The herald., 1897-12-29
GREAT CONFLICT PREDICTED
Incidents Pointing to Serious Trouble
Between Christians and 0rientals


An American who has Travelled much
recently in Europe and Asia comes home
with the impression that serious trouble
is brewing between the European and
Oriental world. One of the unpleasant
things predicted Is "the most gigantic
conflict yet known between the two
great divisions of the human race" The
Graeco-Turkish war Is pointed to as
the first skirmish in the coming con-
flict, and the rising of the hill tribes
against the British as manifestation
Of the same kind. It is in truth some
what disturbing fact to find Turkey able
to call into the field instantly formid-
able army of 5000 men. But the sultan
could not have performed this feat with
out European assistance. His soldiers
have been trained by German officers,
and they carry rifles of European make.
Turkey represents European jealousy,
not Asiatic strength. The sultan should
have been crushed long ago by the great
powers. It is true that their present
policy contains the germs of the danger
that Asia may awake, and her $50, 900, 900
inhabitants, more than half the earth's
population. rise with giants strength
to use it like a giant.
The Turks are not the only Oriental
people who have been armed and trained
in military strategy by Occidental races.
A striking instance Is of no little concern
to the United States. We forced Japan
to open its ports about half century
ago. and now are called on to consider
what damage Japan can inflict upon us
as a warlike power. Japan's fleet on the
Pacific will soon be superior to our own,
and composed Of ships of the most pow
erful modern type. Western races may
well ask themselves how far it is safe to
proceed in teaching Asiatics the art CT
war and selling them armaments and
navies. The emperor of Germany is
playing with fire In Turkey, England is
cultivating the ambitious spirit of the
fighting Abyssinians and the Japanese,
numbering over 40,000,000, propose to as
sert themselves as military nation.
Europe is forging the guns that may
some day be turned upon itself.
In the war between Greece and Tur-
key 1t was the Christian power that
went down, and with it dropped back
into misery a Christian people, the
Armenians. now left defenseless. All
this happened. with Christian aid and
consent. No one can doubt that If the
sultan had the power he would arm the
Mohammedan world and launch it, as
Of old, against the civilization of the
west. The whole Oriental race is ir-
reconcilable. 1t will not and perhaps
cannot change. Plainly, the business of
teaching 1t the science of arms and SELL
ing 1t guns is perilous Now that Tur-
key has been awakened and it's immense
army persuaded that 1t is invincible, the
powers Of Europe are at a loss to know
what to do about 1t. England has re-
treated far into the background and
the other members of the concert are
scarcely less dismayed, with the excep-
ton Of Germany. whose rash ruler is
playing the part Of an incendiary in the
east. Prophets Of new conflict be-
tween the hordes of Asia and Occidental
people are not without some reasons for
expecting q struggle that may tax the
energies Of Christendom.-St. Louis
Globe-Democrat.