The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-10
The Peace of Europe.

At the final session Of the conference OF
the interparnamentary union for inter-
national arbitration yesterday at Vienna
a Bulgarian delegate commended to the
consideration Of the delegates the twenty
third clause Of the treaty Of Berlin which
REQUIRES the concert Of Europe to place
and introduce home rule under the pro-
lection of the powers The powers nav
ing neglected this duty for twenty-five
years, it was certainly appropriate forth
delegate from Bulgaria to introduce the
subject in a conference where all Europe
was represented In order to remind the
public that the powers are themselves to
blame for the present terrible condition OF
affairs in Turkey. The conference seems
to have adjourned without action on the
suggestion made.
The concert of Europe" Is apparently
as oblivious of its duty under treaty OBJ
legations as 1t was when Abdul Hamid
was amusing himself with the massacre
Of some $780, 900 Armenian Christians, even
Russia, which has made her duty to pro
tect Christian subjects Of the sultan from
injury the pretext for several lnvasions OF
Turkey, being on that occasion as stolid
as a stone image.
1t is reported from Sofia that the Mace
DOMAIN insurrectionary committees are
preparing a statement announcing that
the Turks have slaughtered in that dis
trict Is, 900 men, women and children, and
have burned 120 villages, and that the In
surgents intend to resort to reprisals fol
Turkish atrocities. This, however, the
insurgents have been doing all thru the
revolt. The struggle has now become, or
the part Of the Turks, a war Of exter-
mination Of Christians, and it Is not sur
prising to note that the example they sci
in Europe Is increasingly followed II
Asiatic Turkey, and it Is possible tina
massacres like those in the Lebanon dis
trict in 1860 will occur at any time. Or
that occasion France landed a force IL
Syria and put a stop to the disturbance!
and secured guarantees Of the safety O.
the people. A significant incident, show
ing the disposition of the Turks, is thu
action of Turks in one of the Macedon
ian districts urging the sultan to unfur
Tie SldLudfu VI Tie piOpIleI dilu ueClctI
Jehad or "Ioly War against the ain
f1dels,' and arouse Mohammedan fanati
cism against the Christian world.
In 1878 the sultan seriously considere,
bringing out this flag, which is reputed t.
be made of a curtain which hung befor
the door of the tent of Ayesha, the ia
vorite wife Of Mohammed, and Is REGARDED
as a very sacred relic. 1t was brought t.
Constantinople by Amurath III. In tn
sixteenth century and deposited in
chapel in the interior of the seraglio
where it is closely guarded by severa
emirs who offer prayers over it's continu
ally. The tradition Is that the waving o
this flag by order Of the sultan will brinl
out the whole Mohammedan world in de
Tense of the Mohammedan faith, but it i
doubtful If it would have such effect now
for Abdul Hands claim to the caliphat
Is not recognized by millions of African
and Asiatic Mohammedans. The Africa
Mohammedans for several years hav
been looking for the manifestation of
new Messiah or Mahdi, who was long ag
prophesied to come about this time an
assume the headship Of the faith Pre-
tenders to the Mahdiship have instigate
some Of the bloodiest wars with Englan
in northeastern Africa in recent years.
Whether the sultan waves the Sanjalz
Sheriff or not, there Is going to be Sc
rious time In the Balkan region and Syri
with Mohammedan fanaticism, if tn
powers do not change their tactics an
intervene. At their door is the responsi
bility for the growing anarchy thru thei
stupid folly Of Sinking treaty obligation
and telling the sultan to go In and main
tain order in his own way which is
way Of blood and rapine. r'
Belief In the ability of Turkey to reforr
herself Is found among few British states
men now. Formerly they persistently hel
to it. The intelligent craftsmanship c
the world now perceives that Turkey can
not be reformed from within or with
out. Said Count Chaudordy: Zone ca
improvise institutions, but there is on
thing ons cannot inprovise; that is men.
Three French savants are thinking c