The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-19
OONsTANTINOPLE.

The war between Greece and Turkey,
and the extreme caution OF the opposing
statesmen of the nations of Europe on the
subject, attract attention to the magni-
tude of the prize that is to fall to new
hands in case the concert OF Europe is
broken and the policy of the integrity of
the Turkish empire is abandoned. Con-
stantinople, the gateway between Europe
and ASIA, in the possession of either Eng
land or Russia, might, if used ainbtiously
and aggTesslvely, make The country that
seized it practically mistress Of the word.
Great kings and coEQuerors and philos-
optical historians have for long ages
recognized this as the best site on earth
for great dominating worlds capital.
Its position as offering dual control OF two
great continents. both as vantage point
of war and commerce, makes it the most
tempting spot on the surface of the globe
over which TO WELD dominion. Russia
once established there could say to Eng
land in the assured language of the chess
player with the game practically won,
"Check to your queen"
Englishmen themselves ad NIT that with
Russia in Constantinople English fleets
could thereafter only visit the Mediter-
AohSaii Wy SOuItcof VI tuo pcdE, anu LQ6Y
say further il would be absurd to suppose
that from such q vantage ground the bear
would deny himself the easy domination
of Asiatic lands that lay southwark in
reach Of his paws.
1t is the inestimablo value of the ground
on which the Sultan stands that enables
him so long to feebly play at sovereignty,
while permitted massacres make his gov
eminent a mockery and shock the sensi-
bllities of civilized peoples. The great
nations, jealous of each other, prefer that
sick man should occupy the dominant
situation, no matter what wickedness his
weakness does or allows, rather than risk
the passing of such an advantage to o
rival.
Some of the speakers and writers, even
Of the Liberal party, in England have
freely confessed this in recent utterances.
There is certain sense, in which even
the Liberals believe, in the preservation
OF the Turks empire. They seem actu-
ated by mixed motives. and half condemn
and half commend the Premier; and by
their fiat refusal to accept the challenge
thrown down to them to carry vote of
censure against the policy of those en-
| trusted with the Government they prove
vacillation between desire and dread,
which would most likely make them hest
tate if the great responsibilities were sud
denly thrust upon them.
The wish to prevent Russia from be-
striding the narrow world like colossus
evidently outweighs their repugnance to
the Moslem's tyrant rule over Christians
in Crete and Armenia. The great prob
lie m of Constantipople' future makes an
interesting subiec. of speculation. and it
has thus engaged the attention of the
world for generations.
The time for specializing on the prob
lem is, however, rapidly passing away.
even il it be not already past. The pres
| ent war brings all the factors of that prob
lem into the arena of the urgent issues of
the day. 1t seems as if the solution can
not be much longer POSTPONED, notwith-
standing the fact that as Constantinople
and the dominion over large part of the
world are mighty stakes to play for, it is
not to be wondered that the powers hesi-
tate to enter upon the division OF such
spOils.