The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-21


The war clouds seem TO be darkenIng In
Europe again. and the announcement that
the sultan has consulted the Sheikh II
Islam Is very significant. IL shows that
there was truth In the report of the sui
tans intention to provoke a religious war.
Tho question of terms of peace Is entirely
political, as the sultan well knows. and
vice Tor stirring up fanaticism. The viii
OF Allah is sufficient for the Mussulman.
and IL IL shall be promulgated throughout
the Eastern dominions no further per-
snasion viii be needed In order 70 secure
achievements of men and tribute money
with which TO carry on the war.
There Is danger Of the movement spread
ing throughout the entire Orient wherever
Mohammedanisn prevails. but II is not so
certain as II would have been few years
ago. When the British entered upon the
conquest OF the Soudan Il was feared that
tremendous uprising would take place.
but IL has entirely subsidized and FL Nahdi
is never heard OF. IL the religious war
can be confined 20 Turkish possessions
the Ottoman empire Is doomed. unless the
sultan ends by yielding when he finds that
the Will OF Allah Is AT variance with the
determination of the powers.
The diplomatic play just now is not be-
tween Turkey and Greece. but between
Russia and Germany IL was foreseen
that Russia would look with dtsapprovai
upon the growing influence OF Germany.
which had undoubtedly increased with
the success OF the campaign mainly d.
rected by German officers. The particu-
larry friendly and conservative tone Of
Russia in urging concessions by Turkey Is
due 90 the desire 10 be considered again
Turkeys very particular friend The
porte VIII probably follow It's usual policy
of vaciilation and tergisersation: alter
uatciy yielding and threatening as the
rival factions prevail with the sultan. At
present the Turkish party has tire upper
hand. and its views are expressed In the
interview with the Turkish Official when
he declared that Turkey was determined
rot 10 yield. and that II the Turkish popu-
iatlon became excited the government
could not hold Itself responsible fov the
grave Consequences which would follow
and that the powers would. In the ena
undoubtedly have cause 10 aepiore action
waicn woula arouse natioEal pride The
contempt for Greece Is Indicated BY the
statement that IL cannot De permitted
privileges not ensoyed even by "Seryfa
and RoumaniA. IN every sense the su-
persorS 90 Grcees" While the ofsclal is
talking in that determined tone. II IS 70
hs observed that the sultan. without cor
sultlnx TIRE council ~ ministers. tele-
grapacss 70 the Turkish commander. or
derlrE him 70 stop further ADVANCE Of the
Turkish trocps. and also replied 70 the
dispatch of the ear saying ne wss happy
to fnlan the Russian ersperor's wishes.
The truth Of Lord ssAnsbury's remark
made eariy this year. that England missed
her opportunity when she refused 20 toin
! Russia IN driving the Turks cat q ra-
rcpe. = row seen more clearly The rival
/ ~ and eowarcice OF the Enrope&n powers
have resulted IN building up TIRE Turkish
empire - ths, for tire tine Il Is able te
3efy them All The demonstration q
strength hAs been made az a fearful cost
% Turkey. however. are money VIII sson
| hs needed. Even TIRE Indemnity expected
from GrSeee viii net be sufficient 70 dc