The San Francisco call., 1899-05-14
MORE TROUBLE BREWING.

the inspiration OF Mahomet overthrew the Greeks
in that country it has been under Mahometan
domination and has long formed part of the Turk
ish empire
1t is now announced that Syrian junta has been
formed in New York, representing the Syrian immi-
grants who have become citizens of the United
States, which has been gathering to begin a
Syrian revolution against Turkey. The president OF
this junta declares that they intend to proceed the
lines followed by the Cuban junta to work UP Ameri-
can sympathy and support and by means of secret
organizations in Asia Minor to start widespread
outbreak, in the expectation that the Armenans will
rise at the same time and put Turkey between two
fires.
Until recently it was an exhibition of Anericanism
worthy of applause to express sympathy with any peo-
pie anywhere who were willing to fight for liberty
and selfgovernment on the soil which they were
born. 1t was this genuine Americanism that inspired
the Spanish war to give civil order and sef-govern-
uent to the subject peoples OF that kingdom. In
view OF our record in the Philippines it is becoming
somewhat hazardous for American to any more
manifest such sympathy. But, leaving consistency
one side, is there not for doubt as to the pro-
priety of permitting this country to be made the
breeding place of foreign revolutions?
Turkey is one OF the family of nations. We are at
peace and on terms of amity with her. While
American interests there are not large, they have
some significance and should be thought OF.
But when we encourage a revolution in Turkey
there are other things to be thought of than the i'm
mediate effect upon that country Every Govern
men on the globe is interested in the tranquility of
the Mahometan world. There are nearly three hun
dred millions of that faith in the world Two mil
lions OF them are in the Philippine Islands. When
the faith OF the Prophet but grain of mustard
seed compared to the millions who professed Chris
tianity Islam nearly overran Europe. 1t has been
said that if the armies of the Caliphs had not been
driven back the Pyrenees at the battle OF Tours,
where Marte overcame Abderraman, the world would
now be Mahometan and the Koran would be ex-
pounded in the universities OF Germany France Eng
land and the United States.
No one admits that Mahometansm can do in the
dry stick the mighty things done in the green but it
is fighting faith and has the power to disturb the
world by bloodshed unequaled in modern times The
craft and courage which once ruled the world from
the Pyrenees to the Himalayas, up the empire of
the Moguls and spread to the islands that mark the
eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean, are by no
means exhausted In spite of her errors of internal
administration, Turkey, standing to the modern mind
as the representative OF Islam has held her own by
dint of fighting, and her army, for its size, is the
finest in the world
If the United States permit the brewing of this
Syrian revolution are permitting to be lighted a
torch that will start confagration to profoundly dis
turb the world. The Sultan is not the spiritual head
of the N[ahometan faith That office is held by the
Shiel ul Islam, a descendant Of the Prophet who
alone by unurng the green banner has the power to
declare holy war. If the provocation come from a
Christian nation, the most appalling results may fol-
low The six hundred millions of Asatics and Afri-
cans OF other non-Christian faiths, who are by no
means enamored OF Christian imperial methods may
easily ally themselves with Islam, and the high
proclamation of Syrian republic may light con-
flagraton from Marmora to the Yellow Sea.
There are doubts whether such responsibility is to
be properly assumed by the United States Already
against Governments with which we were at peace
The last one has involved in an expenditure in one
year of three quarters of billion dollars and the loss
Of many lives, and the end is not yet.
Encouraging with sympathy a distant people
struggling for liberty is thing Permitting the
organization of revolution by conspiracy on our own
soil against friendly Government is quite another
That an unmuzzled press has ilmitablc power for
good has been shown beyond all doubt in the Dreyus
case Revision is more certain than the fact that
had there been no Figaro willing to fly in the face
of oppressive laws aimed at the newspapers there
would have been revision. Members of the late
California Legislature and their admirers, please take
note.
In communication local workngman expresses
fear that Governor Gage will appoint Labor
Commissioner not thoroughly qualified for
that very important position. This workingman may
silence his fears; Dan Burns will make the selection
and the history of the last Senatorial campaign will
tell with what judgment.
Samuel Findley, the embezzling ex-Tax Collector
of San Luis Obispo, who captured in suburb
of Lima, says he will return voluntarily to California
1t is very kind of him, but he might have said some
thing about return of the money he stole.
The jig appears to be all up with Traitor" Atkin-
son. Chicago has put her feet on him.