city where Europe and
Asia touch has seemed to imply the
ownership Of the capital Of the world.
This may have been sounder under for
mer conditions. But the age Of steam and
electricity has made great changes. The
water route TO India is through the Suez
canal, and Alexandria is the command
ing point Of that line Of communica-
ton. The land routes from Europe to
Asia will pass through Russia more
easily than through Constantinople. I'm
der civilized rule Constantinople may
be great resort, charming place for
rulers and diplomats to carry on their
negotiations and intrigues, but it is not
likely to become seat Of power to com
pare with London, Paris, Berlin or st.
Petersburg.
Still the change that is coming will
terminate an epoch in history. II the
European powers can dispose Of Turkey
without quarreling among themselves,
the empire whose term connects us with
the decay Of Rome will be finally wiped
of tho map Of the world. -Pittsburg
Dispatch.