The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-17

take them into serious consideration.
In dealing with the Turk it must be
understood that Europeans are not
dealing with one of their own race.
He is, to the bottom, foreigner; al
ways will be SO long as he remains
a Mohammedan, for it is his religion
that makes him what he is.
There being no kindred blood, no
kindred feeling between the Turk
and the people of Europe who in
habit his territory, it follows that,
being in authority, he is despot.
The Sultan of Turkey must always
be at the head of despotism more
or less severe as he chooses to make
it. There is no mutual understand
ing between the government and the
people. They owe it no allegiance
because. instead of being a protec-
ton and help, it is an enemy and
tyrant. To the government the peo-
pie are only infdel dogs whom relig
ion demands shall be exterminated
asrapidly and completely as possible.
Hence only the worst form of despot-
ism can ever prevail.
How came the Turk in Europe?
Historically speaking he is de-
posit. AS rivers bring down drift
wood to deposit it along the shore, SO
the tremendous waves Of emigration
which began in the fourth century
and lasted until the fifteenth, pro-
longed by the Crusades, brought OH
their crests "the unspeakable Turk"
and deposited him on the southeast
ern shore of Europe. He is usurper.
He has no rights which this century
is bound to respect except the right
to reform and be decent.
Mohammed died in 632 A. D. Be
fore his death he had promulgated
the principle, and set the example, of
establishing Mohammedanism by ter
ritorial conquest. The true faith was
to be made universal, not on its own
merits as social and civilizing force,
but by the conquests of cannon and
sword. Allah is great and Moham-
med is his prophet" became in time
not tenet of faith, but warcry.
In the eleventh century the dynasty
of the Seljuk Turks became the great
est power in Asia. These were the
first Turks who had anything to do
with the history of Europe, though
they never really passed over from
Asia to Europe. The capital of the
Eastern Roman Empire was at Con-
stantinople; the capital of the Sell
juk Turkish empire at Nikaia, threat
ening Constantinople. In 1904 the
city fell into the hands of the Latin,
or Western Christians. Eventually
both the Seljuk Turkish and the
Eastern Roman empires were broken
up by the Ottoman Turks. Ottoman,
the founder of the Ottoman empire,
died in 1926 A. d. The first Turkish
settlement in Europe was made under
his son Orchan. 1t happened in this
wise: During the crusades these Ot-
toman Turks were sometimes called
in to help Constantinople, which was
the seat of the Eastern, or Greek
church, from the attacks of the West
ern or Latin believers, on their way
to Palestine. Once in, with fight
ing foothold, the Turkish power
steadily increased, until on the 10Th
of May, 1853, the commander of these
forces stormed the city, the Emperor
Constantine fell in the battle, Con-
stantinople became the capital of an
Ottoman Turkish empire and the
Christian church of st. Sophia be-
came Mohammedan mosque.
Whatare the nations of Europe going
to do about it' Are the unrighteous
atrocities of the Turk to continue in
defnitelyi Unless they are to con-
tinue the direct rule of the Turk in
Europe must come to an end. The
pledges of better doing, the promises
of reform on the part of the Turkish
government, are of not so much value
as the paper they are written on, and
never will be so long as the rulers are
Mohammedans and the subjects
Christians. What ought to be done,
then, is for England and Russia to
withdraw all aid and succor from this
Sick Man which they have kept alive
so long, and let the march of Chris
tian civilization have its way. Eng
land docs not need the Bosphorus on
her way to India. Russia does not
need Constantinople; to get it would
be detriment rather than blessing.
English national honor does not cen
list in aiding Turks, or protecting
them in the accomplishment of the
horrible barbarities of which they
are known to be guilty. 1t can only
consist in that moral impulse which