The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-04-23

In spite of the denials from Europe
that the war now in progress between
Greece and Turkey is likely to involve
any OF the great powers who tried to
prevent it, when the situation is stud
led it IS easy to see that Il must arouse
the gravest apprehensions on the par,
Of every leading nation in Europe. The
very fact that the iutercesslon. and
even threats, with corresponding dis.
play Of force, attempted on the mart
OF the powers, did not suffice to stay
the opening Of hostilities between the
two belligeren;s, shows how little in,
nuence the powers, under their presen,
Jealousies and strained relations with
each other, are capable of exercising
to avert consequences which may in
yolve nearly the whole of Europe II
s not TO be believed that Christian
countries like England. Germany, Italv
and Russia have any sympathy with
Turkey, and yet it Is due to them that
Turkish authority has 50 long been up,
held over the Christian people Of va
rious sections Of the so-called Ottoman
Empire. The powers all know tina,
Turkish influence IN Europe is as an.
omalous as was African slavery in this
country; and yet, after many conpro-
mises and truces had beeen attempted
TO uphold slavery, the time came when
the storm of uprising sentiment could
be restrained no longer. and its result
for time was something terrible in
human annals. And so 1t must be with
the Turk in Europe. He ought long
ago 10 have been driven out. He is not I
only not In sympathy with European
civilization, but his religion teache,
him actually to despise It. Yet the
great powers OF Europe have not only
tolerated him. but supported him-en-
ooTaged him to keep his place. The
day Of reckoning has probably now
come, and he will have TO be dealt
with to the extent, maybe, Of his com
plete extirpatiOn. The reason for all
this tolerance Of Turkish rule in Eu-
rope has been the fear Of a general
religious uprising by the followers Of
MOhammed in Europe, Asia and Afrl-
ca. Nearly one-half the total inhablt-
ants of Europe are Of the .-ohamme-
dan religion, and there are at least r.
100000 Of them in Asia The British
empire would have to deal with not
less than 60,OOOOOO Mohammedans # i
served the purpose Of their master, the
sultan, to call them to arms. Russ. a (
and France are also menaced by the ,
same specter # Moslem unr.sinr.
Some Of these nations have already
experienced the effects of the blind
ratal!sm which impels these fanatics
10 deeds of desperation in time Of war
fare. and ii is no wonder they shrink
rom the consequences Of a general re-
lgious outbreak The war between
Greece and Turkey is a religious war
ARE That is the precise issue between
hem The Greeks are said 70 be car
-y.ng their religious symbols into the
conflict with them, and the frenzied
lighting which has already been re-
,orted Is but a slight foretaste Of what
will inevitably take place when the re- .
nforcements now rushing from nearly Y
very quarter Of the globe reacn the i
armies. Europe is indeed /
wing over an earthquake, and no phi
'sopher, statesman or scholar is wise !.
nough to predict what developments 8
lay take place In the old worlds his A
Dry within the next few days or
-eeIs. d