The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13
serious problem before Mohammed what to
do with these peoples


He could not afford to kill them. for they
furnished the greater part Of the Industrial
element of the empire He could not force
Islam upon them. because they would not
accept it. He did the next best thing and
entered into certain treaties with them By
these their ecclesiastical heads were recog-
mixed as political leaders. They alone had
the right OF dealing with the central gov
eminent in all matters affecting the per-
sonal relations Of their people. All relig-
ious rites were in their charge and they
controlled property within their own cir
Gle. The only way in which a Christian
came directly into connection with the Sui
tan's government was through the tax col
Iector or the poIice-if such name could
be applied to the administration which
kept order throughout the empire. AS
result the Christian races became absolute
ly distinct communities. and there grew up
throughout the empire a great number Of
nationalities. properly so called; towns and
villages were Armenian, Turkish, Greek,
Arab and others, according to circum-
stances. and the cities were divided into
quarters as markedly different from each
other as can be imagined.
ORIGINALLY PEACEFUL.
The relations between the Turkish gov
eminent and these communities were in
the main peaceful The Christian was
looked upon very much before the war as
the slave was looked upon in the Southern
States Of America; a very great conven-
fence. an essential element in society and
the general national welfare, but with no
individual rights OF his ow- so far as the
central government was concerned. From
time to time the old Turkish Juror de-
veIoped and marsuding attacks were made
upon different villages and sections Of coun-
try with the result that the overpowered
Christians sometimes accepted Islam, and
sometimes sought to improve their condi-
ton by emigration to different sections of
Europe. This was especially true of the
Armenians and the result has been that
to-day Armenisns are scatteded over the
whole of Europe from their ancestral home
&c the Aegean sea.
So long as the Turkish government was
q great power the Christian communities
in the main prospered. With the COM
mencement of the decadence of Ottoman
power. however. during the last half CEN
fury a change took place. AS the Eu-
ropean powers came to understand the ma
ture of the people more, there arose a SYM
pathy between them and the Christian
races under Moslem rule. Appeals were
made in many cases through the eccle-
siastical heads OF these races to their CO.
reiigionists OF Europe. and the European
powers. partly with sympathy. but more
with the feeling that here might they
find a weapon to use effectively in further
ing their own ends, listened more and more
closely to appeals.
pOyvERG OVEPAyCTNC TIyREEY
To trace the history of the contests be-
tween the European cabinets for influence
in Turkey would be beyond the limits of
this paper Suffice il to say that the Turk
ish government realized that the relations
established by Mohammed were likely to
prove very serious danger in the control
OF the empire. and in Turkish relations
with the European powers. Hence there
arose a definite plaE not put upon paper
but carried out in practice. that weakened
the treaties mentioned.
One right after another. hitherto granted
TO the communities as matter of course
was withdrawn. and they were made to feel
more keenly the sharp heel of Moslem des-
potism.
Immediately there came the cry for help,
responded to in turn by the powers of Eu-
rope. As the situation became more and
more serious. this question of the protec-
tion Of the different Christian nationalities
entered into the general question of the
political supremacy over the Turkish en-
psre- 1t had been the policy of the Turkish
government TO foster mutual jealousies and
animosities between the different branches
OF their subjects. Thus the traditional hos
tility between the Armenians, Greeks, ia
cobites and others was strengthened rather
than weakened. and these different commu-
mites, instead of uniting together against
their common enemy, became so mutually
jealous that they would scarcely have any
thing TO do with each other. When their
appeal came before Europe these jealousies
made II inevitable that the different COM
munities should appeal to different powers.
Thus the Greeks looked TO Russia; the
Maronites to France and the Armenians.
hating both Greeks and Maronites, found
that they must perforce look 20 England
When the BuIgarians made their break for
freedom the Armenians felt that they
should seek the same. The circumstances.
however. were radically different There
had ceased TO be any Armenia in the his
tor:c sense. and they were scattered over
the whole empire.
The history OF the last few years and of
the present unrising Is that OF the last four
centuries Of Mosem rule condensed and in
tensihed. The appeals of the Christian
communities stirred the feeling of the ma
tions and there has gone forth a demand
that they be protected against their own
common enemy. the Turk. How is this pro-
lection, however. to be secured?
RUSSIA TO BE KEPT OUT.
From the time when the great Napoleon
refused Alexander permission to hold Con-
stantinople ii has been the policy of Europe
To prevent Russia gaining the tremendous
vantage ground which she would have i'm
holding Asiatic Turkey. Hence it has been
also the policy OF the continental powers
TO weaken SO far possible Russias in
fiuence in Turkey. Hence. when the Greeks
appealed to the Car, there came a counter
plea from England and France for Armen-
fans and Catholics. The Sultan and his
ministers played of against the other
and would grant 10 no one more than would
be given to his rivals There has been a
constant intermingling of influences which
has resulted 10 perhaps the most compli-
Gated situation that has ever been known in
the relations of the powers.
The proposal for division is the result of
two forces: The unwillingness Of the Euro
rean powers to give to any country the i'm
meuee influence would reSilIf From,