The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-30
GREAT CONFLICT PREDICTED.
INCIDENTS Pointing to Serious Trouble Between
Christians and 0rentals

From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
An American who has Travelled much re-
Gently in Europe and Asia comes home
with the impression that serious trouble is
brewing between the European and the
oriental world One of the unpleasant
things predicted is 1.-The most gigantic con-
hict yet known between the two great di-
visions of the human race The Graeco-
Turkish war is pointed to as the first Skin
mlsh in the coming conflict, and the rising
OF the hill tribes against the British as
manifestation Of the same kind. It is in
truth a somewhat disturbing fact to find
Turkey able to call into the field instantly
a formidable army of 100000 men. But the
sultan could not have performed this feat
without European assistance. His soldiers
have been trained by German officers, and
they carry rifles of European make. Tur-
key represents European Jealousy, not
Asiatic strength. The I;Iltan should have
been crushed long ago w the gerat powers
1t 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
a giants strength, to use it like giant.
The Turks are not the only oriental peo-
pie 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 a century ago.
and now are called on to consider what
damage Japan can inflict upon us as a war
like power. Japan's fleet on the Pacific
will soon be superior to our own and com.
posed of ships of the most powerful mod
ern type. Western races may Wen ask
themselves how far it is safe to proceed
in teaching Asiatics the art or war ana
selling them ornaments and navies. The
en1Deror of Germany is Diaying with fire
in Turkey, England is cutivatng the am
bilious spirit of the fighting Abyssinians
and the japanese, numbering aver 10000
00O propose to assert themselves as
military nation. Europe Is forging the
guns that may some day be turned upon
itself.
In the war between Greece and Turkey
1t was the Christian power that went down,
and with it dropped back into misery
Christian people, the armenians. now lett
defenceess. All this happened with Chris
tan 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 irrecon-
cilable. 1t will not and perhaps cannot
change. Plainly. the business of teaching
It the science of arms and selling 1t guns
is perilous. Now that Turkey has been
awakened and its immense army persuaded
that it is invincible. the powers of Europe
are at loss to know what TO do about 1t.
England has retreated far into the back
ground and the other members of the con-
cert are scarcely less dismaYed- with the
exception of Germany, whose rash ruler
is playing the part of an incendiarv In the
east. Prophets of new conflict between
the hordes of Asia and occidental peoples
are not without some reasons for expect
ing STRUGGLE that may tax the energies
of Christendom.